A(bsolutely) Splendiferous

So it's been a year...

2009-05-11T07:07:18Z

I know it's been a year since I've last posted (read-- really been on lj). And it's taken me till now to really get back the courage to post again.

So, I was really enjoying being a part (however small and insignificant) of fandom. I was meeting all these people whose fics I had been reading, and they were (and are) absolutely fabulous. I was enjoying HP and bandom and just being a part of an awesome online community and geeking out.

But real life has a way of coming back and kicking you in the balls. In June 2008, one of my close friends was in a car accident and did not survive that night.

And I lost my head around then. It was a wake-up call for me to realize what I really wanted out of life. But to do that, I took a break out of life. And so I stepped off-line for a while, and I'm sorry for not leaving comment or notes or anything, I was pleasantly surprised when, last week, I signed on for the first time, that I still had some friends left. Seriously, I dropped off the internet for a whole year, and there are still people friended to someone that wasn't even around for very long or had a very large presence at all. So thank you all delightful people.

It's taken me most of this past year to be able to really be able to step back into my life, but now, I think I'll be stepping back into fandom. I still love HP and bandom and reading fic, and I'd still love to get to know all of you. So take this as a sign I'll be toeing back into fandom and the online world, and hopefully, we could pick up where we had left off of a year ago. I'll start reading my friends list again, and seeing how all of you have been up to recently, but if you, by chance, do read this, do tell me how you are.

Audrey

Reinventing Love

2008-05-20T22:08:52Z

So the little posting thingy's telling me that I haven't posted in 22 weeks. S'up y'all? I'be been reading the flist on and off- meaning mostly skipping fic posts (though I have ones saved in my del.icio.us under "to.read" so we'll see about that) and reading rl posts. Not so much on the commenting front however. I'll work on that.

I'm having "end of school year" panic attacks. I look back at the past year and start dry heaving because- SWEET BABY JESUS, what have I been doing all year? It feels like I haven't accomplished anything all year, but at the same time, I've been doing nothing but work.

And this year, my advisor's doing the whole "Hey Audrey, you're on track to graduating next year. Have you been researching your alternatives to life after graduation? Graduate school? Jobs? Peace Corps? ANYTHING?" And it's all I can do to BREATHE and then panic after I've left the room. REAL LIFE? like NOT ACADEMIA? God kill me now.

So what have I been doing? Spring break- go up to Ashland Oregon for the Shakespeare Festival. It's so MUCH FUN. They were (still are actually) playing A Midsummer Night's Dream, and it's FABULOUS. Think gay nigh club with the fairies as gay strippers. There's neon lights and campy clothing, and loud techno. Best part- half the audience were over 60 years old. Imagine your sweet little grandparents watching the gayest strip show you could imagine from Castro.

The Office- has anyone been watching? I don't find the show as funny as I used to. Like the Michael- Stanley altercation? I found it really awkward and unfunny to watch. On the other hand, I'm having a ball with Gossip Girl. Does anyone else watch it just for the clothes?

Just off the key of reason...

2007-12-18T07:17:13Z

So, to take my mind off of…real life stupid shit, I decided to do a meme. Because they are mindless entertainment.

It’s the one where you put your music library on shuffle and jot down each song as it comes along into the appropriate slots.

Opening Credits: “Dice” by Finley Quaye
[Excellent. I am obviously in am emo-tastic film about broken hearted-lovers]
Breathe in the air if you care, you compare, don't say farewell
Nothing can compare
To when you roll the dice and swear your love for me

Waking Up: “The End.” by My Chemical Romance
[Surprisingly relevant. Waking up to MyChem! No mentions of loves yet…]
So throw on the black dress
Mix in with the lot
You might wake up and notice your someone you're not

Falling in Love: “What are You Going to Say When I Call You” by Sleepaway
[too bad the song’s about breaking up and walking away. Here it starts….]
My walks they drown in street lights
footprints to your front porch

Fight Song: “Break the Ice” by Britney Spears
[...and it’s about getting it on. Um. Angry!sex? MakeUp!sex? I don’t know, guys.]
Ooh, looks like we're alone now
You ain't gotta be scared

Breaking Up: “Skeptics and True Believers” by The Academy Is…
[My iPod is dead on! Finally. Oh, and notice the trend so far? Yeah.]
Near death, last breath, and barely hanging on.
Would you believe me if I said I didn't need you?

