Thursday, December 14, 2006

   Last post in a while
Listening to: "Bu Ming Bai" (Don't Get It) - K One

Okay, I am officially freaking out about exams nows. I'm probably gonna disappear for a couple weeks b/c I have 2 exams and a paper coming up. Right after that, my family is going to Vegas (it's become our Christmas tradition of sorts).

I should've spent this week preparing for my exams, but I was so burned out last week being sick and all. Plus, I just got addicted to Ouran High School Host Club. I can see why it's so popular. It's freakin' hilarious! Haruhi is a very different sort of shoujo heroine, which may be why I like her a lot. The moments btwn her and Tamaki are so cute! While I love Tamaki for all his outrageousness, my favorite host is Kyouya. He pretends to be all cold and conniving, but he's actually a very selfless character. It's a bit creepy how he gets all this info on people though. You know, Hikaru and Kaoru remind me of George and Fred from the Harry Potter series, only 10 times as mischievious! Ack, I need to limit myself to 1 episode per day so that I can actually get some studying done.

Tonight was the BakerShake Coffeehouse read-through. We're getting ready for the "Much Ado About Nothing" production in the spring. The director said that he wants people to come into auditions w/ a 2-3 minute memorized piece from any Shakespearean play. My first thought was "Hamlet," but that's so well known and so hard to do that I should look for something else. Not to mention that I have to think about something that corresponds w/ the role I hope to have (Beatrice or maybe Conrade if that part gets cross-casted).

Quote of the day:
"Can't say I fully appreciate the differences between the sexes anyway." - Haruhi, Ouran High School Host Club (I have to agree. If I weren't so boy-crazy in a shallow manner and unsympathetic towards girls, I could see myself in her shoes, which isn't a bad place to be. ^_^)
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Monday, December 11, 2006

   a breather
Listening to: "Little Drummer Boy" - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Whoops, didn't mean to disappear on y'all like that. I've been swamped w/ school work. The last week of classes was bad for me. So many tests and papers, and I got sick on top of that! On the bright side, I only have 2 exams, a paper, and a Japanese oral exam that's not supposed to count towards our grade. The little free time I did have last week was spent watching all of Paradise Kiss. OMG, that's an awesome series! Now I want to get all the manga. The ending is somewhat of a downer, but it's realistic, which is nice for a shoujo series. There are some really funny moments too.

I'm officially in the holiday mood now. Yesterday was both the Baker holiday party and Amanda and her roommates' party. There was a gingerbread house contest, and Katy got the idea to do Stonehenge. Then she, Daniela, and I ran w/ the idea and made druids, gods, and a human sacrifice. Everyone thought we had lost our minds, but my argument is that as the pagan representative here, I can have a sense of humor (even though I'm not a druid). You gotta give props to the old religions from which a lot of Christmas traditions originate. We didn't win, but that's okay. At the Upper 5th party (where Amanda lives), there was ton of food. At one point I wound sandwiched (and I do mean sandwiched) between Rob and David. Both guys love teasing me to death.. After we were partied out, it was roommate gift exchange time. I got a scarf from Becky and the Nutty Professor DVD from Katy. Alas, the fun is over...or is it just beginning? In any case, my little break is over.

Quote of the day: (from Paradise Kiss
George - "Friendly enough for you?"
Yukari - "You call that friendly?! That's not nearly enough to satisfy me!"
George - "Don't think the world revolves around you. I'll make you so in love with me...that every time our lips touch, you'll die a little death."
(I hope I never meet someone like George b/c he will be the end of me.)
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Sunday, November 26, 2006

   a break so short
Listening to: "Ai Lian Wo" - Chen Yi

Sorry for not commenting as frequently. All I wanted to do during my Thanksgiving weekend was sleep. You see, I pulled my 1st all-nighter last Tuesday. I had to finish my epic...or fragment of an epic since I just wasn't able to condense it. It would've been almost 100 pages if I had continued. Instead I turned in 25 pages. And the minimum for the assignment was 8 pages! Not only did I have that, I also had my Immunology test to study for. I needed to do good on that. Usually I'd just quit and go to bed, but I must've been running on adrenaline that night. I kept typing and typing, and when I took my exam, I was so wired from the adrenaline and caffiene that I finished w/ 15 minutes to spare! Hopefully that's a good thing.

