April 28, 2005
Paula and Stephen's Wedding was nice and simple. Despite it being a translated ceremony, it was just about an hour. The photos took a while though. Haha... that's what happens when you're a pastor, I guess! Wish I could've stayed a while longer, but my family rushed off to Niagara Falls right after (haha... honeymoon capital of the world, of all places!). Would've been nice to chat with the bride and groom! Ooh... Paula... all grown up and married off!
Niagara Falls was not bad. Drabby weather all weekend long, but everything else was okay. However, I have seen into the eye of materialism, and it's ugly. Why they heck would people spend their hard earned money on money sucking machines? So silly! But, hey, the casino has a pretty awesome buffet! It's well worth the 20 bucks a pop they charge, with the endless amounts of shrimp, snow crab legs, tortellini with gargonzola sauce, prime rib, veal chops, cheesecake, black forest cake, soft serve twists, drinks... now if you get your hot little hands on a 2 for 1 coupon, it's even better! :oD The only catch is you have to be 19 and over to get into the buffet... I got IDed and stamped. Yay. You don't have to gamble to eat, so it's goodness. :o)
Oh! Another cool thing is we FINALLY got ourselves to a Bath and Body Works in Buffalo. Their soaps are super cheap for their quality, and their lotions are just superb. Gotta love it! Beats Body Shop anyday. Sharon got me hooked on it after her Sweet Pea lotion gift. Mmm... too bad I hafta get a two-hour ride just to buy some. :oP Tania's job as our family's B&BW dealer remains... :o)
After getting back to 'sauga... I've done nothing. Did laundry. Baked cookies. Made lunch. Strummed on the guitar. Watched Lost, Joan, and bits of Sweet Home Alabama and Fruit Chan's Little Cheung. And, of course, ate more food. Yes, all my pound-packing occurs within the time between terms. :oP Let's see... yesterday, I had to get out of the house, and I was craving ice cream and also needed some Higgins and Burke Pear Green Tea, so I dragged my sister with me to Highland Farms. Not that she's unwilling... we go there for fun. We browsed around and got kosher matzo balls in chicken soup and a bulgarian imported roasted red pepper spread. AND I found my beloved LeClerc Chocolate Muffin Bars way back from my Ottawa days. So gooooooooooood!!! Today, mom took me to have HK fast food at Hollywood (love that stuff, even though it's way greasy), and then Auntie Elena treated my family (specifically, my sister for her b-day) to Korean BBQ and Hot Pot. It was great, and the waitresses were so nice. I'd go again, but not do the double thing again. That's just too much.
Haha... my life revolves around food. Not that it's bad. I LOVE food! I should join a food club or something. Mmm... :o)
April 21, 2005
It's nice to be done exams. :o) It's nice to be able to listen to The Everglow by Mae (I hope you're enjoying the stream too, if your speakers are turned on). It's nice to sleep in. It's nice to hang out at the mall, even if it's with mommy. But home is making me rather lazy, so perhaps it's better that my time here isn't that long.
Anyway, a few updates on this site. I revamped the CD review section somewhat, and added the mini-review for The Everglow. There are also some new stories in the Reading Room. That's about it.
Things that are coming up: My eye doctor appointment. Paula's wedding. Trip to Niagara Falls (and Bath and Body Works! Sweet [pea]!!!). Moving into WCRI. My fourth co-op term at the psych department. All shall be interesting...
SONG OF THE MOMENT
Wasted time
I can not say that I was ready for this
But when worlds collide
And all that I have is all that I want
The words seem to flow and the thoughts
They keep running
And all that I have is yours
All that I am is yours
Painted skies
I've seen so many that cannot compare to your ocean eyes
The pictures you took that cover your room
And it was just like the sun
But more like the moon
A light that can reach it all
So now I'm branded for taking the fall
So when you say "forever," can't you see?
You've already captured me
"The Sun and The Moon", Mae (from The Everglow)
One of the most simple and delicate songs I've heard in a while. Mae has really perfected that art. And that last line gets to me every time. Oh so gorgeous!!!
April 15, 2005
Wow... can't believe this is the last entry I'll be making from Eby Hall. I don't think it's kicked in that I'm moving out *tomorrow*. It's been one awesome term, finally being able to live with Marianne, and having such great housemates in both her and Mimi. :o) God has definitely blessed me lots and lots this term.