Prom: “The Atheist Christmas Carol” by Vienna Teng
[I have the most depressing prom ever, apparently, with lots of death metaphors. Such is life.]
It's the season of possible miracle cures
Where hope is currency and death is not the last unknown

Life is Good: “Hallelujah” by Rufus Wainwright
[Um, Biblical metaphors for two songs in a row? I think my iPod’s trying to tell me something.]
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth, the minor fall, the major lift,
the baffled king composing Hallelujah

Mental Breakdown: “Hands on Deck” by Waking Ashland
[It’s official. Most depressing movie ever.]
All hands on deck my ship is sinking
Don't let me go, don't let me drown

Driving: “Twilight” by Elliot Smith
[Er. And we throw in some Elliot Smith to make even more depressing. I think this is where I should get into a car crash or something and be like “WOE”]
But those drugs you've got won't make you feel better
Pretty soon you'll find it's the only
Little part of your life you're keeping together

Flashback: “This Disaster” by New Found Glory
[I don’t see the flashback. But, again, I am broken-hearted. This is one of those teenage angst novels. Seriously]
All my life I've been looking for the answers
To the questions you never asked

Getting Back Together: “Because of You” By Kelly Clarkson
[I’m blaming him….but I’ll get back together with him anyway. Or something. I honestly this movie’s actually already been made before. Most inappropriate lyrics or what?]
I will not let myself
Cause my heart so much misery

Wedding: “Hoppipolla” by Sigur Ros
[Icelandic post-rock that I don’t understand. So you get the English translation. But do look up this music video; it’s pretty much the most awesome thing ever.]
Smiling
Spinning 'round and 'round
Holding hands

Night Before the War: “Beloved” by The Working Title
[I think this is a great before the war song. Sort of. Ah, well young love?]
Follow me to where we hid
The rest of our longs lives
Dreaming in the sun to float away

Moment of Triumph: “Kiss me Till it Bleeds” by Nina Gordon
[I…make out with a “bad boy.” Um. This is my moment of triumph? Seriously? *headdesk*]
Destructive, exciting
And I can't let go
Inciting a riot on my radio

Death Scene: “I Slept With Someone In Fall Out Boy And All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me” by Fall Out Boy
[So obviously, I die from a STD from Pete Wentz. Unless I slept with Patrick Stump, in which case I died from overwhelming awesomeness.]
I'm the first kid to write of hearts, lies, and friends
And I am sorry my conscience called in sick again

Funeral Song: “Wonderwall” by Oasis
[…I’ve got nothing. WAIT. Does anyone want to upload me some good old Britpop? All I can find of my stash is Oasis and The Boo Radleys, and I have a sinking suspicion that my brother cleaned me out when he moved.]
Backbeat the word was on the street
That the fire in your heart is out

End credits: “Good Times Gonna Come” by Aqualung
[Of course they are. After all, you just finished watching a generic, run-of-the-mill angsty teen movie right? ANYTHING is better than that.]
It's starting to look like
It's gonna be, yeah, it's gonna be
A bright
Beautiful day

I'll try to update with something a bit more substantial later on. God, my family drives me nuts sometimes...

Religion

2007-12-07T03:05:59Z

So I don't know how relevant this is to your lives, and really, it's a bit of a shoddy update after like, two months, but I do need to get this off my chest so I can start breathing again.

I was talking to group of friends today the presidential election when one friend starts ranting on a long tangent about the deplorable state of politics in America today (which I completely agree with). He ends this off by blaming this on the crazy Christians. Because apparently, all Christians are completely crazy. He goes on about how they use parochial schools to brainwash their kids into believing what they want. Really, I had a lot of respect for this professor, but for him to just throw uneducated opinions out there like this was completely crossing the line. Worst of all, a lot of my friends around the circle were nodding along, completely agreeing.

This attitude isn't only confined to this one part or anything. I've seen this on the internet, where people read about a parochial school somewhere supports intelligent design, or school districts banning evolution, and their first response is "Well, what'd you expect? That's why people send their kids to religious schools, no?"

This is so completely disrespectful and wrong on so many parts. First off, I went to a Catholic school for high school. Trust me, people who find out actually ask me "Did you actually learn science or just religious doctrine?" Believe me, I took four years of science and scored better upon the AP Biology tests than many of my public school counterparts ( AP is basically the equivalent of a college-level course). Parochial schools can provide education without skewing all the the courses to serve their own purposes. Are there schools that do use this to their advantage and teach religious doctrine in place of a proper curriculum? Yes. But the majority of schools? No, not at all.

