Friday, June 9, 2006

   Date me, baby, one more time
Watching: Top of the Forbidden City

The subject refers to a book Becky lent me. It's a sarcastic paranormal romance like Dark Hunter but much more out there. It's about the Guardian of the Goblet of Eternal Youth (which has morphed into an espresso machine) and the guy whose supposed to kill her but would rather sleep w/ her (too bad his life depends on her death).

Anyway, I'm just fine and dandy here. I'm still enjoying lab. Lately, I've been helping Sonia w/ the biochemistry stuff (extracting DNA, cloning DNA into bacterial cells, and growing cultures). There's a new girl named Mallory who has taken over the nanotube project. That means I don't have another thing to occupy my time when I'm waiting around, but it's good since my flies are producing offspring. I'm starting to talk to the lab people more too. ^_^ We're a weird bunch, but what can you expect from people who work w/ fruit flies?

Dinner w/ Becky has also been going well. We've been slacking, and not much actual cooking has been done. Becky's been hooked on Kingdom Hearts 2, and I think I'm going to turn her into a FFF (Final Fantasy freak) soon. I may also turn her into a Taiwanese drama fanatic. She said she was interested in watching w/ me so we're gonna start Magicians of Love once I'm done w/ TOTFC.

I found an interesting fact today. Recently there was big news about how the new Batwoman is a lesbian. Well, it shouldn't be too surprising that they have homosexual characters in comic books. There's Mystique, who had a relationship w/ Destiny, and an X-man named Northstar. I guess this is the 1st time there has been a lesbian heroine (Mystique was bi) w/ her own series. I love how comics, especially X-men, portray individuals of different cultural backgrounds and lifestyles.

Quote of the day:
"Today Derek LaValle was going to reverse the Curse, even if it meant saving the life of his blight-on-the-family-name cousin, Les Lavalle.
"Well, okay, most of the family would claim Les was blight number two. Derek was blight number one. Except when they wanted money from him. Then Derek was blight number one with an asterik." - 1st few sentences of Date Me, Baby, One More Time by Stephanie Rowe
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Wednesday, June 7, 2006

   This is why I love numerology
Listening to: "Another World" - Gackt

This totally describes me. I got this off of What does your birthday say about you.

Your birth on the 16th day of the month gives a sense of loneliness and generally the desire to work alone. You are relatively inflexible, and insist on your being independent. You need a good deal of time to rest and to meditate. You are introspective and a little stubborn. Because of this, it may not be easy for you to maintain permanent relationships, but you probably will as you are very much into home and family. This birth day inclines to interests in the technical, the scientific, and to the religious or the unknown realm of spiritual explorations. The date gives you a tendency to seek unusual approaches and makes your style seem a little different and unique to those around you. Your intuition is aided by the day of your birth, but most of your actions are bedded in logic, responsibility, and the rational approach. You may be emotional, but have a hard time expressing these emotions. Because of this, there may be some difficulty in giving or receiving affection.

My Life Path number (7) is also spot-on w/ its description, and the other numbers come close as well.

Quote of the day:
"There's only one thing that will make them stop hating you. and that's being so good at what you do that they can't ignore you." - Colonel Graff, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (That quote...actually that book...helped me get through some tough times in high school.)
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Tuesday, June 6, 2006

   I am an Anti-Christ
Listening to: "Deep Silent" - Nightwish and Lacrimosa

06/06/06...anything apocalyptic happen to y'all. Nothing for me although I finished Dance with the Devil, and when I was looking for a dark poem to post on my Xanga, I came across a sonnet I wrote 2 years ago that now reminds me of Zarek. Weird coincidence. Btw, the subject line is not a declaration (sorry for you supporters of evil); it's from "Anarchy in the U.K." by the Sex Pistols. Hehehe I know I'm being controversial again.

