expensive taste
I finally got my Tiffany's necklace today, and it's absolutely adorable. And surprisingly shiny. A uh...very early anniversary gift. In return, I got Karl the snowboarding boots he wanted, and we're still waiting on the Bluetooth headset.So do any of you know the Korean series "Winter Sonata"? Today, I wore this necklace I'd bought from a department store in Taipei like...8 years ago. It's white gold, with stars trailing down. I really didn't believe Patrick when he said it was the Polaris necklace from "Winter Sonata" until I saw it myself online at yesasia.com. I'm still in shock. Who would've thought my silly little 12-year old self would've picked up on such great memorabilia? It just feels good to have the original, not just a replica from a Korean drama. My mom would be proud. My dad already thought it was funny. But the weird thing is, this isn't the first time this has happened. In "Miss Mermaid" (another Kdrama), this girl was wearing the same top that my sister had bought from Taipei two years earlier. It wasn't even like a generic top thing--it had a really intricate pattern, with layers of lace and mesh and print and glitter. It was from some European designer, I think French, and cost my relatives way too much money. But it's funny because the episode the girl was wearing it, she was bragging about how her mother was a fashion designer and how she always got the trendiest clothes to wear.Oh! And recently we found a pair of earrings my sister had bought in NY in "eF" (Japanese equivalent of "Vogue"). She'd bought it for like...$5, so it wasn't the exact ones, but you really can't tell.You know, for an English major who emphasizes on writing poetry, I am really superficial. I really don't know how I get myself to work sometimes, just being pulled in these two extremes. I love stuff. Ever since I was little, my favorite exhibit in the museums has always been the precious gemstone collection. And once, when I was like 6, I was complimented by a salesclerk in Taipei for picking out the most expensive watch out of the collection (to the chagrin of my parents, whose friend had just offered to buy me any watch I'd wanted). It's all about having a good eye, and people who love you enough to indulge you.But seriously, shopping is cheaper than therapy. I know this makes me happy, so why deprive myself? What if I become depressed? Depression medication is expensive, you know. Hiring a psychiatrist is even more so. So call these indulgences psychosis prevantatives, if you will.
new guy in town
HUGE announcement: I have just decided that Sawyer from "Lost" exceeds Wentworth Miller in hotness. This is probably because I think "Prison Break" sucks serious ass right now. Sawyer's just got so much swagger and attitude.
And is it so unfair that I think almost every hot actor looks like my boyfriend? No, but seriously, over the last few years, I've heard people relate him to so many different people. Top 2: Matt Damon and Jared Padalecki (from Supernatural/Dean from Gilmore Girls).
My sister thinks he looks like Adam Brody, and other ones I've heard are Shane West and Heath Ledger. I guess that's what you get for being a good looking white guy. Or just white. Ha!.....Oh come on. Being Asian, I've heard people relate me to everyone from Zhang Ziyi to Michelle Kwan. Just because those are probably the two most famous Asian actresses. And I look nothing like them.
I'm in love with Yusef Komunyakaa now. He gave THE MOST INTENSE poetry reading today. I was shocked. No wonder he emphasizes the sounds of words so much. Louise Gluck was also really good, but I was a bit disappointed that she didn't read any of her older stuff that I love so much. Not that her new work isn't good; I'm just not used to it yet. The poems are very mellow, but they still have that same rage.
I want to travel. I want to want to travel enough that I do travel. Does that make sense? It's very hard to move me, but I know I have to keep myself from progressing to agoraphobia.
the unbearable lightness
It's been a while since I've been able to write an earnest entry without distractions. This is probably why I can never live in California or any other sunny place: I can't seem to write unless the room's dark and everyone else is asleep. A kind of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde thing. In the daylight, I'm stuffing my feet into 80% off shoes and wondering how to better contour my eyes. Then now, I'm completely collapsed within myself and grappling with how to better express myself. Ah, the duende.