As for my break, we kept having guests over or we'd go to other people's houses. The only one I was really excited about was my best friend's family. I had a lot of good food, but all I really wanted to do was to sleep, watch TV, and read Dark Side of the Moon (the most recent Dark-/Were-Hunter full length novel). Well, I got to do 2 out of the 3, especially since DSOM was the only thing keeping me awake on the flight home. I had forgotten how addicting Sherrilyn Kenyon's works are. DSOM was loaded w/ sarcasm, which got paired w/ some really dramatic moments. The funniest thing was how Susan was allergic to her lover, Ravyn, b/c he's a were-leopard.

On a random note, anybody who like Hana Kimi and/or Taiwanese dramas should listen up! The live action version of Hana Kimi, featuring Ella from S.H.E. (not the biggest fan of hers but she makes a more convincing guy than when Amanda Bynes tried to crossdress), has premiered. It looks funny.

Quote of the day (from Dark Side of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon):
Susan - "Who lives there? The Addams family?"
Ravyn - "Yes" (This is probably funnier if you know that the Addamses are Squires, aka helpers to the Dark-Hunters.)
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Sunday, November 12, 2006

   boogie time
Listening to: "Never Enough" - The Cure

Well, things have become less hectic...somewhat. Next week will be when we're performing "Death By Disco." The review we got in the school paper has eased some of my worries, but we told the guy that we still had kinks to work out, at least w/ the actors. The set turned out great. Yesterday, Amanda, Derek, Cat, and I were painting it. Cat is a brilliant designer, and the colors she and Amanda picked out were horrible in an awesome way (perfect for an outrageous disco club). I'm excited though.

I actually don't have any tests or papers due next week, but there's a lot of stuff to do the few days before Thanksgiving break. I'm creating my own epic for Mythologies, and that's gonna take a while. The idea is there, but I have to put everything to words (and relate it to what I've learned in class).

Lab is starting to take up more time though. I think I'm up to 200 vials of flies now. :o It's tiring at times, but I feel accomplished.

Quote of the day:
"A heart is a heavy burden." - Sophie, Howl's Moving Castle (the movie)
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Tuesday, November 7, 2006

   Good Japanese food makes Jen a happy person.
Listening to: "Wo Do Mei You" (I Have Nothing) - Nicholas Tse

Just a quick post. At lunch, I had the best meal I have had in a very long time. Saki, Adriene, and I went to Nippon for lunch as part of our "tutorial" for Japanese. We got a chance to use what we've learned in class and try authentic Japanese food. I was so happy that we ordered shishamo and takoyaki as appetizers b/c I remember having them during my trip. I got a big bowl of soba noodles, which only cost $6.50. Good food, at a cheap price...I gotta go here more often. Hopefully I'll find people open to trying new things, and I remember what to order. Anyway, I'm off to bed since we had a long night of rehearsal.

Quote of the day:
"Uraniwa niwa niwa, niwa niwa niwa, niwatori ga imasu." - Japanese tongue twister that translates to "In the backyard there are 2 chickens, and in the front yard there are 2 chickens." ("Niwa" can mean "2," "chicken," or "yard.")
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Sunday, October 29, 2006

   Much Ado About...Something?
Listening to: "Chou Nan Ren" (Jerk) by Huang YiDa

I just realized how fast this year is going by. There's so much to do before I can get a break. Not that I'm objecting to most of what I have to do, but if I think too far ahead, the list gets overwhelming.

This past Thursday, Becky and Katy invited me to go see "Much Ado About Nothing" performed at the Alley Theatre. They got free tickets from their English prof. We went along w/ Mimi, Meg, and Rob. Since it was raining, we all crammed into Becky's Mustang so I wound up sitting on Rob's lap for the ride. The play itself was interesting. Their interpretation was very bizarre, but it wasn't as bad as what people had been saying. The kooky costumes and set did detract from the play a little, but the actors did a good job. This makes me excited b/c we're doing "Much Ado" in the spring for BakerShake. ^_^ It's one of my all-time favorite Shakespearean plays and probably my favorite comedy (although "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is great as well). There are some great insults that get hurled btwn Beatrice and Benedick.

