Sometimes being rude is not the worst thing, people

This year I am determined to be One Who Does Her Visiting Teaching. (For non-LDS friends, this is a church program where we are assigned a couple of people from our congregation to visit each month.) It's not in a "we're watching you and if you don't have enough gingham or Americana decorations in your living room then we're turning you in" way, but more of a "Hey, let's become friends so that when you need help after your seventh child is born I'll know about it and can bring nourishing cream-of-MSG-based casseroles to your home." Visiting Teaching is a little bit more fun among singles, I think, because lots of times what our sweet sisters really need is a night of chocolate, SLAs, and someone to tell them why that boy really was not even good enough for them and probably has a raging...

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Say what you will about terrorists . . .

But I think we can learn a thing or two from them when it comes to wage negotiation. Can't you just see it?Job Offerer Person: We will give you A amount.Terrorist: No. I will take C amount.JOP: What about B amount?Terrorist: Aaaaaaaand the price just went up to D. Wanna waste my time some more?JOP: Wait, that's not how it's supposed----Terrorist: ---Also? You'll be receiving a severed arm in the mail. Best wishes.They say that women especially have a hard time with negotiating and asking for more. Whereas for men it doesn't feel like this emotionally taxing, risky behavior. One reason I've heard for why men make more that women (even if they have the same job) is that when men get a job offer they're far more likely to raise the offer by a few percentage points.Ladies, we need to buck up....

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Oh. My. Gosh.

Do any of you remember this commercial? Because I absolutely do. I wanted these things almost as much as I wanted a Horse of my Very Own.Does anyone else think that the French grape girl might be Reese Witherspo...

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President Hinckley passes away

Last night text messages and emails flew around to report that President Hinckley died at home. He was 97 years old.I'll miss him, even though I know we were lucky to have him with us as long as we did. I was 15 when he became the President of the Church, and so many wonderful things have happened under his leadership. We have many more temples around the world now (including the one in Alaska), and programs to encourage education for members in developing countries. He was willing to go out and speak with the media about who we are and what we believe, and to form good relationships with leaders of other faiths and organizations. He traveled...

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Drudgery and reminiscence

I was out today with my mom to Orchard to do some shopping. I gotten myself a pair of seemingly comfortable shoes and had a hair cut, although it was more of a trim than an actual change of hairstyle.Vanity matters aside, while I was out in town this afternoon, I saw many uniform-donning students out having fun with their classmates after school, especially on such a bad, moody day like Monday. I am acutely reminded of how much I miss school. I know. I contradict myself very easily. I used to loathe the process of going to school and being in uniforms, all the angst, non-conformity and jazz. Just being out of that system, and in the reality for a mere span of 2 odd months had already made me reminisce about the days being within it, I am doomed for full fledged adulthood. Haha. But really,...

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You could send me this if you want

My sister Jenny sent me this today after seeing it at Design Mom and of course I love it.I'd kind of forgotten about the whole Valentine's Day thing. Am pretty sure I won't be getting wined and dined that night, which is fine, since I don't even drink. If I do anything special it will likely involve other women, romantic comedies, and ice cream. Maybe I'll do the VS Pajama Party for real. That would be special, I bet. I would be sure to film it and put it up here for anthropological purposes.I've moved past the whole bitter Singles Awareness Day phase, and I think it's better to either ignore VD entirely or, as I've discussed before, go back...

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As I start braiding my hair into dreadlocks

Just read the book Plenty: One Man, One Woman and a Raucous Year of Eating Locally by Alisa Smith and J.B. Mackinnon, the people behind the 100 Mile Diet website.It's about a couple in Vancouver who decided to eat only foods produced within a 100 mile radius for one year. And they were way hard core about it, too (no sugar, no chocolate, etc). It was a good read, and not just because they talked about food pretty much the whole time. If a book is about food, it's almost guaranteed to be a winner with me. And lately if it's about local food then it's even better. You remember how much I loved Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. The...

