| year end yammering |
[09 Jan 2009|05:34pm] |
Due to current economic conditions, this year's highlights entry will be canceled.
Just kidding.. sort of.
I've been putting off this entry for a while because, like ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=88.8) missfreud, 2008 has had precious few highlights for me. Much of the year was spent looking for a job. Well actually it was really spent trying to figure out what the hell I wanted to do. I guess I was one of those late bloomers who never seriously tackled the question in college and skated through on the blind hope that things would figure themselves out.
In fact, it would probably be more informative and productive to make a lowlights of 2008 list but never mind, I will keep to the positive.
Highlights of 2008
1. The decade-in-the-making marital union of my brother and his longtime girlfriend Connie. Beautiful ceremony and banquet, picture-perfect weather, everyone decked out to the max. 10 out of 10.
2. San Francisco. SF was lovely, left my heart there unfortunately.
3. Taiwan. For better or worse, I got a closer look at their culture.
4. Running. Up to 8 miles. Will get to a marathon eventually. Like in five years.
5. 2008 election. I don't know if that counts but it was definitely one of the biggest highlights of my year knowing that our next president was going to be a smart and capable fella.
So I think that's it. Pretty sad huh. But on the plus side, I think I've got some sort of future figured out. I'm applying to a couple of grad schools and hoping to get into the renewable energy/public policy field. So 2009 is looking like a better year already.
Resolutions for 2009
1. Stay positive. (seems to be the theme this year)
2. And kind.
3. And keep running.
I hope everyone has a wonderful swell new year and accomplishes all that they set out to. GANBARIMASU!
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| the low-hanging fruit |
[09 Dec 2008|07:59am] |
I just finished reading Almost Green about this one guy's experience building a sustainable eco-friendly writing studio on his front lawn. It was a really fun read because the guy is hilarious, but it was also pretty educational about sustainable building. He goes to some pretty great lengths (time-wise but primarily and ridiculously cost-wise) to ensure maximum window insulation, no idle energy waste with an on-demand instant water heater, and sustainably harvested wood. On the things that reduced the studio's total energy use, I wonder exactly how much money he will save/how much less energy he will use compared to a regularly built house. And I also wonder how much the average existing house wastes in unnecessary energy use due to poor insulation, phantom loads, etc. And that amount of waste times the number of houses in the US... unthinkable. I know the figures are out there.. and it's something astronomical. Shouldn't that be the number one priority (or one of them haha) in the green building industry then.. to retro-fit current houses with really simple and relatively low-cost solutions to at least allay part of our current energy bill?
How about better insulating windows or, if you can't afford that, thermal insulating window curtains? Or power outlets that have an off switch (like in New Zealand)? Or toilets with options to flush a little or a lot of water (like in Asia)? These things are such simple and easily implemented solutions that, if adopted by a majority of the huge US population, could do so much good for the planet with so little major infrastructure changes.
Why are we not getting on these things?!?!?!
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| books are a beginning |
[04 Sep 2008|01:18am] |
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My mom and aunts & uncle were telling funny stories about their childhood and reminiscing about growing up poor in Taiwan. They said to us, "You guys can't understand what it was like (you've all had such comfortable lives)" and I wanted to say, "But I've read Angela's Ashes!"
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| resume |
[17 Apr 2008|04:49pm] |
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Humm, I miss writing in my livejournal. I'd like to remedy the sad stagnant state of my journal starting today. Plus I think it would be good writing practice. I'm currently applying for a few jobs in the publishing industry and could use as much editorial practice as I can get. There's one job in particular that I'd do anything for but I'm keeping my expectations non-existent (or trying to at least) to ward against crushing disappointment if I don't get it.