Last night was Rice's annual Night of Decadence. It's a party where people try to wear as little clothing as legally possible. I've never gone b/c the idea doesn't really appeal to me and you have to pay to get in. This year's theme was "A NODical Adventure: a Tribute to Seamen" (the pun is intended). I got this sick and twisted idea for a costume, in case I did decide to go. Since there are some underage members hear, I'll just say that it involves what hentai is infamous for (*cough*tentacles*cough*). ^_~ I did go to the Movie Room to check out the pre-party. The costume ideas were what I expected: sailors and pirates although Kim was the "booty." David was the least dressed, and he proceeded to sit on every girl in the room who wasn't going to NOD (me included). If it was anybody else, I probably wouldn't have stood for it, but it's David. ^^ I still wonder what people would've thought if I went thru w/ my costume idea.

Quote of the day:
"I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me." - Beatrice in "Much Ado About Nothing" by William Shakespeare (and this is why she's my favorite Shakespeare heroine ^_^)
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Friday, September 22, 2006

   I'm hungry for Smile Pasta
Listening to: "Rainbow Smile" - Cindy Wang

What a week! I had my Biochemistry exam on Wednesday, immediately followed by Protein Lab. Then I had a 2 page response paper on Absalom, Absalom! due Thursday and a 3-5 page paper for Mythologies. Writing the Mythologies paper was kinda fun b/c we got to pick our topics. I wrote about the 7 Gates of the Underworld in Sumerian and Egyptian myth. I really liked reading the Egyptian Book of the Dead. I didn't want it to be due this morning b/c yesterday, they had a student discount night at the ballet. They were performing Dracula, which featured the music of Franz Liszt. I really wanted to go. :(

I'm really glad it's Friday now. However, I've got a lot of work left to do. I'm trying to organize a mini cosplay contest for the anime club during an event that showcases various university activities. Hopefully there will be enough participants.

Recently I got into another Taiwanese drama called Weixiao Pasta (weixiao means smile). It stars Cindy Wang who plays a girl who is cursed to have her relationships end after 3 months. The title refers to a special dish she makes while working at her family's restaurant. After going through a nasty break-up, she accidentally runs into a pop star, played by Nicholas Teo. They're caught on camera in a compromising position (unintentional) so they have to pretend to be dating. The drama also stars Gino from K-One, who always rocks as playing the "cool" guy. It's kinda funny how his character in this can't get over losing his childhood love b/c his character in Zi Jing Zhi Dian experienced something similar. The theme song "Rainbow Smile" is sooo catchy. ^o^

Spell 53: for not eating faeces or drinking urine in the realm of the dead (from The Book of the Dead):
"I am the horned bull who rules the sky, Lord of Celestial Appearings, the Great Illuminator who came forth from the heat, who harnesses the years; the Double Lion is glad, and the movement f the sunshine has been granted to me. I detest what is detestable, I will not eat faeces, I will not drink urine, I will not walk head downward.
"I am the owner of bread in Heliopolis, bread of mine is in the sky with Re, bread of mine is on earth with Geb, and it is the Night-bark and the Day-bark which will bring it to me from the house of the Great God who is in Heliopolis. I am loosed from my windings, I make ready the ferry-boat of the sky, I eat of what they eat, I live on what they live on, I have eaten bread in every pleasant room."

(I remember having fun w/ Gabe, Jared, and Parker w/ crazy spells like this one. Gabe even made this our cold reading for auditions last year.)
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Thursday, September 7, 2006

   What a week, and it's not even over!
Listening to: "M" - Ayumi Hamasaki

Having Monday off did nothing to ease my workload. If anything, it encouraged my slacking off. Anyway, lots has happened, and I'll do a quick summary since I wanna go to bed at a decent time tonight.

Over the weekend, I went to my 1st football game ever w/ Sarah and her roommate. Since I only planned on watching half-time, I stayed for just 1 quarter. We lost by a point. Earlier, Becky and I journeyed into the Rice Village for lunch and to check out some stores like Z Beads and Papyrus. I want to take up jewelry making so that I can get cool beads.