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Matchmaker, matchmaker, make meeee a match

This morning on the way to work I started listening to a podcast of NPR's This American Life. Which, remember that one time when y'all gave me all your best podcast ideas? So much fun. I've added like 35 to try out. My life is now better and more complete.Anyway. This American Life. It's about matchmaking today, and it began with an interview where a girl recapped a disastrous blind date that one of her very good guy friends arranged for her. The guy turned up hours late and completely stoned. It was not a good date, and she was left wondering exactly what must be wrong with her that her best friend thought that a late, cheap, stoned guy was the best she deserved.Come to find out, her friend chose this guy because he seemed clean-cut, and her friend thought he might be a good change from...

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One more reason to hate big trucks

Can someone tell me what it is about a wide road that makes people want to speed?Never mind that the posted speed limit is 25 mph, and never mind that the road passes right in front of an elementary school and a library. It's a wonder we don't have kids and mommies and strollers being scattered like bowling pins every day. People see that wide stretch of road and somehow mistake it for an Interstate.This is why whenever I see the cops pulling someone over on that road my cold shriveled heart is made glad.ps. In case this post really doesn't elicit a strong response from you, go check out Cicada's blog for a story that will make your eyes ble...

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Amusing

Yesterday, Alden asked me to give him 4 numbers to buy 4D (a kind of number-based lottery betting thing in Singapore, for foreigners here). I, without an hesitation, gave him this - 3567, not thinking it meant anything.Today, he called me up. The first prize number is 3527. Oh my god damned fucking Wotan, one wrong number, otherwise, he'd have won 300 odd dollars out of the $2 bet he placed. Ack, ack, ack. Anyway, that proved that my ESP skills are not bad at all, having foresaw 3 out of 4 digits correctly. I can't help it. I am psych...

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Natural selection existed for a REASON

Namely, to kill off the weak and/or stupid. Now, I'm glad we've made strides in keeping around the weak. As a 4-week early baby, my chances probably would not have been so good without a few medical advances. Of course, that's also when people thought using salad tongs to deliver babies was a rill good idea. Every time my sunglasses pinch too tightly above my ears it drives me crazy, and is probably my body's way of remembering the trauma of forceps.The stupid, though? I think the stupid might benefit from a little Darwin-style wake-up call. Like the people who run around wearing flip-flops, in January, in the snow, when it's 4 degrees outside. What is that even about? Has their mind just decided to ignore what few survival mechanisms their body still has? It's called Respecting the Elements,...

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Reminding me why I don't live in Alaska

For the last day or so we've been doing that fun thing called "freezing to death on account of it's zero degrees outside."Now, snow I don't mind. I like snow. I don't like driving in snow, but I like the principle of snow, and the way it makes everything look white and beautiful and soft. I like the way it makes sure that in the spring our reservoirs are full. I can even be happy for the people who choose to engage in foolish and/or suicidal endeavors like snowboarding. Those people are thrilled by the snow and hey, as long as they don't try to drag me off the side of a cliff then power to 'em.The cold? The cold I mind so very much. It's not even right. The inside of my nose was not meant to freeze like this. Nor were my pinkies meant to turn white, then black, and then fall off. Not that...

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How to be an aristocratic invalid

Will need to call upon the wisdom of the collective, here. A friend of mine (who I know through my sister Jenny but who I have resisted poaching because I'm just nice like that, Jenny) has just been put on bedrest because of pregnancy complications. And she's already bored out of her mind. So we're trying to come up with things that she can do to keep from going insane. Here is what I would do if I were on bedrest.Work on my list of SLAs--I still need to see Bleak House, Daniel Deronda, He Knew He Was Right, and Middlemarch. And then watch North and South and Persuasion a few more times for the hotness.Blog lots more.Call up work every day,...

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Nineteen. 19. 十九. XIX.

I am nineteen now. People would ask me about my resolutions. I have a few, I shall post them here. I think I am combining my 2008 resolutions together with my birthday's, makes things easier, I guess. It's also a guideline for how 2008 should be like, because a life without school is pretty aimless, unless you self-impose something. Some of the resolutions might seem ambitious, some idealistic, some just plain dull. Without reservations, here are they:Getting into University with ease, into the course of my choice, which is Biological Sciences. But fate has been long sealed for this.Decent and satisfying social life, which will take some effort...