Anyway, brief update on my life. I came back from my two and a half month trip to Taiwan two weeks ago. The trip didn't turn out quite as fun as I thought it would be. Taiwan does not have much foreign (English) tourist infrastructure in place (though it's getting better every day), since the large majority of their tourism business comes from domestic tourists and other Asian tourists. Traveling alone, especially as a girl, caused quite a stir in almost every place that I went to. And Taiwanese people, or maybe Chinese people in general, are very hospitable and caring, but after a while I found it to be a bit stifling to be told by a complete stranger to, for example, eat more vegetables! And to be slapped on the hand by a friend's mother when she discovered how "little" I was wearing on our scooter ride home (and by "little" I mean not having bundled up in a coat, scarf, and hat for 60 degree weather). Good intentions, but a little overbearing.
So, I am happy to be home. And am now trying to find a job. And I DID take pictures in Taiwan but they're currently in limbo waiting for a safe place to be transferred to (my laptop and USB drive and who knows what else got infected by a virus, argh.)
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| what a year |
[02 Jan 2008|05:22pm] |
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I looked through my photos to gather this list and I'm glad I took so many pictures. Without evidence, things are forgotten so quickly!
Highlights of 2007 (in no particular order)
1. Going out every weekend in Wellington with Sara & Rachel and always seeming to end the night at Red Square. My my my! That song will always remind me of that place.
2. The Bob Marley tribute concert. Sitting on the grass, bright sun shining, live music, ice cream - I don't think I've ever felt as content with life as that afternoon.
3. Abel Tasman National Park. Hiking and kayaking through this beautiful park on my own for three days was so much fun. Each turn of the path brought another stunning vista. I've never gone camping before so the experience of carrying all that you need was new and fun too. I met and befriended an interesting french-belgian couple along the way. We did the same kayaking trip during the second day and I shared my food with them because they ate all their food on the first day. We sat in the camping hut and made fun of the "hardcore" campers who brought gas stoves and pots and cutlery to make full-on meals during this easy three-day summer hike.
4. The little fish & chip shop in Nelson on the way to Tahuna Beach was heaven in a fried basket. People would hover around the door before it opened. Mmm.
5. Flying a two-seater plane over the coastal town of Kaikoura (with a pilot instructor who happened to be 19 years old) on my birthday.
6. Having a bit of home come to me over in NZ. Forcing Connie to jump out of a plane, driving on the right side, and dispensing a crash course on Kiwi culture. Sweet as!
7. Winner take all at Texas hold 'em (that'd be me yup) at the warmest homiest hostel in Queenstown. Cozy warm nights learning to play shithead with Chris the english Geordie owner who wrote out the rules for me, Coco the husky howling with the fire alarm, and quite a big dvd collection.
8. The whirlwind three months spent in Christchurch (there was no way I could pick just one memory): Sayo, Stephan, Malte, Momo, Lisa, Thomas, Aki, Mario, Toby, Susanne, Kaspar, Jay. Playing monopoly, mulled wine, Lyttelton, Shooters, Pak n Save, always running to the shuttle stop, being moved while still sleeping so they could make the bottom bunkbed, too many girls at IAG, a million potlucks, playing rummy, room 21, Cadbury & Whittaker's chocolate, working for the tobacco industry, the Tranzcoastal train.
9. Adventures with Mark & Dave. Dating "by the book" turned out to be stifling. But Valentine's Day was perfect to a T: delicious Japanese food, wine, box of chocolates, and a movie - all a girl could ever ask for.
10. The breathtaking heartstopping view from the top of Mt. Iron in Wanaka and Queenstown Hill in Qtown. Never wanted to stop looking.
11. Coming to realize the immateriality of materialism and adopting a strong belief in low-impact living. An empty plate is a clear mind. There is too much mental clutter and distraction in our world I think. Important things get buried under the pressing daily trivia. A realization that was sorely needed for an admitted materialist (me).
12. The birth of Abby, adorable well-behaved pioneer of the next Chen generation.
13. Spending two blissful weeks with Stephan in NY. The best night by far was having a romantic dinner at Madison Bistro and then seeing the amazing Lion King show. *swoon*
14. Rediscovering the fun of baking! And getting fancy on the decorations thanks to a few handy tools.
                
( double oh seven )
As for New Year's resolutions.. I think I've made some great strides on last year's but I need to keep plugging on.