Christians aren't a bunch of crazies, no more than Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, or even atheists. Yes, in this 2008 presidential election, religion has become more of an issue than ever (I'm looking at you Mitt Romney), and for America, religion is a touchy issue (which I think is completely ridiculous). But really, grow up. Parochial schools are, on average, no better or worse than public school or other private schools. They're different, and it's really irritating to see normally bright, educated, open-minded people shutter themselves off at the sight of the word Christian.

ETA: edited for some small grammar errors.

absitively @ 2007-10-08T18:26:00

2007-10-09T01:57:28Z

So I was looking at my last post and I realized I said I'd post something in a week. Um. 6 is sort of like 1.

But I've been busy. (no, really, you say?) I've switched my major (Long story that starts and ends with my career counselor is a load of shit and is absolutely no help at all), and started a new job (yay! for more $$$), both of which has pretty much eaten up all my time.

My sister emailed me an article in the New York Times a week or so ago that basically said that the Ivy Leagues accept a disproportionate amount of rich kids. I just want to see what people think about this, but I know that I had some pretty strong reactions about the article, and I want to see what others think about this.

Speaking of my sister, she's been going through a pretty rough times lately, and I'm hoping that the next couple of days go better, but I'm not really banking on it (I feel like a bad older sister. blargh).

But anyway. I've been skimming my flist over the last few weeks, saw the wank (wow. I have to admit, I really didn't read either the article or the responses, but I think it's something to do with fake gay and whether that is "valid" or not. Y/N? I'm not going to get into this and just say that it was an interesting point brought up. And my first wank in bandslash that was actually on my flist. ahaha. HP, you have ruined me for life).

MEME!

1. Leave me a comment saying anything random, like your favorite lyric to your current favorite song. Or your favorite kind of sandwich. Something random. Whatever you like.
2. I'll respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better.
3. Update your LJ with the answers to the questions.
4. Include this explanation and offer to ask someone else in the post.
5. When others comment asking to be asked, you will ask them five questions.

from notshybutsly

1. Lyric that fits your life best right now or just the first one that pops in your head.

The first lyrics that pop into my head are: We grew up way too fast/Now there's nothing to believe/And re-runs all become our history from "Name" by the GooGoo Dolls

But that doesn't really describe my life. So you get a 2-for-1 type answer.

I'm really loving And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me/ shine until tomorrow, let it be. I'm feeling positive right now that I've got all my classes settles and a great mentor. (oh. It's "Let it Be" by the Beatles)

2. Any scars, tattoos, really interesting freckle formations?

I have exactly 13 freckles on my nose. My sister told me that it meant I shouldn't even follow my nose cause it was unlucky.

I also have a big burn scar on my left calf from a motorcycle burn what I was...6? I was in Taiwan with my mom's family, and they all drive motercycles there, and I accidentally bumped my calf against the engine. There was a lot of screaming later on (by me, who was in pain; my brother, who was horrified at my swelling calf; and my little sister, who was scared by my screaming).

3. Are you crafty? Can you make something or do something interesting like fit your whole fist in your mouth or touch your tongue to your nose?

The really artistic one in the family is my little sister. I'd pretty decent at collages and making nice presentations, but I don't consider myself crafty or artsy. I have double joined toes and fingers, and can tie a cherry stem with my tongue. Yes, most boys do make lewd jokes when they find out.

4. Do you do anything particular when you're depressed?

I clean. I sulk and brood for a couple minutes before deciding that I am obviously completely useless. I always end focusing all that negative energy into cleaning my room, desk, living room, and if I'm not burned out by then, I'll do my homework. So really, I'm incredibly efficient when I have negative energy in some way.

5. What's your morning routine before school/work?

I'm a shower-at-night (or more like mid-afternoon, after work). I usually wake up, have a cup (or three) of really strong tea and probably some fruit. Then I go wash my face, apply sunscreen, and brush my hair. I change, and if I'm going somewhere, I'll check to see that I have everything (I have a mental checklist for each location). Then I'll go.

I guess you can tell that I really don't tend to wake up unless I actually have somewhere to go. If my class doesn't start till 10, then I won't be up till 9. If my shift starts at 12, and I have no prior engagements, I won't be up till 11. It's a bad habit, and I should try to maintain a steady sleeping schedule, but I tend to stay up till the wee hours of the morning finishing up homework.

Memage

2007-08-26T20:55:28Z

More memes! Really, I'm just bored, and avoiding my statistics homework.

from notshybutsly

Comment and I'll give you a letter.
Then with that happy little letter, go choose your favourite songs starting with that letter!
put it in your Livejournal and see how many people know your songs.