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My year in cities

Found this little meme online and decided to give it a go. Just to twist the knife I did 2006 as well. You list all the cities where you stayed at least one night. I'm cheating and listing towns, because sometimes I just felt like staying in a town/campsite/darling farmhouse on the moors where I can beat the windows and bellow for Cathy to come haunt me. Which is my right.Anyway.2006:Provo, UTLoughborough, UKLeicester, UKNewchapel, Surrey, EnglandCastleton, Derbyshire, UKKeswick, Cumbria, UKHawnby, North Yorkshire, UKMaspalomas, Canary Islands, SpainPrague, Czech RepublicPreston, UKEagle River, AKAaaaand then we have this.2007L****, UTAlexandria, VAPort Orchard, WACedar City, UTYeah.2007? Kinda sucked. It's a really good thing that Alexandria, Port Orchard, and Cedar City are on that list,...

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Nineteen Tomorrow

I am turning 19 tomorrow, and I seriously don't feel a fucking thing. Odd.Anyway, I finally got to watch Secretary in full instead of bits and pieces from Youtube. It made me went awww for Lee Halloway and so tender towards Sir E. Edward Grey. When the show ended, I was feeling so proud of Lee Halloway. Now I somewhat know how is it like to be a top, to see a bottom's devotion and dedication, it's just so breathe-taking. So lethal to the soft vulnerable insides of the top. The movie is meant to be black comedy, but I think this meant alot to those in The Lifestyle. Thank you for making such a show, Stephen Sondhiem. =)"Look, we can't do this...

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Never thought I would say these words

But Masterpiece Theatre is so high up on my craplist right now.Last night I watched Persuasion, which you will remember I've been looking forward to since about the 5th of EVER. I had a couple of girlfriends over, there was hot chocolate, cookies, a somewhat-mangled peach tart, and every good thing.Things started well enough, but about halfway through Spitfire (who watched the YouTube version with me, squinting at my laptop, back in April) commented that things certainly seemed to be moving forward quickly. I said that yeah, since the movie is only about 90 minutes they kind of had to do that. But then I realized that we'd missed a scene--the one where Captain Wentworth is standing on the Cobb in the rain in Lyme Regis (don't ask me why people think it's fun to go walk in the rain and the...

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Memories

I was really bored out of my skull searching of things to watch over at Youtube, then one thing popped up in my mind, my childhood favourite cartoon - Oggy and the Cockroaches. Youtubed it. A great sense of nostlagia and a floodgate of fond memories back in my primary school days came back. I think I was influenced by my primary school friend, it was either Benjamin or Pierre. I got a stronger feeling it was Pierre. Pierre was such a badass motherfucker, to my very impressionable child mind back then. He influenced me into watching Stickdeath, wrestling and having a liking for sinister laughters. I could still remember that day after lunch break before Higher Chinese class when I walked up alone to the hall on the second level. As I walked in, Pierre brisked in my opposite direction and did...

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As if I didn't have enough politics to deal with

Between City/Library negotiations and my own constant maneuvering towards Queen of the World status, I haven't had much time for the presidential hooplah. Plus they've been talking about and running for the '08 election since approximately 1974 so if I'd paid any notice I'm sure I would be burned out on it by now. My sister Jenny raises a good point though--since these people have been canvassing nonstop for years now, who is doing their actual jobs? Wise words, o sister mine.I imagine I'll have to start paying attention soon. I played one of those candidate match games a little while back and came up with someone I'd never ever heard of. So,...

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Who says stealing Valium isn't a good idea?