Highlights (in alphabetic order):
- Alpha. What a breathtaking experience!
- ARTS 301. Another mandatory, kick-butt history course! Oh, poor me. :oD
- Bowling. Goooooooood times with the MLs during reading week!
- Camera. Video option. Butter chickenburgen. (Oh the possibilities next term!) ;o)
- Co-op job. God graciously granted me one during the first phase. He's SO cool!
- Eby Hall 605. Close, clean, and comfy! Albeit small, it's a great place to live and I'll miss it much.
- Housemates - Marianne and Mimi. An enjoyable and fun term with such awesome gals... not having had this since CLT.
- Lent. Being able to draw close to God after removing these earthly distractions.
- MCBC grand opening. Praise the Lord for such a beautiful new building. Would you also bring healing, Lord.
- Winter Retreat. Only with His strength, and the support of so many caring and passionate brothers and sisters, was this possible. *Clap clap clap clap, CLAP CLAP!!!
- Yunping. So glad to be able to hang out with her so much this term. :o)
Haha... Dave from Mae is belting out "just driving awaaaaaaaaaaaay... leaving it all behind" right now, from Summertime. A fitting but sad end to an awesome, blessed term.
Thank you, Lord!
And now, things to look forward to in the near future (chronological):
- Relaxing. All 'em books packed away. Me reading a book or writing a story or two. Listening to Mae's The Everglow. Ahhh...
- Paula and Steve's wedding. Oh. My. Goodness. Paula's going be a Missus!!! So exciting!!!
- Niagara with the family. And that buffet that David mentioned about back when I was at Seneca!
- WCRI. Close, and comfy, and BIG! Praise God for making it work out, so close to the end of the term.
- Jasmine and Todd's wedding. I get to visit her farm, and of course, witness the big event! I hope it doesn't clash with...
- ...family trip to BC. Still in the planning stages, but it's about time to get out to the west coast and see what it's all about! Sweet!
- Living on Lester. With Becca and Marianne, though yet has to be finalized. I hope it will be good times. :o)
*happy sigh* The Lord is so good to me.
SONG OF THE MOMENT
You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song
You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song
You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song
And I will sing again
You are so good to me
You heal my broken heart
You are my father in Heaven
You ride upon the clouds
You lead me to the truth
You are the Spirit inside me
You are my strong melody, yeah
You are my dancing rhythm
You are my perfect rhyme
And I will sing of You forever
You poured out all Your blood
You died upon the cross
You are my Jesus who loves me
You are my father in heaven
You are the spirit in side me
You are my Jesus that loves me
"You Are So Good To Me", Third Day (from Offerings II: All I Have To Give)
Just popped into my head. What a gorgeous and truthful song. :o)
April 13, 2005
Had a pleasant pho lunch discussing TV, music, and politics (haha, but it's true!) with Elliot today. Thanks for Veggie Rocks! It's been a long time coming. I love the CD swaps... and being able to *discuss* the "weird" music I'm into with him! A good music buddy Elliot makes. :o)
Also, after picking up my quiz and last assignment for 292, I headed to Farah's for milk and a copy of Entertainment Weekly, issue 815 (if this wasn't mentioned on Lost-TV.com, I wouldn't have noticed!), featuring my boys from Lost. Damon Lindelof drops bunches of hints on future happenings in the show, much to my (literal) squealing delight, and to Marianne's "now-you-can't-make-fun-of-me-when-I-get-the-newest-Harry-Potter" head shake. I wish it also featured the girls, but I guess the issue is called "Lost Boys" for a reason. :oP
Anyway, there's also a two page article on Ian Somerhalder, who sounds pretty darn frustrated and disappointed that he was the first to go. It really is too bad, since I figure if he stayed on longer, it would make him even more well-known. Such an interesting character, albeit a bit airheaded and na�ve at times. But hey, I guess you're like that when you're in your early 20's (which is me... which I'm not afraid to admit). I wish he spilled the beans about the radio to Jack. At least he got the part about the hatch and Locke telling him not to tell anyone out. Must've been such an emotional scene to film. Kudos and kudos!