So I can't actually narrow down my list into 10 songs I like, so here's just a snapshot. My favorite's list is so fluid, it changes whenever I breathe. And some of these are just that I love the band/musician, and thus, that song as well.

S

1. Schindler's List Theme by John Williams
One of my favorite movies of all time (how cliche), and the melody's just haunting.

2. Set the Fire to the Third Bar by Snow Patrol (feat. Martha Wainwright)
One of my favorite bands. I touch the place where I'd find your face, my finger in creases of distant dark places

3. Say Uncle by Vienna Teng
you kept fear of death in back pocket of your jeans,in the palm of your hand, affection

4. Size Too Small by Sufjan Stevens
Everything rises, going at it all, all the surprises in a size too small

5. Swan Lake Ballet by Peter Llyich Tchaikovsky
So this is stretching the definition of song a bit, but I had to put it. It's one of my favorite ballets, and the first one I ever saw. I was six when my mom took me, and immediately after, I wanted to be a ballerina. That lasted for about 8 months, when I realized that there was no way I was ever going to be coordinated enough to balance myself on one square inch of toe.

6. Sugar, We're Going Down by Fall Out Boy
I really couldn't make a list, and not include a bandslash song. This was my first Fall Out Boy song, and I was hooked. Drop a heart, break a name. We're always sleeping in, and sleeping for the wrong team

7. Strange and Beautiful (I'll Put a Spell on You) by Aqualung
Sometimes, the last thing you want comes in first. Sometimes, the first thing you want never comes.

8. Sunday, Bloody Sunday by U2
This is the stuff I grew up listening to. My dad loves U2, and in high school, I learned so much about the history of Ireland from me British Literature teacher. So while this may not be favorite song, I have a special place for it in my heart. Broken bottles under children's feet, bodies strewn across the dead end street

9. Sweet Adeline by Elliot Smith
it's a picture perfect evening and I'm staring down the sun, fully loaded deaf and dumb and done, waiting for sedation to disconnect my head

10. A Sunday by Jimmy Eat World
On a Sunday go once around, because when the rides done, the hopes that you have carried
They fall out from your hands back to the ground. Live with that

So this took way longer than I thought. Also, I decided to take out all the Symphonies, Sonatas, Sinfonias, etc. because it's not really in the spirit of the meme, and also, you would get really bored, really fast. :)

I may do the five question meme again later. Anyone interested in my scars? *crickets*

absitively @ 2007-08-07T14:40:00

2007-08-07T21:56:57Z

So, like everybody else, just a few days late, I'll post about the HP wankage. LJ is evil and horrible and will give birth to devil spawn anyday now, blah blah blah. Whatever. I doubt anything will make them really change their minds about the suspensions and pretty much banning whatever it is they've already decided. While that makes the libertarian in me all quibbly about free speech, and makes the idealist in me angry about how the US legal system ought to work, I'm pretty sure that Six Apart is not taking any chanced about ending up in court over a piece of NC17 fanart. The main point is what fandom is going to do now. There's a letter going around (most of the details are stated above the actual letter) here that sums up everything pretty well I think. Other than that, I've created an InsaneJournal and a GreatestJournal, in case fandom's jumping. I'll definitely keep my LJ because I do have more than one fandom, and I doubt bandslash is going anywhere just yet, unless something dire happens.

In other news, my internship is over, and my brother's moved out of the parents' house. He's the first to fly the coop, and I think it should have been a bigger deal than it really was. He really just came, got the rest of his junk from his room, piled it all in the U-Haul, and then left. I guess it probably was a bigger deal for my parents than it was for my sister and me because he essentially left when he went to college.

And a question for all you medically-inclined people: I occasionally have these really sharp pains in my head. It's usually just once or twice in a specific part of my head, and then it just disappears. I've never really paid it much attention before, but recently (like, in the last month), it's been getting worse. It happens more often now, like once a week or so, and each time, there's more and more pains. It's hurt about once every five or so minutes over the course of an hour or two. Is this something I should really worry about?

Wow, I suck at the whole LJ thing

2007-06-26T06:22:58Z

So I was cleaning out my room today and it now looks like a disaster zone. Interesting how much junk I have (like three squirrel paper weights. I don't even use paper weights). But I found a lot of high school junk (none of which I remember actually learning. Like French idioms. Just wondering, do any of you actually remember high school? All I remember is a blur of really idiotic things, like movie marathons, breaking traffic laws, and pulling all nighters. Fun times.)

And, hey! There's actually something from high school that I wrote and LIKED. So I'm posting an exert here because ~~I want to see if I actually write something remotely similar to that now~~ I do want some feedback on how to improve on creative writing and I don't think I've written any creativer writing since senior year. Joys of being a math major I guess.