I haven't been to church in almost a decade (and this was from going every week since I was little), yet I find myself growing more and more spiritual every day. I'm determined to finish reading the Bible and also to find a church that I feel comfortable going to. I don't know why this change is occuring--I just know that it is. I wouldn't say I've lived a very Christian lifestyle, but over the last year, I've cleaned up quite a bit. I've never done drugs (not even weed), quit smoking, and haven't been drunk since Halloween. Part of me wonders if the lifestyle changes are spiritually based, or if I'm just getting older.
But to tell you the truth, Christianity scares me. Maybe not the religion, but definitely the people. Yesterday, I surfed through some televangelism shows, and I couldn't help holding back laughter. The sermon was just so dumbed down so that the average American could understand it, and it was simplified to the point that it became unbelievable. Then I watched a Catholic mass with all of the chanting and kissing and making symbols, and I don't buy that either.
One thing I've always wondered is this: exactly how educated is the average pastor or priest in America? Would an atheist English major understand the Bible than someone raised Christian? I don't want to start a debate or anything; it's just something I think about, and perhaps why I don't really trust churches and spiritual leaders. I don't really plan on getting baptized either, though that may well change in the future.
So, that's all I'm going to say about religion.
It may seem like I'm only trying to lighten the mood, but I'm being completely serious. I've found a new love: DSW. You can find such great deals there, and you don't even need to ask some bitchy salesclerk for your size. I've finally broken my curse with shoe-buying and am starting to appreciate what other women around the world have already discovered. Shoes can be cute without being expensive.
I really wish I could get started on my essay. The topics are just so way over my head, and the last thing I want to do is analyze Spenser to death. Fortunately, essay-writing's gotten a lot easier after being forced to write paper after paper without so much as a week's break. AND....I still have my students' papers to revise and quizzes to make and homework to assign.
OBJECTIVE: LOSE 5 POUNDS FOR SWIMSUIT TRYING-ON SEASON
APPARATUS: A KIND YET STERN INDIVIDUAL TO DRAG MY FAT ASS TO THE GYM
PROCEDURE: WILL AWARD $10 FOR SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: BITES AND KICKS
fucking (flying) high
Umm...guess who just won $15,000?
That's right. MY BOYFRIEND. For being a 2006 Goldwater Scholar and the biggest nerd I know. I'm so so proud =D. It's really hard to get the award, especially as a sophomore, so I guess it pays to have a 4.0 and lots of ambition. See, I can't brag about myself, but I have no qualms bragging about Karl because he deserves the recognition. He's also a hottie, knows Chinese, cooks, bakes, and gives great foot rubs.
...ANNNNNND...yesterday, he bought me the Tiffany's necklace I've been dying for!!! See, he got it for me BEFORE he found out he won all that money, so it means even more to me. It's a double heart pendant shaped like the infinity sign, so it's classy and meaningful. Sigh. I'm the luckiest girl in the world.
I'm also lucky because ever since I've been home, my mom's cooked up a storm. My family's great, and I didn't realize how much I'd missed them until I came back. I don't know what I'd do if I wound up on the west coast for grad school/law school/work. Probably convince them to move there too. I'm also really thankful that they get along so well with Karl, and they frequently take his side when I'm misbehaving or something.
Mom: Karl! No more buy Tiffy gifts! So greedy...
Dad: Tiffany! Stop bothering Karl! He needs to work so that if you get married, he'll have a good job! So annoying...
My parents are convinced that I'm the worst girlfriend in the world. I'm basically the person they'd been afraid I'd date: unproductive, high-maintenance, and annoying. But at the same time, I think they're also grateful that I found someone who forces me to work hard. I wonder what his parents really think of me. I can be really stupid around adults.
