Friday 29 November 2013

Poem of the Day

You fired the gun.
I smelled the shots and counted the holes.
We examined the evidence under dim lights.
Trying to see.
You never write anything down on your notepad.

Saturday 28 September 2013

Thought of the Day

When it's raining and windy out, no umbrella is going to protect you from sideways-rain. Put that shit down so you don't poke out more eyeballs.

Thursday 19 September 2013

Things I've Learned

Sometimes a hug is better than a 'how are you doing, is everything okay?'
And on that note, sometimes silence is golden.

Always finish what you've started.

Talking it out > going to sleep angry.

When you're old and grey, you won't remember the nights you got a really awesome sleep. Go out and enjoy life.

Fish are the most boring pet to own.

Everything living, dies. This is independent of the care you provide.

Print out pictures. Having something tangible to show others is a lot more intimate than clicking through photos on Facebook.

Eat your vegetables.

Fruit is nature's candy.

Even if it's hard, and it's dark, and it's rainy, and everything is better inside your cocoon of warmth, get out of bed in the morning.

Honesty is NOT always the best policy.

Monday 26 August 2013

Question of the Day

Where do I see myself in 5 years?

Honestly? I hope in 5 years I'll be on vacation on some tropical island. Sandy beaches. Fruity drinks with ridiculous trinkets hanging off the lip. Flip flops every day. The works. But to be even more honest, I know that I could only be on this perfect vacation because I've worked hard. I've worked 50 weeks a year to earn those 2 weeks of peace and quiet on this quaint little island.

I know nothing comes from nothing, and we live in a meritocracy. I hold onto the belief that we live in a meritocracy, at least. I know I'll have to work diligently, consistently, with perseverance. I'll lose patience sometimes, I'll hate it most times, but that doesn't change my motivation. 

I will toil, sow, struggle, and reap the rewards of that tropical vacation. 

Not a perfect answer. I know that. I should say I want to be a VP of some major company. But since we're still being honest, I'm not that type of person. I'm not a type-A personality, I don't feel comfortable in a position of too much power. I don't want to rule the world or become queen or be a pioneer in any major way. I want to be the person behind the scenes, making a difference in small ways that add up to a big finale. The one in the background that gets a little recognition, but never the flashing lights and fame. 

I'm quiet, I'm easy-going. I don't have the overwhelming ambition or drive to become a CEO. But I have ambition enough to work hard, advance myself slowly with good consistent works and a positive attitude. 

Well. Most days. No one can be happy and go-lucky every single day of their lives. But I can do my best. 

Tuesday 6 August 2013

Thought of the day

Sometimes it worries me... do I miss a person, or do I miss the memory of a person who has since changed?

Saturday 3 August 2013

Getting back into the hang of things

Getting back into blogging is strange. Once you get into a habit of things, they become just that. Routine. Comfortable. Honestly I didn't want to blog because I felt like I had to churn something out every day. It got the point where I was blogging every day and it became contrived.

So I stopped. For months. It felt wonderful.

I always intended to go back to blogging, and perhaps I intended to return shortly after a break. But you know how it is... the longer a break continues, it just feels harder to STOP being on a break. And every time I glanced over at Blogger sitting there, staring at me with its odd uneven orange eyes... it got harder and harder to return.

I didn't have much to say for a while, and there were personal things going on. I had other 'priorities,' and I convinced myself that these were 'real-life priorities,' not 'play-time' things. This, I still hold onto. I believe that blogging is a cathartic process, in no one integral to my life or necessary for my survival.

However, I missed it. I miss putting words to a page and seeing them appear. I missed my consciousness splattered in letters.

Then, the other week, several nice things happened all at once that kind of gave me a push. I found a lost sweater that had been missing for months. To be precise, it went missing right after Christmas. It's August. So yes, it has been a long time. My OCD dictates that I cannot let these little things go... I never lose things. Never. I was convinced my kitten took it and pulled it into a secret nest. My mother told me to let it go. My boyfriend tried buying me a replacement sweater. One night, Luna was trying to sneak into my dresser again. Then it occurred to me... what if it was pulled behind, AND UNDER my drawer? Lo and behold, it was there. Luna, in all her sneakiness, was trying to play with it again. Cats are weird... play with a toy non stop for days, then forget it about it for months to rediscover it.