    Billowing smoke pours out of pipes as locomotives crash by the fair grounds, the heavy clouds flying into the pale azure sky of balmy Missouri springs. Gleaming new buildings rise up over the crisp cut grass still gleaming with dew as women bustle around clutching stacks of posters bearing The Louisiana Purchase Exposition in spidery black letters. It’s April in 1904, and the Saint Louis World Fair is minutes away from opening.

    Barely seconds later, the fair is in full swing; women linger over booths displaying wares from 62 different nations as children speed into lines to try the new frothing dark drink that beaming, suited men passed around while bragging of its medicinal qualities. The new Dr. Pepper drink tickled throats as famished spectators gulp down bubbles under the bright Midwestern sun. Men marveled at the architecture and nod sagely as they murmur about the upcoming election while myriads of noisy tropical birds flap and flutter inside enormous birds cages. Boating families glide down the Grand Basin, waving at passer-bys from inside their romantic bird boats and exotic gondolas.

    Bright streams of band music burst from the dapper band playing pompously in front of the milling crowd that were gaping at the famous conductor standing resolutely in the front. As the last strains of the ragtime song melts into the breeze, the audience starts to drift off to gape at the 43 exhibitions of each individual American state. The imposing cast iron Vulcan statue from the distant Birmingham, Alabama awe the public as presenters boasted of Alabama’s mineral and manufacturing riches to the dazzled European travelers.
The immense crowds of bustling people crowded the entire fair grounds, lining up to the top of the Art Hill in the sweltering heat. Like blooming flowers over the clustered masses, parasols were pulled out to block the piercing rays of the sun as groups of tourists shuffle up the sloping ground to gaze at the grandiose interior sculptures inside the Palace of Fine Art, perched at the top of Art Hill.

    But the main attraction was the Ferris Wheel. As the sky dimmed, and sparkles filled the velvety sky, the colored carts rise above the softly glowing palaces of the exhibitions. Delighted children gripping metal sides crane their necks over the cold, gilded sides to squeal at the miniature, pulsing crowds pushing below. Cold air nips their cheeks cherry red as their beaming faces and elated eyes take in the enthralling sights of glimmering buildings and illuminated waters. All too soon, the cart ends back upon the dusty grounds, and streams of overjoyed children jump off the platform to the clutches of their mothers, heads spinning with dreams of enchanting, dancing lights and the bright, crisp joy of childhood.

    But as soon as the exhibition had begun in a whirlwind, it ended, fading into the memories as winter winds rush in. The churning water of the Grand Basin sprinkle dots onto the fading daffodils bowing their heads into the ground. Wrappers and posters fly by, drifting into the far off corn fields. The ornate decorations, peeled off the once majestic structures, disintegrate upon the bare, dusty roads. Broken pieces are blown away by the rushing locomotives that had once heralded the gleaming Saint Louis World Fair.

Um. Because I promised.

2007-04-17T03:32:46Z

From sunnyjune46 :

I will write a drabble for the first ten people who comment with one request of 100 words exactly. In return, they have to post this in their journal.

Um. I'll probably only be able to write HP. (Maybe Disney. except that it's not really a fandom. And I kinda want to try the Hilary McKay/Casson family out but I'm pretty sure that I one of the three people that have read that series.)

And, um, just characters. No pairings. ~~I don't have any self-confidence at all about writing fanfiction so anything shippy just seems too hard. really.~~

So. May the force be with me. (Alright. I was watching a marathon of Star Wars this past weekend. You'd think I have better things to do, right? nah)

From the bottom of my heart...

2007-04-05T05:13:17Z

Dear girl that sits in front of me during physics,

I realize that this really is none of my business, because you are old enough to dress yourself. But this does not mean you can saunter into class wearing a white see-through tank top, a black bra, and a thong sticking out the top of your mini-mini skirt and proceed to flirt with the guy next to you during the lecture. Who, judging from the way he cringed when you tried to crawl into his lap, was not actually that into you.

But seriously. I can't hear the lecture when you're giggling every two seconds.

No love from,
me

I need to go review the dmhgficexchange fics.

2007-03-25T19:38:07Z

Mebbe later. I still need to read bk11 's. and vote. and so do YOU!!

I need 30 hours a day. Maybe I'll start skipping history lectures....yeah. no. stupid conscience.