April 12, 2005
I am totally blown away at the literature that sits before me at my desk. Just finished reading the chapter on post-modernism (the final chapter!), and I sampled some of the shorter poems (I really have to get on with sociology). I'm no expert, despite having spent literally hours reading about post-modern architecture, art, and literature, but I do love how post-modern writers weave in social commentaries into their works. There's Wole Soyinka's "Death in the Dawn" and "I think It Rains" which I desperately want to understand, but don't have the energies to think about for the time being. Then there is Sonia Sanchez's "present" which is full of symbolism and the intriguing "black aesthetic." Also, Rita Dove's "Persephone Abducted" and "Demeter Mourning," are both filled with figurative language that I can barely crack the surface of. Times like these, I wish I was sitting in Laudenbach's English class, hearing him do some interpretation and guiding us along to explore deeper into the poetry for ourselves. Such a beauty to finding meaning.
The only one I understood was "Prayer for Marilyn Monroe" by Ernesto Cardenal. It's too bad I don't know Spanish, but the English rendering by Robert Pring-Mill is powerful enough. The poem weaves Christian themes with the Hollywood lifestyle. One of my favourite lines is "She was hungry for love and we offered her tranquilizers." How true. Check it out if you have time at the link above. It's quite a trip.
Oh, how I long to relax on a lawn chair in the backyard, reading for pleasure. Not that I do that often, but it sounds nice right about now...
April 9, 2005
Boone has departed from the world of Lost.
It's definitely not the saddest day in history, but hey, being hooked on the show, there's still some grieving to be done. Sad, but true. You should check out the sudden burst of Boone fanfics at fanfiction.net - ahh, only when someone dies do you think to write a story about him. :oP Of course, I more than half expected him to die since "Deus Ex Machina," but to see it realized in "Do No Harm" is not a warm, fuzzy feeling. I'm glad I saved it to watch today - I think it would've put me in a funk and render me unable to study for PSYCH 312. *sigh* The effect that fictional characters have on you is just plain scary sometimes.
There was so much potential in the character of Boone! There was so much "growing up" for him to do, being only 22 (my age this year... hmm...). But at the very same time, I think he got to tie up his loose ends in "Hearts and Minds," namely, with his unresolved feelings for Shannon, which was the main problem he brought with him to the island. And it sucks that he never got to find out what was in the hatch! All that "boar hunting" for nothing. Shows you how fleeting life can be.
As much as I didn't want them to kill Boone off, I think he was an excellent choice since he is one of the better catalysts in setting off a chain reaction of sorts. I wouldn't imagine that the writers would dare touch Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Locke, Sayid, or Charlie. Audiences would start dropping like flies if any of them were taken away. The reaction wouldn't be as big if they took away Michael, Walt, Sun (well, she seems to be gaining a bigger role, which is cool... go Asian power!), Jin, Hurley, Claire or Shannon. None of these characters link up the major and minor characters as well as Boone. He's got Locke, who's his "father," and Shannon, who is his stepsister and part lover. There's also Jack, the doctor hell-bent on saving him, but ultimately failed, and now is on a war path to "get" Locke (injure? kill? hmm...). I read somewhere that Boone is not necessarily the only character to get killed off this season. If this were really true, I would speculate that either Jack or Locke would die, in the hands of the other.
I'm am very intrigued to see the reactions of the 3 main people who were most affected in the upcoming episodes:
Locke: I think he loved Boone like a son. Or at least the relationship was headed in that direction. I think he feels terrible for having led Boone to his death (duh... an understatement) and for having mirrored what his own father has done to him. However, the hatch is open, and perhaps the sacrifice is deemed necessary. I don't think he would feel completely justified though.
Shannon: I can't really tell how they would follow up with her reaction of Boone's death. She can either get all vengeful as well, or suffer in silence (with Sayid in tow, thankfully for her). I'm sure she'll have plenty of regrets from having not told Boone her true feelings, and for continually shafting him while he was still alive. From the preview, it seems she would take a more passive role. But who knows? This is Lost, after all. Maybe Locke will die at the hands of Shannon!
Jack: WARPATH!!! He's definitely out to "fix" this fresh new wrong that's been committed, just so he doesn't have to grieve over the loss of Boone (well, more like grieving over having failed to fix someone, like his wife). I'm sure Boone's death will be interwoven with the plot of his wife Sarah, whom I assume is also dead (therefore the tortured act he's been pulling all season long). There's also some interesting discussion about how Jack and Locke will butt heads in their leadership roles, which will be cool to watch.