New Year's Resolutions for 2008
1. Keep up the long-distance running. (5 miles is my current best!)
2. Find a worthwhile job that I enjoy.
3. Keep everything in its proper perspective.
4. Complain less and man up. (haha)
5. Be more patient with people.
6. Readily forgive and forget, no holding grudges.
My entry is a little late this year but have a happy and healthy new year everyone!
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| polka . chic |
[27 Oct 2007|01:13pm] |
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Hello mates! My New Zealand pictures are all finally up at www.polkadotchic.com. Have a look if you're interested! There's been four more months of pictures added.
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| mfa floor plan + railroad enthusiasts club meeting |
[22 Sep 2006|11:33pm] |
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Mid-clean-sweep, I found some old brochures from last year on which I'd scribbled all over with thoughts when I was waiting in south station which never made it to lj then. I'm putting them up for posterity. It's funny reading them now.
Fall/Winter 2005.
#1
As Will says in About A Boy, each person is the star of their own show. Looking at people in public train stations, subways, especially subways, it's fun to think how each person you see has their whole life to worry about. Like your friends, family, co-workers, doctors, they all have their distinct worries, distinct lives. Wants, needs, dark pasts, secrets, loves. Like your life times a billion. Thinking about that sitting on a subway - it startles you. It's fun to think up the lives of the people in your subway car given their looks, ethnicity, clothes they're wearing, books they're reading, how much make-up they have on, their expressions, how many wrinkles they've got, what they're carrying.. It makes you love everyone. Sitting, looking at everyone immersed in their own world, you know nothing of them, nothing whatsoever about the very real living human beings right around you for that momentary fraction of your life. I love it. Sometimes I have the unearthly desire to get up and say I love you! I love your lives, I love your experiences and thoughts and worries because they are just like mine. Exactly like mine. You just don't know them, that's all.
#2
One of the best feelings in the world. Being at a place with lots of people, friends. Excitement, playfulness, competition even. The moment after the relatively quiet intro of an awesome song when the first loud downbeat hits your ears and your mood just skyrockets with having one of your current favorite songs played somewhere. And it seems like it's just for you. At just the right moment. It's the single best moment for me at any party or get-together. It's that insane adrenaline rush that you first got in 7th grade when they played your (and everybody else's) favorite pop song and everyone is just jumping up and down with the energy capable at that age. It still carries over even now, that rush.
#3
I was thinking at some point about parents and how their children, consciously or not, sometimes end up spending half their lives overcoming the bad habits/personality quirks/issues picked up from their parents. After an interesting stint in China with people that I thought I knew, I realized that I shouldn't be worrying so much about the results of my own upbringing and get down on my knees and thank my parents for being so amazingly awesome. Never once have my parents forced me to even think of pursing a career purely of their choice. Nor have they ever forced any of their personal lost aspirations on me (ok piano doesn't count). They've been such reasonable open-minded asian parents, sometimes I wonder why they are so different from the stereotypical, and sadly true in many cases, portrayal of asian parents.
I feel that, thanks to them, I have all the tools to be a useful contributory member of society with relatively few hangups. It's easy to say that one feels so about oneself but is it the truth? Let's hope so.
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| there and back again |
[19 Sep 2006|07:28pm] |
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It seemed like a good idea to create a new livejournal for the next year.. I guess it will be more like a diary journal than this one.. maybe? So if you're interested, it's aprilinnz
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| my new sculpting license |
[17 Jul 2006|05:36pm] |
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I get why they used to spend hours zooming through those winding roads around the Rock, because it's so fun! Not that I was zooming this weekend, it was more like "travelling sedately", but trying to drive smoothly on some winding roads here I felt like I was carving a sculpture with my hands. It was mesmerizing heh.