Hunter quote of the day:
"Sooner or later, we all dance w/ the devil. Tonight, it's your turn." - Zarek, Dance w/ the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon
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   no turning back?
Listening to: "A Little Pain" - Olivia insp. Reira (Trapnest)

Every once in a while, I get struck by nostalgia and the few pleasant memories of high school will cause me to see what's going on there and the underclassmen I knew. I'm proud of my "fishies," called that b/c they were freshmen when the math and science club started. Several became National Merit Finalists; one's going to Columbia; another placed 6th at UIL Regionals in math; and one placed graduated in the top 5. I kinda feel like their older sister. It's a bit odd b/c we didn't hang out outside of the math and science meets. Thus we didn't really know each other, and I don't think we're going to be keeping in touch (seeing that we weren't in touch in the first place). :( *sigh* I miss them.

What has really bummed me out though is the fact that a lot of my teachers have already retired. It's only been 1.5 years since I last visited my high school, but it feels like forever. Several awesome teachers have left, and I'm sad that I didn't really get to say goodbye. I want to show them that I haven't forgetten about them. They've had a tremendous impact on my life, and it's not quite fair that I should disappear just b/c I hated the non-educational aspects of high school.

Upon graduating, I swore I'd never return to the place. I came back the winter after my 1st semester of college. It was probably too soon b/c even though everyone said I changed, I hadn'te truly grown up. Now I feel like I have since I want to visit again (1st time I went w/ a friend who isn't a friend anymore) and tell the future graduates everything I know. Just goes to show how your perspective on things change. You can put the painful past behind you.

Quote of the day:
"You don't remember me, but I remember you." - Evanescence, "Taking Over Me"
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Saturday, June 3, 2006

   My clothes coordinate w/ my underwear ^^
Listening to: "Open Arms" - 5566

Okay, the subject line was probably TMI, but it's a weird coincidence that my shirt and pants are the exact same color as my underwear. Yeah I've been in a weird mood lately.

My mom thinks I'm being anti-social, but I've been doing stuff on weekdays that it's nice to have a day off. My roommate, Jen, is also gone for this week so I'm gonna take advantage of some of that alone time and be a hermit like I was this past semester. However, I am socializing, mainly w/ Becky and Amanda. We've been having Miyazaki movie nights. So far we've seen Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, and Castle in the Sky.

Yesterday Becky and I went to eat a Miyako's. It was nice to go out and eat at a nice place. Then we went to Starbucks, and I discovered that they can make stuff that's not on the menu anymore, like double chocolate blends (or whatever it was I got one time that was not caffeinated). When I got back, Jen attempted to bake cookies, but since she's not from Baker, she didn't know that our oven is screwy. We brought the salvaged ones to the movie room. There were some interesting conversations, like usual.

Hunter quote of the day:
"Dying is easy. It's living that's hard." - Zarek, Dance with the Devil
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Friday, June 2, 2006

   oh how time slips by
Listening to: "Yong Gan Qu Ai" (Love Power) - K One

Don't worry, the mutant flies haven't taken over the lab yet! I haven't posted in a while b/c 2 recent obsessions have taken over my free time: Top on the Forbidden City and Dark Hunter novels. The former I found on youtube, and Becky has gotten the DH novels I don't have.

Top on the Forbidden City is a Taiwanese idol drama featuring the members of K One, ShaoWei from 5566, and Qiao Qiao from Sweety. Qiao Qiao is really cute as the female lead, Xiao Ying, as is JR, one of her love interests, Qing Tian. However, Gino is so cool as the male protagonist, Tian Xie. I like his character b/c even though he acts arrogant and aloof, he's a caring person inside. TOTFC doesn't have the greatest plot in the world nor the best actors yet I can't help but love the character. Tian Xie is a dancer who has trained under a world champion and a heart-breaking past. The famous dance company Royal has invited him to join them. When he arrives in Taiwan, he runs into some street performers, namely Xiao Ying and Qing Tian. Xiao Ying actually runs into him a couple times...stuff happens, and she's slowly breaking down the walls he has put up around himself. Meanwhile, the dance teacher has spot potential in Qing Tian, who becomes Tian Xie's rival. Dun dun dun...who will come out on top? I don't know yet.