My mom got a new job. Her old job had been weighing her down for the last two years, and she decided it was time. Pretty much after her old partner (they had worked together for nearly 12 years or something like that?) retired, they had been putting her with replacements that didn't really meld with her personality. She works at a preschool, so having a compatible workmate is crucial. So she finally retired from that school, and got a new job. The major perk is that it is fewer hours, and about a 2 minute drive from home.

I finished my last course in my program. It's been 3 years. It was supposed to take 1.5 years. I am over the moon happy, and it is a huge weight off my shoulders. It has been stressful and testing and trying, but I am done!

So all these things kind of motivated me to get back into blogging. About anything I bloody want. I go online job-searching and people want to see blogs about finances and self-improvement and discovery, but honestly... I want to write what I want to write about. I don't blog to get a job. I blog to get things off my mind. Half the time it isn't coherent or well-written, but it's 100% mine and 100% honest.

So here we go again!

Monday 6 May 2013

Pet Peeve of the Day

When I complain that Vancouver is too cold and rainy to dress summery, but when it starts to warm up I don't dress like it's warm.

Guess I can always find SOMETHING to complain about.

See, I have a lot of summer clothes. A ton. Too many. I know I have too many. I buy lots when it is summertime because I love them. So I like wearing them. I can't wear them 9 months of the year because usually it is too darn cold.

Vancouver is a place where it is actually practical to use the hood on your hoodie. Not for style. Substance.

But for whatever reason when it finally gets warm enough to change into sandals and shorts, I don't. I wear black outfits for the first 2 weeks that it's nice.
I don't know what's wrong with me. It's like I'm not convinced that it'll stay nice... almost as if the weather is fooling me.

Sometimes it does fool me and it rains the very next day. But I guess so I don't look like I'm off to a funeral, I'll start wearing some of my hoard of summery clothes.

Sunday 5 May 2013

Lyrics of the Day

You ask me if there'll come a time when I grow tired of you.
Never my love
Never my love

You wonder if this heart of mine will lose it's desire for you
Never my love
Never my love

What makes you think love will end?
...When you know that my whole life depends on you.
You say you fear I'll change my mind, I won't require you
Never my love
Never my love

How can you think love will end?
When I've asked you to spend your whole life with me?
You say you fear I'll change my mind...
I won't require you...
Never my love
Never my love

Association: Never My Love

Pet Peeve of the Day

I find most juice too sweet.

I dilute almost every beverage with water. I don't know if I'm the only one that does this, but I know I'm more the exception than the rule.

Most orange juice out of the carton makes me cringe with how sugary it tastes to me. I leave 3 inches from the top of the glass and fill 2 of those inches with water.

Apple juice, same thing.
Cranberry? Get that water in there.

Are my taste buds broken? Am I hypersensitive to tastes? I feel the same way with chips: that they are too salty. I want to rinse chips off because they have too much salt!

I guess it's better for me that I consume more water and fewer saltier things. That's my rationale for how weird I am.


Saturday 4 May 2013

Pet Peeve of the Day

People's houses that smell funny.

Not funny, I guess. But when they smell like food. My family is Chinese. This means a lot of strong cooking with stinky ingredients. My house hasn't ever really smelled Chinese.

There isn't a secret. There isn't some conspiracy. It involves opening windows and turning on the exhaust fan above our stove.

We rent out our basement, have for years. A few of our past tenants are strange. They don't open the window even a crack when they cook. They don't turn on any fans. Then they complain that their clothes smell like pasta, burgers, meat, whatever.

HMM. SUCH A MYSTERY.

Thursday 2 May 2013

Poetry of the Day

Furball yawns in my face.
If it fits, she sits.
She sleeps where she wants, poops all day long.
Curls up in a ball, twitches herself to sleep.

Such a spaz. Runs from everything.
Bolts at the slightest noise.
Such a spaz.

But she rolls around, makes tinny little meows.
Licks my hand.
I can't resist.

Wednesday 1 May 2013

Review: Tresemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo

I don't usually go mental over shampoos. I usually buy 3-4 bottles once there's a sale. I like stocking up on things when they're a bargain.

Now, my old bottle of Tresemmé has been around for years. I am not exaggerating. It was one of those massive 1.17L bottles with the pump. It was a gargantuan bottle of product, and I used it all up.

I actually really liked that bottle. In the years that I was using that product, Tresemmé has completely revamped and repackaged their shampoos. They don't look quite the same anymore!

Since I finished my old bottle that I really liked, I figured I would try another bottle of Tresemmé. But this time I wouldn't commit to a huge bottle because I didn't want to use the same shampoo for years. I wanted some more variety.