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[22 Jun 2006|10:40pm] |
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I think I understand why you always hear about psychiatrists committing suicide. It's the most frustrating thing to not be able to change things outside of yourself... in other people. And it's hard to see people suffering day in and day out because of these problems that you feel like you know the solutions to. But even if you point it out to them, it's only really through something fundamental clicking in their head that can make things change.
When it's people you really care about, it's unbearable to watch because you know it may never change. I feel so powerless.
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| random blip |
[11 Jun 2006|10:19pm] |
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Whenever I go shopping, I always feel bad for those guys that are forced to go with their girlfriends/wives and instead of standing around looking downright bored and cranky they try to be helpful and an active participating shopping companion and say things like "look, 65% off sale!" or they give comments on whatever the girl/wife is looking at like "I think that bag is too big on you" or "it doesn't really match with your clothes." I always think "damn this is what you guys have been reduced to?? T_T" It's more fun shopping without them... not to mention they get to keep their dignity intact.
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| the real world isn't so real |
[29 May 2006|10:08pm] |
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It's so much easier to get to know people by "what school do you go to, what do you study, where are you from?" than "what do you do?" It's not like your occupation defines who you are really, specially not for like 90% percent of the working population. True your studies don't necessarily define you either but it gets a lot closer.. Damn that's one of the few things I really miss from the student years..
Everything is so covered by a thick veneer when it comes to chatting as adults, or maybe it's just the easy way out that most people take. How do you not take that route and still accomplish the apparent aim of blanket amiability?
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| just this one time. |
[30 Mar 2006|11:09pm] |
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Maybe I was born to be a psychiatrist after all. Not a psychiatrist for the "real" crazies, like the schizophrenics or the manic depressives, but for the normal people, the ordinary folks you see walking down the street, you and me. With a fair amount of people I think I can see straight down into them and see how they view things and how everything looks from their eyes and what kind of opinion they'd have on things. For me it's easy from this standpoint to feel one thing, naturally, that is, to focus on their faults and want to help them become better people. But I had two assumptions: 1) that everyone wanted to be a better person, wanted to get to the point of having shiningly virtuous character, and 2) that people would be willing to cooperate with other people, that true teamwork was even possible.
You would think, no okay, I think, no, thought, that maybe people would like to be gently steered in the right direction, from an outside view, from a not unbiased but caring enough outsider. But it is just too easy to get defensive when you feel you're being attacked in any way, even if it isn't done in an antagonistic way, and society is not a cooperative effort enough for people to feel it as their instinct to accept other people's constructive criticism (given that it is delivered in an acceptable manner). This devastation of my assumptions is wholeheartedly crushing. I think it is the innocent, Anne-ish, pure piece of heart that I have left to view the world and people, and it is being turned on its heel, and completely disappointed. My faith in people to do the right thing is fading. People would rather just stick to the straight and narrow, the comfortable, the convenient, the age-old, the easy. But anyway that's something I have to deal with myself, but I wanted to say one thing in the entry to everyone else, for me at least. I want to know my faults, I want to know what is unacceptable, unreasonable. I fall prey to the same nearsightedness as everyone else that I complain about, and I know that, so I WANT that outside view, that not unbiased but for-my-benefit advice. And if you're close to me, I might instinctively say some defensive offhand comment in response to that advice, or brush it off lightly like it's not true, but you know what, it will stick with me. I WILL think about it, and it will reach me and affect me, even if you can't see it, or when I don't openly acknowledge the changes afterward. But I want you all to know that. And I trust that I will have the strength to make those necessary changes when they are brought to my attention.
"Don't take it personally." It's hard not to take another person's high-handed belief in their opinions and no one else's, personally. Aren't they saying they believe your opinion is not worth squat? How could you stand for it? How could anyone stand for it? Don't take it personally is just another one of those ways that you deal with the "many different kinds of people in the world." In effect, "you can't change their personality, so just deal with the outcomes." But it was still the first part of that advice that I was wrong about, changing people for the better.