You know an obsession is bad when you start dreaming about it. 2 nights ago, I had a dream involving the characters from the Dark Hunter series. Right now, I'm reading Dance with the Devil, Zarek's story. It's interesting b/c Zarek is the bastard half-brother of Valerius, whose story was my 1st DH novel. Zarek has become my favorite though b/c I can understand why he's so psychotic. A person can only stand so much pain. Once you've hit a low, the only way to go is up, and you're gonna strike back. I know what it's like to hate the world but to hate yourself even more. Poor Zarek. Yet he's so adorable in his psychotic ways (like several anime characters). ^_^ He's got a morbid and caustic sense of humor but also a poetic side. All he really wants (like all the other Dark Hunters) is some love.

Hunter quote of the day:
"[Sex was] something the body needed like it needed food. But a guy didn't have to promise a steak he was going to date it before he ate it." - Dance with the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Yeah, Zarek is very coarse and insensitive, but he wasn't that way by choice.)
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Monday, May 29, 2006

   X3 and BBQ
Listening to: "Shizuku" - Miwako Okuda

I saw X-men 3 last night. It was interesting to say the least. As a movie, it rocked; as X-men...I'm not so sure. I was okay w/ some of the changes, but there were things that just didn't seem to fit the X-men universe. A lot of my nitpicking is w/ the characterization. However, most of the major players were well done. I especially liked Beast and Angel. Of course, there was much screen time for Wolverine (seeing as the previous 2 movies also revolved around him). It's definitely worth seeing, but if you're a big X-men fan, just remember that this is someone else's interpretation of the comics.

Today Russell hosted a barbecue for several of us summer residents. After eating, it wound up just being most of the movie room crew (like it always is). Phil and Parker were at it again w/ their weird ideas, spurred on by their friend Tristan. Elyse and Eric dropped by as well. Again my little mishap at dinner earlier this year was brought up (for those of y'all who don't know the story, I proved Parker's stereotype that Asians can't jump sideways to be true ^^;;). They're never gonna let me forget about it.

Quotes of the day:
"Who said I was hiding, dickhead?!" - Shadowcat to Juggernaut (she's so cute ^^)

"You're such a moron... No wonder you're the patron god of drunken frat boys." - Artemis to Dionysus in Night Embrace
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Saturday, May 27, 2006

   Hangin' w/ the ladies
Listening to: "Hao Jiu Bu Jian" - 5566 (translates to "Long Time No See")

Work is still going slowly, which is good b/c I've been staying up late from hanging w/ Becky, Amanda, and Jen. I'm gonna start calling us the movie room girls (although we might create our own girly movie room).

Thursday, Becky and I made lemon bars, and we stayed up late talking about various things like fears, intuition, BakerShake, and romance novels. On the subject of romance novels, Becky and I are trying to get Amanda and Jen hooked on the Dark-Hunter series. I don't know if Amanda will be as eager since she's into historical romances (I like vampires and paranormal stuff ;P). Becky and I have agreed that between the both of us, we'll get all of Sherrilyn Kenyon's paranormal books. If any of y'all are curious, check out Hunter Legends (her books are divided up into Dark Hunter, Were Hunter, and Dream Hunter).

Yesterday, in celebration of X-men 3, I put together an outfit that was my interpretation of Rogue when she's not in uniform. It wound up looking kind of like something she actually wore in one scene of the comics. I'll try to get my pics uploaded this weekend. One day I'll get around to making an actual X-men costume, but the question is who I would be. Anyway, I had to explain to my co-workers in lab on why I had white streaks in my hair. After work, we had Asian food night. All of the girls decided to cook for the guys...okay it was really more for ourselves. ^_^ We had dumplings, sushi, chicken teriyaki, salmon shirayaki, sponge cake, and Jello. Then we watched Airplane. It was fun doing this together; maybe we should do it every weekend.