*pokes at the dead!lj*

So...it's been BREAK!! WHOO! Too bad I still have hw to do. And that reeks of loserness. I ought to be in Miami partying or something with wet t-shirt contests and Girls Gone Wild (which is a gross enterprise, btw. Joe Francis needs to be locked up, IMHO). Or is that later? idunno. Well. Either way, I'm writing an essay about the New Deal and another on frame narrative and solving physics problems about optics. Fun times.

But I went home, and my lil sis had her junior prom (she looked wonderful). But I felt a bit...regretful for not going to my junior prom because I decided to be "rebellious" and not go. That, and I didn't want to fork up $45 for a bid, $$ for a dress, and still go stag because the high school boys were....odd, let's just say. (read as: mostly sexist, racist, and/or drugged out or just plain stupid. With a few exceptions, but really- the good ones are always taken, no?). That's not to mention that it was held in Holiday Inn. Classy.

Still. I missed out on this grand American tradition of dressing up and going out and spending way too much moolah and watching all my classmates make utter fools of themselves on the dancefloor (I heard there was a drug bust. Apparently, someone decided to bring in pot-laced pastries without realizing that, really, the muffins still smell like pot. *headdesk*). Fun times.

So, was prom worth it for you?

I did go to an after-prom bowling party with some friends though. Note of warning: poofy dresses, waxed floors, and heavy balls (hee!/ is two) do not mix well.

But I did go home this week. And there was a

Not the greatest picture. But it's a peach tree in the backyard that's blossoming, and we couldn't figure out where it came from because we never planted one.

It turns out that dear old Dad was eating a peach last year, and instead of throwing away the pit, he tossed it into the ground, expecting that it would decompose or something. And the pit grew into a tree.

And now, my sister wants to stage a Peach Dance thingy to make sure it'll flower and grow fruit so we can eat peaches now. I haven't got the heart to tell her that that'll probably not happen anytime soon, no matter if there's a Peach Dance or not and- I think I see her out there throwing glitter at the tree chanting "Peach" by Prince. oh god- I'm taking pictures.

absitively @ 2007-03-13T19:15:00

2007-03-14T02:17:31Z

Someone needs to drag me away from the boyslash. Really. This is ridiculous now. I have THINGS to do. Like read about America in the 1920s. *headdesk*

Curiosity may have killed the cat...but I'll take my chances darling.

2007-03-05T02:52:18Z

I'm just wondering- what's the "normal" procedure for names on LJ? Just user name, or the usual author name (If it's different), etc?

And what would you like to be called? Any preferences-- real life name, nickname, just user name, etc.?

For me,absitively or A is fine. Not that I don't like my real name or anything, but on-line = fast&easy is better, right?

absitively @ 2007-03-03T13:03:00

2007-03-03T21:13:13Z

New migraine medication + new allergy medication = more nausea and no sleep.
I'm going to go see my doctor again to see if it's the drugs that don't let me sleep comfortably for more than three hours, no matter how tired I am.
On the other hand, I have more free time now.
Rec me something to read then? (Making good use of time, no?)

Baa Baa Black Sheep...

2007-02-19T01:55:37Z

G-ma sent me more food. Score!

So. Meme-- because I'm a sheep. Baa
From _____faith :
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I respond by asking you a couple personal questions so I can get to know you better.If I already know you well, expect the questions may be a little more intimate!
3. You will update your LJ with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

1. What teacher in your educational experience has had the most influence on you? How?

Definitely my 9^th and 10^th grade history teacher. She was the one that influenced me most in bringing in the outside world into the classroom. Even though she taught history, she connected all events to how they influenced today’s culture, talking about politics in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas. She was honestly curious in learning about other cultures, with a deep interest in South Africa and China and infusing that into the curriculum. And she always led class with this infectious enthusiasm for anything we were learning, no matter how boring. She broadened my mind to see what was going on above my world to the national and international level to become aware of what’s around me. So, I completely thank her for my interest in politics.

2. If you could walk in the shoes of anyone in human history, who it would be, what would you do, and why?

I would walk in the shows of Mother Theresa. While she was, and still is, one of my role models as a child, I want to see the world from her eyes, where every human matters and be able to learn from her. I just want to see her life, her immense sacrifices, and her stunning nature. I think she is one of the greatest people to walk on this earth, and it’d be amazing to know what she was like and actually see her private life, not just this public image of an amazing woman.

3. If you could only speak four different phrases for the rest of your life, what would you say?

“I love you”, “Thank you”, “Please”, and “Hello”

I think that being polite and showing gratitude is one of the most important things any human can show for another, and picked accordingly. And I love it when people greet me, so I’m returning that.