Yesterday was the anime club's 1st meeting and my 1st time as president. Besides the last minute room change and projector issues (I can't work that darn thing!), it went pretty well. We had a lot of new faces show up, and I hope they're here to stay. Greg and Alex were excited about me trying to bring T-shirts back, and many people showed interest in going to Oni-con (key word: Yoshitaka Amano). As for the series, everyone loved Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex in the past so 2nd Gig is definitely our biggest hit now. I noticed that people either loved or hated Samurai 7. You have to really just let some things go and have fun watching it. SuperGals! received a lot of groans although some people found it funny. I actually liked it more than I thought I would. Finally, Chrono Crusade seems good. A few people might've had issues w/ the whole nuns w/ guns idea, but who cares? I think it's cool.

Quote of the day:
"Hey, more than 3 people showed up?" - Aramis upon walking into anime club
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Monday, August 28, 2006

   Oh, I'm ready for it...c'mon bring it!
Listening to: "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)" - Cobra Starship

I'm glad to be back at Rice. It's weird having 2 roommates, but Becky and Katy rock. This year was actually the 1st time I stuck around for Diss-O (the weekend before classes start). Usually my family stays overnight, but this year, my brother and mom start school around the same time. I managed to avoid most of the drunken debauchery, but Becky and I swung by the Movie Room to see how the guys and co. are. I can't believe they actually got a keg. 0_0

The 1st day of classes was interesting. In celebration, my friends and I all dressed in something piratey. Phil started the whole thing by wearing a pirate shirt and hat. I have my space pirate outfit. Although my schedule is masochistic, I think I'll have fun. I'm taking 20 hours (when most people are taking 15), but 5 hours of it is Intro to Japanese, which I'm pass-failing. I'm also taking Biochemistry, Immunobiology, Mythologies, Practices in Literary Study, Protein Lab, and Independent Research. Immuno seems okay; the prof is entertaining. Bioc is gonna be hard, but I'm trying my best to pay attention. Our prof mentioned Snakes on a Plane today. XD The research thing is just a continuation of my summer job. Everything else I haven't attended, but they should be okay except protein lab, which will probably kick my butt. Luckily that's only for half a semester. Why do textbooks have to cost so much?! I've spent almost $500. :(

Hunter quote of the day:
"Wanting more is the root of all evil. The concept has ruined more lives than it has ever made." - Acheron
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Saturday, August 5, 2006

   X Games time!
Watching: Once Upon a Time in Mexico (Viva El Mariachi!)

I've got my new harddrive, but now I have to reload everything onto it. That means it will still be a while before I get back into the swing of things.

Anyway, it's that time of the year again, time for the insanity known as the Summer X Games. Although I religiously watch it, I wasn't as amped about it as in the past. The action sports explosion was a double-edged sword. On one hand, it gave the athletes the recognition they deserved. On the flipside, X Games went corporate. I was pissed that they removed aggressive in-line from its competition and that some events didn't get as much coverage as others (all the female athletes got zero TV time). With no one but my brother to share my extreme sports enthusiasm, I started focusing on my other interests. However, X Games 12 has renewed my faith.

First off, I saw some athletes that I haven't seen in a couple years. It felt like I was catching up with old friends. I've seen a few of them in person when they were just starting to make a name for themselves, and I can't help but feel like I knew that they were going to be great back then. At the same time, we had some new gold medialists for the 1st time in several years. Then, I realized that the X Games have not stopped pushing the limits on what is feasible. Last night, so many new tricks were pulled off. The most notable on a personal level were Pastrana's double backflip on a dirt bike and Kevin Robinson's double flair (2 backflips with a 180). They had significance to me b/c for the first time, my mother finally understood why I love extreme sports and she enjoyed the show. Also, they reminded me of how and why I got into action sports into the first place. The 1st time I ever saw the X Games was in 1999, and watching a 15-year-old Pastrana got me hooked on freestyle motocross. At the first action sports event I attended in 2001, I saw (and met) Kevin Robinson. We've come so far since then, and all the X Games athletes continue to give me the guts to live my life the way I want it and to never give up in the face of adversity.

The only thing that would've made last night even better would be Shawn White actually landing the first 1080 on a skateboard. In the 1999 X Games, Tony Hawk's 900 inspired me and started this obsession. There's always next year for White, and I'm only half-finished with the show.

Quote of the day:
"We take these risks not to escape life, but to prevent life from escaping us." - No Fear saying
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