By the way, finding out the uncensored version of James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" really changes the whole meaning of the song. Oh! And "V for Vendetta" was worth seeing, though a little disappointing because it lacked adequate plot twists.
mo' cowbell
I was on Facebook and saw an ad for a shirt that said "More cowbell." I couldn't help but think back to 5th grade, when I actually played a cowbell for the entire length of a song. That makes me cooler than you are. I couldn't feel my arm for hours afterwards though. God, I love Will Ferrell.
I should sleep. It's just so hard during midterms week because I could be using that time to study. Instead, I just surf facebook and come up with haikus to post on Karl's wall. It's actually a good one, and 100% true. He's not too happy about it, but I've convinced him to keep it up there.
I'm really hungry, but I have to walk over to Lourie to heat up some Easy Mac, and that's just not worth it. While I was walking by Spelman today, I smelled ramen and have been craving it ever since. I love the kind that's cooked on the stove and so spicy that it creates this inch-thick layer of oil on the top. Sometimes I add an egg to make sure it soaks up all of that oily goodness. Then lick the bowl clean.
I wonder how "Naruto"s going; ever since DC++ stopped at McCormick, I haven't been able to watch any. Naruto makes me think of ramen too, and now I'm just super hungry. I think I'll hibernate and hold off the hungriness for tomorrow morning.
the carver
For a while, I had this irrational fear that the Carver would just pop up behind me when I open the bathroom door (or any door), and it made me want to learn kungfu. But seriously, the Carver creeps me out, and until I get up to the episode where he gets caught, I'm not going to feel safe.
So I got my lobster. Then threw up. Apparently I'm allergic. Funny how these things work out. You look forward to something, then it just kicks you in the cooch.
I ordered Teriyaki Boy and am looking forward to it getting here. They have a tendency for losing orders though, so I'm a little on edge. Mmmmm scallops...Hopefully I'm not allergic to scallops too. I think I'd cry. There's nothing worse than your body telling you what you can or cannot eat.
Okay, why are jeans so fucking expensive?? I remember when they sold 7s at Express, and they were all like under 100 bucks. I mean, for $180, I can get:
A. 3 pairs of decent jeans and not worry about them getting ruined.
B. The double heart Tiffany's necklace I want, but haven't ordered yet.
C. 2 Swatch watches (check out their spring line, seriously, they're awesome)
D. 2 dinners at Frog and Peach
E. 1 pair of Fendi sunglasses
F. 2 pairs of Juicy Couture pants
G. Dior eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, lipliner, lipgloss
I'd rather have any of those than just another pair of jeans with "special stitching." And yet, strangely, I don't know if this is just peer pressure, but I'm very very tempted to just throw in the towel and get a pair of 7s just to see what all the fuss is about. Almost. Not quite yet.
narcissa
That was my nickname in middle school. I don't know what my nickname in high school was because people probably used it out of earshot.
But anyway, that's just a preface for what's to come. I really need to figure out if I should change my hair. This is crisis, people. Hair can make or break a person. This is why it's really unnecessary to spend a lot of money on clothes, especially if your hair looks like crap.
And here's another thing: I'm going to try an at-home dye. Maybe. I never really trust those things, and it's harder to lighten your hair with at-home kits than to darken it. So I really don't know. It'll save me a lot of money though considering I need to get my hair redyed every month just to keep the roots from showing.
Proud moment of the week: I have managed to restore my account to pre-snowboard/handbag levels. I didn't think I'd be able to do it so soon, but I have, and it makes me very very happy.
I also need a pair of black sneakers considering I ruined mine at Terrace during pick-ups. To be honest, they were already falling apart, but you can barely notice unless you're right up on my feet. But I have a SERIOUS DISORDER. I absolutely HATE shoe-shopping. Once, Karl tried to make me finally go into a store and buy sneakers, and I started freaking out and screaming. Honestly, it's that bad. Carrie Bradshaw would be shocked.
I also need to buy more panties and socks so I can do laundry less often. Like, maybe so I can do them once a month (at most). And I've been dying for lobster. I must have lobster soon, or else. Lobster, with lemon and melted butter....mmmmm....