The last 5 episodes should be interesting... especially the 3 hour season finale! Three whole hours! Can't wait!
April 6, 2005
What a beautiful day - gentle breeze, warm temperature, good friends, good times. I actually didn't need a jacket - that was a great feeling. It was the final Alpha get-together today, and we headed to Crystal Palace, only to discover it was closed for kitchen renovations. So we finally made it to Cameron's (always heard about it, never been) for dim sum. It was too bad that we couldn't be at one gigantic table together, but nonetheless, it was fun times. Indeed, we had a lot of buns (cha siu bau, "milk yellow" bau, leen yung bau...), and of course, Singapore vermicelli. Not to mention other dim sum dishes too! Can't wait to upload the videos and pics... but AFTER exams. :oP
After that, we went to a gelato shop in Uptown Waterloo (I know! gelatos within a 1 hour vicinity to my homes!). Didn't quite catch the name, but I can take you! :oD Doesn't quite have the selection at Pure Gelato in Ottawa, but it's better than that little place at Erin Mills in Mississauga! I settled for cappuccino. I think I'm gonna go for mango or white chocolate truffle next time. The place is really comfy and modern (I guess that's a good word). I recommend it. Mmm... summertime activity!
It's always a blast hanging out with Alpha folks. We *definitely* need to have reunions in the future! God has really blessed our group. He's awesome like that. :oD
April 5, 2005
Well, school is out for the term. Doesn't feel like it though... better remember NOT to go to class tomorrow! Gotta do some mad studying for Learning Disabilities, which is on Saturday. I heard there are 200 some odd terms I need to go over, and there's also prep for exam questions. Don't I just love to cram? :oP
Anyway, I was chatting with Nausheen for a little bit on MSN... we'll be seeing David Duchovny's House of D sometime in April. That'll be fun - I haven't seen her in so long! And a DD film is all the more fitting, being good ol' X-Files buddies that we are and all. If I had the guts, I'd wear my XPFC shirt. Haha!
Anyway, all the best on your exams!
SONG OF THE MOMENT
I'm a mess, I guess
It's what I asked for
It's what I needed
Well, you know me better than that
Or at least you did and something happened
But once again something's happened
The confidence you held in us is the rope we almost hung ourselves with
At times I wonder if we really took the steps to break right through it
I know that there were better days, but to see the light and to feel the rays
Life was always back and forth and we were idling or making useless progress
Waiting for the rain to stop
Destination: beautiful
Seems that I'm still waiting for the sun
Someday will come back to us, if you're willing let it go
Why won't you just let this be your sun?
It seems like yesterday we had the world our way
But some say we're heading for destruction
I'll ask you, "What in the world should we do?"
This light is green our break is through
Are we not trying or are we trying too hard?
Well, you know I never want to miss
I hold on tight and reminisce
But it's bittersweet to me
When time stands still as it's trapped inside
The letterbox you gave back to me
But I'm the one who keeps on reading
But I'm the one who wants to let it go
I'm the first to speak
You're the last to know
Another scene that we're creating
I need to know if we're still making useless progress
"Sun", Mae (from Destination: Beautiful)
It's also on Destination: B-sides - twice! It's quickly becoming one of my top favourite Mae songs, especially the pretty acoustic version. The piano on the live version is also really, really nice. Dave's singing is ever so slightly off on the live version, but I guess it makes it real (haha... seeing virtues in faults - all on yesterday's social psych test!). I still love 'em!
April 2, 2005
Happy birthday, Sharon!!! Hope the weather didn't spoil the fun at the Maple Syrup festival.
Had a much needed break last night at CCF and with Marianne watching Am�lie (finally got around to it... cute movie). And to think I contemplated not going to sharing night! Of course, getting my CDs back from Elliot (plus his Anberlin's Never Take Friendship Personal which I'm enjoying right now) is great too. Finally got to listen to Mae's Destination: B-sides - it's a very acoustic set, lots of piano and acoustic guitars... slightly reminiscent of Jars. I like it - nice and light and pretty. A "multisensory aesthetic experience" indeed!
Before I head back to social psych, check out some newly posted stories in the reading room.