4. Where do you draw the line between tolerable and offensive?

I think this society tolerates too many things that are offensive—off color jokes, certain words, etc. For me, tolerable depends on the intent that something is meant in. If that phrase, joke, or behavior was meant to hurt, then it’s intolerable.

For me personally, I take certain prejudices and comments that convey this attitude very personally. I feel very strongly about racism, being an Asian, and any derogatory comment about a race or someone’s race can set me off; people think I overreact, but, for me, I wonder why they think it’s all right. Again with sexism. I’m a feminist, and not afraid to say it—I’m not a butch lesbian that people tend to associate with it. I believe that women are equal to men, with the same rights and responsibilities. Ageism is another issue close to me because I was discriminated against as a teenager for being a teenager, and that feeling of….shock and anger just left an imprint on me.

5. If you were to become the member of a religion different from your current beliefs, what would it be and why?

I would be a Buddhist, which really isn’t a very strict “religion”. It’s a way of life, which emphasizes the spiritual and finding peace, which is something I lack in my life. However, I tend to treat Buddhism as more of a philosophy, rather than accepting the religious elements. I guess I’m just not a very religious person in general, as I have to put blind faith in, which I can’t seem to do. I don’t believe that we can ever truly find if God exists or not, and I cannot convince myself of a high power. I marvel at the people that can, but personally, I cannot.

I...cannot believe this. Really. I'm living in a fucking sitcom or something.

2007-02-17T03:56:58Z

So. My grandma went and sent me a box of goodies for Chinese New Years and all. Like, yummy food and a nice card (no $$, thank god). And she told me last sunday that she already posted it, so it should be there in about a few days; I've been looking foward to this all week. And the post office is retarded and sent the package to the wrong person.
Apparently, he got drunk and spewed all over the package the next day. Like, he got this package, decided to tell me the next day, and proceeded to go and get smashed that night, which led to him stumbling back in the not-so-wee hours of the morning and throw up on the kitchen counter where my OPENED package was. I don't know why he opened it. I think he did to just see what's inside even though it's blatantly not his.
But anyway, pretty much everything inside is now covered in gooey orangey-stuff.
And he told me this morning, offered to repay me (um, for homemade Chinese food from my grandma? That's worth a million bucks man and your hide) and proceeded to actually give me the vomit filled box this morning. I'm not joking. He thought giving me a box of his vomit was smart or something.
Um, yeah, I kinda stared at him funny, then told him to throw away the box and disinfect his fucking car. (I wanted to tell him to shove the vomit up his ass for being retarded but...it was early, ok?)

Thank you SO much itsbeenvery!!

2007-02-14T03:51:02Z

Um. I really don't know what to say. But I finally got onto LJ, and OMG it's a flower and a lovely note. *sniffles* That's so sweet! Thank you so very much itsbeenvery .

I've been doing my final paper lately, and lemme tell you, life sucks balls right now. So I decided to take a break today and relax and actually see some people. I have research coming out of my ears, organized in this weird pattern all over my room floor, which is driving my roommate crazy. Ah, well.

I actually really want this coat:

Rag & Bone

you know, once I graduate and make some moolah. So I will pretend it's mine and cyber-wear it. :)

Happy Valentine's Day to everybody! Hope you've had a wonderful day filled with people you love.

I don't know what came over me...

2007-02-05T03:48:22Z

oh dear god. I wrote. like. actually wrote something fictional. Shoot me now, the new allergy meds are making me lose all normal function.
so. Flame away! Though constructive criticism is pretty helpful as well, as I think this is pretty cruddy, but the traitorous logic went, "well dummy, actually share something with other people for once in your nineteen years on this planet." and here we are!

Title: Waltz in C Minor
Gen
Any age
86 words
Notes: um. No copyright infringement? Though I don't even know if it's considered fanfic as it's pretty damn open-ended. Wellllll here goes nothing.

She’s hypnotically waltzing. Floating above the unanchored ground, swirling to three uneven beats, binding herself in a continuous melody of delusion and fantasy. She waltzes in her own glass box.

He’s blindly wishing. Unseeing her ghostly body shuffle over cold tiles, unwanting her slips of silvery foil digging into his clenched hands, unsaying his whispered farewells as she stares with blank eyes. He wishes for the butterfly to emerge from its opaque cocoon to dance in the flowers.

Instead, he watches her dance towards her eulogy.

Fashion Week wrap-up.

2007-01-28T07:17:57Z

So I've been gorging myself with photos of Fashion Week, and basically, Dior blew me out of the water. Just some of my favorites (more for me than anyone else)

And placed under numerous cuts because this turned into some gargantuan monster before my eyes.