...Granted, I usually have 3-4 bottles of shampoo and 1-2 bottles of conditioner in my shower at all times, just to keep myself on my toes.

So I saw that Tresemmé was on sale at the store, and decided to try their relatively new Keratin Smooth Shampoo. I hadn't read any reviews, I had no idea if it'd be incredible or just okay.


It turns out that I noticed a very nice and semi-noticeable difference to my hair. When I say semi-noticeable, I mean that when I asked my friends if they noticed anything different about me, some of them said no, and a few of them said my hair looked less frizzy.

That's good enough for me!

Plus, I love the scent and it washes out very clean. One other thing I've always liked about Tresemmé is that it's one of the few brands that doesn't give me dandruff if I don't use conditioner. I know that's kind of bizarre, but I find with some brands if I forgo the conditioner, my scalp gets flaky and very dry. But I'm lazy! I don't want to always use conditioner! So I like finding a shampoo that's moisturizing enough as it is.


Yay! New shampoo!

Monday 29 April 2013

Pet Peeve of the Day

Whatever happened to mother's teaching their kids to say PLEASE and THANK YOU?

My parents always emphasized to express my appreciation to everyone. I was invited to your birthday party? Thanks for inviting me. I hosted a birthday party? Thank you for coming.

A snooty person gives me terrible service? Thank you, have a nice day!

Some of my thankless friends ask me why I thank anyone when they've been rude to me. Well, for several reasons.

1. I think it's better to fight rudeness with kindness.
2. I set a good example to those around me.
3. Someone's bad attitude isn't going to affect me, or how I want to present myself.

Someone bumps me in the street? Maybe it's just my Canadian side but I'll say Sorry. I hold doors open for people. I was raised to do that. I line up at bus stops and everywhere else.

I'm sad to see this is becoming a rarity. I'm hoping that my generation grows so indignant at where things are headed that we all scold our children into behaving like good citizens.

Thank you. 

Saturday 27 April 2013

Pet Peeve of the Day

Being reminded that I'm growing older.

I tutor high school aged kids. And they didn't realize the Titanic was actually ship and actually sunk. They thought it was just a movie.

Now that Jurassic Park 3D is coming out, they thought it was a brand new release and said it was crappy for the CGI. Well, no shit. It came out in 1993. You weren't even born, youngin.

More than anything I realize this will happen more and more. Media is so oversaturated, that it's impossible to tell what's what.

But seriously though. The Titanic did happen. It did sink. Leonardo Dicaprio wasn't on the ship.

Friday 26 April 2013

Poetry of the Day

We're burned and melanoma'd by the same sun that grows our crops and fuels our cities.

Wednesday 24 April 2013

My Relationship with Tom Cruise

It's a love-hate thing. More recently, it's been a hate thing.

I should specify and say since Vanilla Sky, it has been a hate thing. He was fantastic in Vanilla Sky. Believable. Riveting.

In Mission Impossible at least he was depicted as the good looking spy. I believed it. He was good looking.

But Knight and Day? The Last Samurai? I don't know about his choices. I get it, he wants to be a fighter. So fight. But know that your days are numbered.

I am going to see Oblivion tonight. I'll admit that I didn't really want to, mainly because I seem to have grown this cancerous resentment towards Tom Cruise.

But I'll give him this chance. And Ill probably see Mission Impossible 5, though I can't even believe he's doing that...

Monday 22 April 2013

My Ridiculous Cat

My cat transforms, every day.

She's alert and graceful throughout the mornings. She'll leap and bound with her tail swooshing through the air like an acrobat.

Come the afternoon? The sun perfectly shining on the top of our couch? Her metamorphosis into a blob is uncanny.

I can't imagine a single living soul who could look at this and not think this is cute. How people kill cats or dogs is beyond me. Even with her belly all splayed out, paws up, neck exposed, I can't do anything but give her a nice little belly rub.

This is love.

Sunday 21 April 2013

Game of Thrones Obsession

I wasn't late to the bandwagon. I hopped on, happily, when Game of Thrones first came out. Granted, I didn't start my full obsession until half way through the first season.

I'm one of those wait-and-see people, who wants to give everything a bit of a chance before saying it's terrible or great.

But I knew... from the first opening sequence. This is something that I could love.

Now, of course, it has spawned an entire universe of fandom. This is all fine and dandy with me, because frankly, fandom is adorable.


I am so looking forward to more.