Quotes of the day:
"I was wondering why you would want white streaks in your hair when you're going to get them anyway...it's the nanotubes." - Vanaja, who had never heard of X-men (she's from India) and seen me assume the duty of taking care of the nanotube flies

"Psycho-ass? Hmm, I like that." - Zarek in Night Embrace by Sherrilyn Kenyon
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Wednesday, May 24, 2006

   Mutants galore!
Listening to: "Fly Me to the Sky" - angela

Lab has been great. Since I'm learning new things, I guess I'm more eager to do the work. I've taken over the duty of counting/transferring the nanotube flies. Dr. Beckingham is doing a project w/ her husband to prove that nanotubes aren't bad for living organisms. From what I've gathered so far, they're actually causing the flies to live longer! :o Yesterday, I learned how to dissect a fly brain. I've always hated dissections, and the idea intimidated me b/c it took me 3 class periods to dissect a frog brain in high school. Flies are even harder b/c you're doing it under a microscope w/ forceps and the tissue is delicate. My technique is still messy, but by the end of the day, I got a pretty good specimen. ^_^ Today, I learned how to grow bacteria. I did some of that in AP Bio, but this was much easier.

I can't wait for the release of X-men 3: The Last Stand. Unfortunately, I won't get to go to the premiere, and none of my friends (except Jen) want to dress up w/ me. I could get a real X-men costume made in this amount of time anyway. I've been a huge fan of X-men since I was around 11. It's interesting how my favorite X-men have changed and what the word "mutant" means to me (working w/ mutant flies and all). My current favorite mutants are Wolverine, X-23, and Psylocke. However, I really like the Rogue-Gambit pairing; both have grown on me. I could ramble on about the other mutants I like, but I won't bore you.

Finally, I found some full-length episodes of Da Xiong Yi Shi Jia. 5566 was guest starring as a brothers singing group called 566 (one of them was missing). It was hilarious b/c they all had outrageous personalities. The youngest one (Xiao Zhe, played by Mengzhe) would eat all the time, and then the middle one (Xiao Fu, played by Zax Wang Ren Fu) would pick on him and beat up anyone else in the way. The oldest one (Da Ge, played by Tony Sun Xiezhi) would start nagging at everyone.

Quote of the day:
"I want to be a fly larva. All you do is eat." - Sonia
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Monday, May 22, 2006

   Maggots!
Listening to: "Tifa no Theme (Piano Version)" - Nobuo Uematsu

The one downside of working w/ flies, or just biochemistry/molecular biology in general, is that you gotta stare at really small things for a long period of time. Becky is the luckiest out of all of us since she works w/ zebrafish, the largest of the model organisms we study (although the embryos are tiny). I'm gonna go completely blind (I'm already legally blind) w/ the lifestyle I lead b/c I come back from searching for fly larva and then stare at a computer screen. That or I read. Speaking of which, I've moved onto Night Embrace. Now we get the story of a caffeine-addicted, techno junkie, horny Celtic vampire slayer and a bold, scatter-brained, hippie artist. ^_^

Anyway, I spent this weekend watching stuff on youtube. I found clips from a hilarious Taiwanese talkshow, Wan Quan Yu Le and an equally funny sitcom, Da Xiong Yi Shi Jia. Most of the clips involved the boy band 5566. One of the members, Tony Sun, doesn't know English very well, and the other members and talkshow hosts make fun of him for it. LOL. This weekend, I also found out that my brother is into Moto GP. He's starting to know more than I do (b/c I've forgetten much of it :( ). Anyway, go Azn Assassin! I knew you'd follow in my motodorkiness. ^^

This morning I found out that my friend Kira is leaving for Costa Rica the end of June. She'll be there for 2 years as part of the Peace Corps. I'm bummed that we don't get to hang out before she leaves, but I'm very proud that she made it in.

Hunter quote of the day:
"But only a fool took a remote from a god." - (or me :P) Night Embrace by Sherrilyn Kenyon (only in her world would this be taken literally)
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