I really hate people sometimes. Stubborn, daft, unhelpful, selfish. Please, why were humans born with so many problems? Whoever said they were necessary for ANYTHING? Or rather, why has our society become so pitifully pathetically mean and small-minded and DUMB? What a joke.
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| where's my rainbow? |
[12 Jan 2006|07:35pm] |
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I think that at times we forget to be happy.
In our lifelong pursuit of happiness, we get caught up in our unhappy troubles, our obstacles to happiness, and get so used to being in some way or other discontent, that when the times come around when there aren't any major stones in the road anymore, we don't realize it and more importantly don't realize that the lack of troubles really equals not simply a not-unhappy time but rather a free ride to happiness.
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| can I get back to you on that? |
[04 Jan 2006|10:00pm] |
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I feel like the guy in that cell phone commercial when his college friends all call him up and act loud and dumb and college-humor-funny while he's at work. I still feel like a college kid inside. I'm not ready to be "professional".
I guess all the outer trappings just come with the territory. It's cool I guess but stomach-turning at the same time.
Woohoo for some income! But boohoo for health insurance premiums and student loan payments!
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| as anne shirley says... |
[31 Dec 2005|11:30pm] |
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This year-ending business seems to be more significant to me than other years.. I suppose it's because of graduating and being out in the real world now...? So I felt like making a list of good memories from 2005..
Highlights of 2005 (in no particular order)
1. Visiting Japan and having an absolutely awesome trip thanks to lovely miss Kyoko.
2. Being front-row at the Weezer concert and taking a picture with Brian and getting an autographed pick from Scott.
3. Being forever immortalized and introduced to hundreds of Brown students by way of my cognitive science demonstration video which I wrote, directed, helped edit, and starred in hahaha doesn't that sound funny?
4. Being on the film crew of the Double Blind tv show.
5. Having a spectacularly fun time at our mini-reunion (minus Rachel sadly) at the Rock.
6. Climbing the great wall of China solo because everyone else was either sick or too tired.
7. A lifelong ambition realized: having blue hair!
8. Taking a road trip to Montreal on a spur-of-the-moment weekend trip with two virtual strangers and my wonderful ex-suitemate Juliana.
9. Luxuriating on the picturesque beach in Tulum, Mexico with Cami and the crazier-than-crazy party at Coco Bongo that first party night.
10. Shaking Bill Clinton's hand when he came to speak at Brown.
11. Finally breaking my 10 year habit of nail-biting and actually having long nails.
So there goes 2005.. It's kind of sad now that I think about it, like a chapter in my life closed. But I must keep my eyes open to the new chapter that has begun.. and through which I apparently seem to be dragging my feet. ;P
I got a fortune cookie today that said "Do not desire what you do not need" and I thought it was a pretty appropriate piece of advice for me. And along that line, I decided to make up a list of new year's resolutions this year for the first really official time. I figured that it would be a nice thing to have written down which I can square myself up to at the end of next year.. so here goes.
New Year's Resolutions for 2006
1. Exercise more
2. Become an expert at machine sewing
3. Don't lose focus on the important goals, no matter what the present is like
4. Keep a confident outlook on everything
5. Be proactive! Stop being such a lazy bum. Sometimes it is infinitely more useful to just stop thinking and do.
6. There would be a million more things I'd list, but it can all be nicely summed up in one sentence: be more like tohru honda.
Happy New Year everybody! I hope we can keep in touch this coming year and off into the future. But what am I saying, now IS the future isn't it? Every day is.
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| visit to the alma maters |
[03 Nov 2005|06:23pm] |
           
p.s. hip hop musicians have nothing better to do at night these days than watch cartoons? mf doom and danger mouse collaborating on an album inspired by adult swim? and kanye's touch the sky mentions lupin the third? crazy cool.