DIOR SS07

Davastatingly stunning. Just perfection. Except for the music. The runway was beautiful. I loved the cherry blossoms falling from the ceiling. And, of course, the dresses were wonderful.

Debra Shaw                                                                                     Lily Cole

Hana Soukupova                                                                                Hilary Rhoda

Anna Chyzh                                                                                       Milana Bogolepova

Solange Wilvert                                                                                   Morgane Dubled

Irina Bondarenko                                                                                 Jacquetta Wheeler

And, of course, who could resist:

Shalom Harlow as the Bride

Anyway, John Galliano has definitely outdone himself this time. This is haute couture.

But I also loved these looks from:

Givenchy

Very sleek. I can see why some people found it boring, but I personally thought it was very good. Lots of elegance and gothic-ness.
I mean, just read Ricardo Tischi's description of his inspiration- "the metamorphosis of sailors into mermaids"

Flavia De Oliveira                                                                                Daiane Conterato

Irina Lazareau                                                                                     Alyona Osmanova

Hilary Rhoda                                                                                       Raquel Zimmerman

Armani Prive

The thing is, I usually like almost everything Armani does, as I am actually a very minimalist-clothing-type person. Clean and sleek, with chicness. So I just pick some of my very favorites from Armani.

Kim Noorda (Looking way too bony around the collarbones)            Eva Jay Kubatova

Tatiana Usova                                                                                    Morgane Dubled

Chanel

I'm a little disappointed; I thought it'd be...more. It seemed very safe: the opaque black tights, short dresses. I wanted something more...daring, less current. Of course, this is all IMHO. I still liked the collection, but not as overwhelming as I wanted it to be, especially after Galliano's.

Kim Noorda                                                                                          Irina Lazareau

Anja Rubik                                                                                           Kim Noorda (again)

Christian Lacroix

was over my head. I'm sure it was artsy and different as all, but I didn't really see his vision. Or something. Anyway, it looked like a mishmash of prints to my uncultured eye.

Lindsay Ellingson                                                                                Maryna Linchuk

Unknown                                                                                            Milana Bogolepova

Jean-Paul Gaultier

Spiced by up religious controversy. And I have a suspicion that he did it on purpose, because, really, the more controversy, the more publicity. I can see why the Church would be offended, with the (rather blatantly religious, I think) look: the gold halo was similar to the halos on paintings in the Middle Ages; some dresses looked like stained glass windows, like on the churches; the tears on the cheeks were reminescent of paintings of Jesus and Mary crying. All he needed was a crucifix and altar to create a thorough history of what the Middle Ages were like visually. The whole halo look was very cool though. I liked it.

Erin O'Connor                                                                                     Anja Rubik

Jessica Stam                                                                                      Hilary Rhoda

Rachel Alexander                                                                               Erin O'Connor(again)

Lily Cole                                                                                              Milagros Schmoll

Elie Saab

So the haute couture business doesn't take him all that seriously. Whatever. He gets tons of red carpet time anyway.
I liked the majority of this collection, even if was typical Elie Saab. Very wearable, if you khow, you go to extravagant places where you can actually wear this stuff without looking out of place, and you can afford it. Which I can't, being a broke student living off Goldfish right now (actually, my sister left it here this afternoon and it became my dinner).

Emina Cunmulaj                                                                                   Ilze Bajare

Camilla ?                                                                                              Anna T.

Anna T.                                                                                               Tiiu Kuik

Valentino

I love his casting. Jessica Stam, Hilary Rhoda, Emina Cunmulaj, Solange Wilvert, Kim Noorda, Flavia de Oliveira. And I think I have an affixiation with white, probably stemming from the fact that I can't wear white without dropping something on myself that is completely staining. :(

Natasha Poly                                                                                Tatiana Lyadockrina

Inguna Butane                                                                                     Emina Cunmulaj

All images are from Style.com, courtesy of Marcio Madeira.

That's all folks.

Over and Out, A.

Intro of Awkwardness

2007-01-22T01:11:27Z

I'm a just a kid (abeit, a bit overgrown) that tends to ramble about almost everything that interests me. I love trivia. I swear. I tend to try everything at least once. I procrastinate. I'm anal about cleaning my room. I love food. I have really bad hayfever. I'm terminally single (and I like it that way. For now, at least). I read almost everything, but I love a good humor fic (mostly because they're so rare). I play the piano. I speak some Chinese. And I make an honest attempt to be nice and to get to know everyone who I friend and/or friends me.