In Bloom

I wonder what color they'll be. Can't wait to find out! Hm, wonder how the ones at home are doing...eek.

New New Year's Resolution

I will not touch, scratch, or pick at my face so that my skin can have a chance to heal.
I will not touch, scratch, or pick at my face so that my skin can have a chance to heal.
I will not touch, scratch, or pick at my face so that my skin can have a chance to heal.
I will not touch, scratch, or pick at my face so that my skin can have a chance to heal.
I will not touch, scratch, or pick at my face so that my skin can have a chance to heal.
I will not touch, scratch, or pick at my face so that my skin can have a chance to heal.
I will not touch, scratch, or pick at my face so that my skin can have a chance to heal.
I will not touch, scratch, or pick at my face so that my skin can have a chance to heal.
I will not touch, scratch, or pick at my face so that my skin can have a chance to heal.
I will not touch, scratch, or pick at my face so that my skin can have a chance to heal.
I will not touch, scratch, or pick at my face so that my skin can have a chance to heal.
I will not touch, scratch, or pick at my face so that my skin can have a chance to heal.
I will not touch, scratch, or pick at my face so that my skin can have a chance to heal.
I will not touch, scratch, or pick at my face so that my skin can have a chance to heal.
I will not touch, scratch, or pick at my face so that my skin can have a chance to heal.
I will not touch, scratch, or pick at my face so that my skin can have a chance to heal.

Why Does Driving in Norcal Piss Me Off So Much?

Today I almost got hit by an idiot driver who changed lanes into me. The adrenaline pumped fast as I saw this old white Camry veering into me, and the blood in me boiled after I realized I had swerved to avoid hitting him. I glared at him as he and his companions looked back at me before cutting in front of me and moving into the next lane. This incident has been the catalyst in me posting this entry about why Norcal drivers suck so so so much. And I am not being an LA bitch. LA is known for having shoot-me-in-the-head traffic, but to me it's still more tolerable than driving in Norcal.

1. Speeding up when there are cars in front and then braking suddenly. Norcal drivers, do you get your brakes checked often? Because the way you're driving, you probably wear them out pretty fast. What's the point of speeding up only to have to stop all of a sudden? Then you make me have to do the same thing. Rolling stops are nice. Try it sometime!

2. Leaving a 300 foot gap with the car in front during rush hour. O.M.G. Everyone's going at 20, and you're so far back from the driver in front of you 5 cars can fit! OMG!!!! I want to punch you!

3. Mindlessly changing lanes way too close to the driver behind. Mindlessly pulling out of the parking lot and cutting me off. If I have to brake for you to get in front of me, you are TOO CLOSE.

4. Not understanding what a 4-way stop means. I got here first!! Hi, hello, see me? No, you don't, because you are now driving across the intersection...

5. Going 70 in the left hand lane. Who do you think you are, motherfreaking Queen Victoria? You own the fast lane? You're royalty so you can go as slow as you want and people have to change lanes to get in front of you? No. Move over please.

6. Just driving way too slow in general. I know Norcalers are not as rude and uptight and prickly as us Socalers (aren't we just lovable), but a little less chill and a bit more zoom zoom on the road would be nice. Chop chop, come on. Sitting in my car for longer than I have to is not a hobby of mine.

7. Pulling off shit like not looking at your blind spot and changing lanes into an angry Asian girl in a small car. Don't do this. She will become a hater and put you on her bad karma list. Trust me, I know.

When I listen to the radio, there's always an accident, somewhere, sometime. 2 car crash. 3 car crash. Blocking the right shoulder. Blocking the left lane. Stop braking so suddenly or changing lanes into other people and maybe there won't be so many accidents! Gees!

I have to get up in 7 hours to face this terror, so end rant here.

I Live in This Country?

Today is, more so than not to most people, the continuation of a well-appreciated 3 day weekend. (I did not get today off, in case you were wondering) But what I am wondering is, how many people take a moment to remember and reflect on the man who brought about this holiday? I don't, really. Not in the past. The only reason I did today was due to a Fresh Air piece interviewing Michelle Alexander about her most recent book, which now is next on my list of things to read. In short, she brings forth the idea that the contemporary American incarceration system and its so-called "War On Drugs" campaign is but a redesign of the despicable Jim Crow Laws that existed before the Civil Rights era. Bold argument right? She made sense. Disturbingly and unfortunately enough, what she had to say made complete sense.

Listening to her made me think about why we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr with a national holiday in our time. Do we, as Americans, think we've made leaps and bounds in terms of achieving racial equality? The breakthroughs that occurred during the Civil Rights era were, no doubt, a big step towards gaining equality in the US. But on the other hand, it also merely made explicit racial discrimination illegal while bringing forth new and disguised ways to continue racially discriminatory practices and keep in place a system that has severely disenfranchised African Americans since they were brought here on a boat centuries ago. What's the meaning behind this holiday, then? Why erect a monument honoring Dr King in our nation's capitol? It's almost like saying, well...we haven't achieved your dream yet, and we don't know when we will, or if we ever will, but for the sake of formality we'll put you next to these other monuments representing people and historical events dotting our kids' history textbooks. Just because it seems like the natural thing to do. Not to undermine or belittle the progress that has been made--because we have come a long way--but I think oftentimes we are caught in the misguided hubris of progress. Just because restaurants no longer put up signs prohibiting 'coloreds' means we've made progress? Progress is not progress when a disproportionate number of members from the same racial group continue to be entrapped in a system that allows no way out of a life of drugs, crime, and violence. And apparently, there is no way to move forward when there are idiots like this barring the road.

Don't Waste Time. It's the Most Precious Thing You Have.

I need to stop procrastinating. Yes, even as I have no schoolwork or work-work, I still find ways to put off doing things I should be doing. There are always things I should be doing. Maybe if I list them here every time I visit my blog it can serve as an explicit reminder that I should be doing these things instead of dillydallying around my blog. PUBLIC SHAMING.


Research investment funds and stocks.
Write to Max.
Update LinkedIn profile.
Read some good books.
Plan a trip. Napa? Europe? China?
Blog about topics that matter.
Upload pictures onto Picasa.
Visit my old babysitter.
Download music.
Buy a birthday card.

everyman, I know you'll read this eventually. Sheng ri kuai le!

Bodum Brazil Original French Press

This was delivered today. All I can say is...yayayayayayayayayayay!

Eating Alone

Table for one, please.

Is it weird to like eating alone? I love it. I mean, I wouldn't do it all the time and I'm not anti-social, but there's something about enjoying a meal by yourself that is kind of satisfying. You don't have to hold back. There are no social conventions to follow. If I'm sitting in a restaurant, I can people-watch while I eat. I like trying to deduce what people's body language says, how they feel about the person or people they're eating with and how they feel in that specific environment at that particular moment. Sometimes I wonder if people see me and wonder why that girl is sitting there eating alone. I like having a book or something to read while I'm eating--I can never really just sit and eat without doing anything else. Sometimes the book is better entertainment than a live human. I guess I don't really miss the companionship of anyone while I'm eating because I prefer not to talk when I'm eating anyway. Other peculiar habits while I'm eating by myself at home: standing while eating, doing dishes while eating, walking back and forth while eating...

Weird? Not weird? I personally don't think so.

All the Scars and Acne My Face Can Hold

Skin is disastrous. Must make appointment for facial soon.

So Far So Good

=)

I'm so happy right now. Teehee. Welcome 2012!

The world is bigger than your problems. This is my personal theme for this year. I need to write it on a post-it and stick it on my forehead. Must stop daydreaming and get down to business!