( the epitome of a perfect autumn day )
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| china |
[02 Nov 2005|01:43am] |
It was about time that I traveled to China and saw what the big hubbub was all about.. I admit, I was a little disappointed though. To me, the cities all had the same kind of look and feel, it reminded me of Taipei. Not to mention the horrible air quality, I felt like it would have been a very bad thing to take a really deep breath, probably would have ended up coughing and hacking or something.. And the second week I was there it was Golden Week, meaning EVERYONE had the week off and was out and about... it was sooo crowded everywhere.. sheesh, never again.
I thought Beijing was cooler, having all the historical sites. But the historical places seemed kind of poorly kept and kind of random at some points. The gardens in Hangzhou were pretty cool, really big and maze-like.. Me and my cousin got completely lost and almost missed getting back to the bus on time. That was fun.. sort of.. running through all these tiny garden rooms filled with tourists milling about and trying to ask people (who ignored us) how to get out.
Climbing the great wall was a lot of fun.. quite the exercise though. When I was running down the steps, it was funny seeing all the mostly Chinese people climbing up huffing and puffing and wheezing and gasping for air haha. I'm sure I was like that too when I was going up.
Surprisingly enough, the people weren't AS rude as I had expected, though I had started out with pretty low expectations. What's with people thinking cutting in line is a perfectly decent thing to do? I remember reading in the NYT about how the government is trying to promote teaching manners programs, and putting up billboards about not spitting and lounging about in public wearing pajamas.. All so that China can put up good appearances for the 2008 Olympics. They still have a loooong way to go.
Also, I thought the Chinese guys there were cuter than the ones in the US. I think it's because everything is made for them, their physiques, hair, etc.. The clothes and haircuts were flattering on them as opposed to here where abc guys have to fit in with the american standard that's not really intended for them.
ok so pictures..
                                    
( hope you enjoy them )
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| promises forever young |
[22 Oct 2005|08:27pm] |
It's an interesting idea. You love someone so much that you don't want to be a burden to them if the feelings are not/should not be mutual. Or maybe you're afraid that it's not mutual because you sit and observe, or maybe think about it. So you never bring it up, you never show it, you never confess. Is that a good idea? You don't want to be a bother or worry them because you are pretty close to sure that it isn't mutual so you just keep it inside.
Am reading a book where that happens. Is that too overly selfless or is it honorable? I can't quite figure it out. Does it apply to guys as well or is it only for girls? Isn't it just a chance for major misunderstandings? But it's true, what if you bring up your feelings and you find out that it's not mutual? Then what? You've bothered the other person, and if they have at least a little empathy toward you they WILL worry about it. So then what is the best thing to do?
I think maybe it comes from different cultures and the way they deal with things? I can easily imagine the situation not being a very big thing and quickly forgotten by some types of people, and by others it is something that will forever strain and even destroy the relationship.
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| new leaf, part trois |
[13 Oct 2005|09:23am] |
I feel like this journal is dying.. or I've lost sight of what I wanted to accomplish with a journal. The pictures posted have been few and far between lately and I never write anything anymore. After being an active reader of other people's journals I realized that I know more about these people (I think) than anybody does about me. So I guess maybe I should open up a little and write a few thoughts down.
I'm posting these entries in xanga as well because there are different groups of people on each site and I would like both groups to know me a little bit better hopefully. I think the lack of posting has been, in part, due to a fear of being misjudged by my entries.. or worrying too much about what others will think. My moods and thoughts change so frequently that sometimes looking back at entries I wrote even not so long ago make me cringe and hope no one was reading anything I posted. So I gave up taking the time to carefully come up with entries or write super-short entries that contained minimal amounts of personality..
But I don't think that worrying about others is an issue so much anymore and I'd rather have people have an opinion of me one way or another than have no idea at all. It's about time to make some enemies isn't it? haha
P.S. Pictures from China will be coming soon, after I have sifted through several cameras & their multiple memory cards worth of pictures.. That's what happens when the Lee family is in possession of too many digital cameras..
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