You'll be happy to hear that I've come down somewhat from the get-impregnated-as-only-feasible-solution-to-job-quandary freakout. Still don't know exactly what I want or what I'm going to do, but no longer feel like phoning up K-Fed. Which, as I'm sure pretty much everyone out there will agree, is a positive step.I even almost got a good night's sleep last night. It's been snowing nonstop since Saturday, and my dear landlord decided to see to our driveway for the first time since I've lived here. Unfortunately, he chose last night at 11:45, right underneath my window, as the optimum time. Which, yeah, I possibly would have made a different choice. Bit hard to fall asleep to the sweet strains of a lawn mower eating a cat.Don't have anything funny to share today, so I hope these clips will...

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Say hello to my little friend

I have already discussed the part where I'm not cool enough to own an iPod. But my sweet mother decided that I needed one of these things for Christmas, now that both she and my dad have one.Am now well on my way to being cool. Have moved my stuff into iTunes, and will buy get a car adapter so I can once and for all thumb my nose at the redneck propaganda masquerading as radio channels and start listening to what I want to listen to, thank you very much.Am also discovering the fascinating world of podcasts. Which always used to make me think of Pod People. And, really, still does. I imagine all these pale, sluggy people huddled in their dark...

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Two Zero Zero Eight

It has been a while since I entered something, I observed. Yeah, I lack the creative drive to post something remotely interesting to entertain the readers here ever since the year of 2008 arrived.Why? Because I am formally known as an adult now, no more concession fares whenever I travel. Which suck alot, each trip to town area would cost my Ez Link around $1.90 to $2, a vast difference from the student's rate of a mere $0.75. I am a victim of price discrimination. Fuck. Not only that, reality is thrown right in my face, the essentiality of a job and a perpetual sense of stagnanation and dullness or ''sianness'' in simple laypeople's term. Everywhere...

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Taking a personal health day

And by personal, I mean mental.Last night was freaking out about my life on the phone to my sister Jen (and before that to Amyjane and then later to my parents and then after that to God, so, busy night) and brainstorming about ways in which I could just give up full-time employment all together. Not sure what it says about my current state that this was my first solution. (I had just seen Juno, though.)Me: I should just go get pregnant and married and then I could quit my job.Jen: People don't marry whores, though.I think she's broken through some sort of humor barrier lately. I'm really, really proud. Now if you'll excuse me, this whore is off to rethink her career goals. And find a baby dad...

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Overheard at my desk

From one 4-year old girl to another:"Hey, can I just follow you around in here? Because I'm pretty sure I'm going to like you."I think the dating world would be a lot easier if that kind of line worked for us. It doesn't, though.Other things that would make the dating world an easier and less bloody and crippling place:The suppression of the, "Feel free to treat me badly, mess with my head, and never, ever allow me to get over you" vibe which is emitted by many otherwise lovely and confident women.The suppression of the radar which somehow enables loser men to, without error, pinpoint the aforementioned women as objects for their campaign of f-wittage.The deletion of the social norm which says it's not right for me to stomp on the saco de toros of men I observe engaging in such behaviors.If...

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Because who wants cheap when you can have free?

If you're looking for free stuff now that you're in Christmas debt and everything, Lifehacker has put together their 2007 Guide to Free Software and Web Applications. It is the Internet's way of holding you close while feeding you chocolate and showing you pictures of Hot British Boyfriends and telling you how much it loves you.Pretty much the most beautiful words in the English language to me are "Open Source." (The other most beautiful words are "I'm waiting for you by the fountains at Pemberley.") Open Source basically means "Fabulous thing that someone created and which they decided to offer for free rather than finding a way to patent it...

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I am resolved

These are my actual Real New Year's resolutionsStep up scripture study and temple attendance. Which will help me become a wiser, kinder, more spiritual person who is perhaps less tempted to scream really foul words during traffic. Or when I accidentally stub my toe. Or, you know, when the last bite of ice cream falls on the ground. Trying, taxing stuff.Start exercising again. Need to make a more concrete goal, there. Right now it's so I can be in nekkid shape for Hawaii--which gives me 2 months. Not that I plan to be nekkid in Hawaii. Much.Start learning Spanish. Because as beautiful and sexy as The French most definitely is, it's not incredibly useful around here (naughty librarian seductions aside). We'll see if I can actually fit in a class this year or if I'll have to start out with...

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