Sitting idly » olea

>_<

olea — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:07:38 +0000

Dear T.J.,

You are a great friend. I would do anything for you. Anything but do your homework early in the morning on a phonecall to tell you about how benzodiazepine binds to GABAa receptors to induce a conformational change to increase affinity for the neurotransmitter and thus gives your stupid drug effect. But wait, I already did. *facepalm*

Time to dye?

olea — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:04:29 +0000

I was in such an upbeat mood for the whole day. Great weather, just the right temperature and a cool breeze. But the evening seemed to have brought me down.

My car doesn’t work. The fuel pump is old and needs to be replaced, I have no idea when I’ll be able to drive it again since my brother is looking to buy the part off of Ebay. Though, for now, my temporary car will be the Prius. I’m cool with that.

During the day, I withdrew my pair of roller blades from the closet that S.A. had bought me one Christmas. I skated around the neighborhood. I was supposed to go to Tapioca Express with them, but I think I need to skate in them for awhile to get used to being on wheels again. I realized how small my neighborhood is, and the different kind of house layouts there are. Along the way, I greeted many Asian residential peeps, and my mom called me frequently to discuss reservations to a business dinner at a hotel in Santa Clara(?). Afterward, made myself some apple slices to test the thyroid.

I convinced my sister to take me out in the evening. We went to Tapioca Express where I bought my Thai tea snow bubble with egg pudding. We also hit up the value menu on Wendy’s, and ate our food in the parking lot. We went to Walgreens, and I bought my dye. I honestly dunno how well this will turn out with my hair. I’m convinced more than half the time that dyes just don’t work well with black hair. But I guess that’s what the other dye is for. Here goes…. damaging my hair.

I don’t feel like writing about anything else.

Mom’s bday

olea — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:56:56 +0000

Can you believe it? Damn Filipinos charged $10 a seat just because they have a mounted TV to watch Pacquiao last night. Yesterday was Ma’s birthday; my mom decided to eat at a Filipino restaurant in Union City if not for most of us who had never before eaten there then because it was simply her birthday and if she wanted to dine far far away from home, then so be it.

I personally liked my incessant phonecalls to her house and her cell phone early in the morning because she wasn’t answering. I just wanted to wish a Happy Birthday and refused to say it in a voice message, but I finally got the hint when she answered her cell phone and immediately hung up (twice).

We made plans to meet up at Commodore at 6pm and subsequently carpool to Union City. I gave her my birthday present just before we sped off for dinner. It was a Groupon for an acupuncture treatment, and as hoped, was kindly accepted with intrigue and openness.

Gerry’s Grill was the restaurant that charged by the seat, but luckily there was a wide variety of family sit-down restaurants in that plaza. We decided to eat at the next best Filipino restaurant. Ka Tribu ako? Our waitress was cute; she couldn’t understand Tagalog but she was very knowledgeable of whatever my parents said to her.

When my dad asked if she understood at the end of our meal, she replied, “No… My dad’s side is German and my mom is the Filipino one, but neither of them decided to teach me German or Tagalog.”

“Oh, but you understand when your mom is mad at you?” My dad asked.

“Yup, I know what she says to me when she’s screaming,” she trailed off, hand on her head, eyes to the side.

It would’ve been small chat regarded inconsequential, but we all chuckled because it was true for all of us to some extent. *head down*

In the end, we shared a monster thing of Halo halo with Holly and I doing our rendition of Beyonce’s “Halo” with slight alterations accordingly. We mixed-mixed to the beat! It was delicious, but we were all so stuffed. I would love to have halo halo right now…

Besides the birthday talk, I’ve decided to make a Hand photo project “Take My Hand” in which I take pictures of my friends’ hands. I took T.J.’s hand the other day, but putting his photo next to mine on Flickr made me realize that three more photos of that kind would look almost like the same hand over and over. Some kind of unique gesture or expression with the hands will have to be mandatory. C.A. agreed to let me shoot his hand!

And S.S. and W.D. both said I should make a cute cooking manga site/book. Waaaay too much work, though.

Broken thoughts

olea — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 09:09:17 +0000

What shall I say about today?

I have found a new fascination with light. Enjoying the way it’s showing life today. It seems to be my style in photography, as was previously noted by my Digital Photography professor whenever I did my photo presentations. Never thought it was my theme.

Jack plucked out a down feather, a healthy big one. Earlier today, I caught him eating the feathers he plucks, so I decided to save this poor down feather from doom and I want to shoot it tomorrow.

Hmm, what else?

I got to talk to my boyfriend for a little bit today!

I had pho today, and then T.J. made me drive home in his stick shift car. I’m becoming more confident driving stick!

I’ve been adding to my manga recipe oh so slowly.

I called to set up my pre-op appointments for surgery. I have an ENT evaluation appointment April 20th and an anesthesiology evaluation appointment on April 28th. I’m so stoked!

V.E. called to go swimming with me at the gym. His car’s battery has to be replaced, though. Thinking I could make him pick me up and drive me, I was heavily discouraged to work out upon realization of the scenario. Gym Fail for today.

I went out to get a Big Gulp at the 7-11 just outside my neighborhood. Somewhat annoyed that I don’t care to wear shoes on a rainy day. College buddies would always note that during the rainy season; I’ve never cared to wear shoes.

I did nothing but stay cooped up at home for the most part. It felt nice to be free.

Box 1 haha!

olea — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:02:49 +0000

3 MINUTES!

Sitting still

olea — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:51:03 +0000

Perhaps it is just knowing that I can see his screenname online that gives some kind of comfort in our distance.

Fire Chief?

olea — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:05:07 +0000

Today, I made my typical Chinese fried rice with the leftovers that were sitting in the rice cooker. I wish I had some veggies (that I cared for – carrots alone = yuck) But I put the eggs in along with those Chinese sausages, and added my favorite green onions; it was enough to make it its own meal. Although, I’m not sure I cook it often enough because my dad just barely demands that I teach him? My secret in this Filipino household is about to be unleashed. I see a trend in the things I like to cook; they’re mainly Asian food. But I should get around to learning my favorite Filipino dishes… it just occurred to me that I don’t know any of them very well.

Today I wanted to hang out with my sister, but I guess I spend more quality “alone time” than she does. Introverts tend to get tired of their little social excursions. She didn’t want to hang out with me though, mainly because she hasn’t been spending “me” time at home. Kind of a bummer. It reminds me of when I was still a kid, and she was still my playmate, but she was old enough to take up a recreational activity such as ze piano. She’d always trade me for the silly keyboard we had, but I see that it all paid off in the long run. Maybe next time, she will help me dye my hair.

I just received an e-mail from the musical director of the church choir. We received a lineup of new songs that he’d like us to learn before rehearsal. In the email, I’ve been promoted as a “youth leader”. Iiinntteereestingg…. I’m listening to the prelude song, and I think I will learn all of these songs tomorrow if I’m not too busy!

I hung out tonight with T.J., C.A. and R.A. at Rock Bottom to check out the new Fire Chief Ale. With our Mug Club cards, we got $5 mug club cash — I’m not sure what that means. I shared half a thing of Creole Jamabalaya with T.J. because I wasn’t too hungry, and three of us pigged out on the Brewery Nachos. We watched the Sharks win big on a flat screen tv while finishing up our Fire Chiefs. I came home not as early as I would have liked, but oh well.

It was supposed to be Running Day today, but I’ve ditched it in lieu for beer. Not a very sophisticated life choice, but oh well. Hopefully… tomorrow… I’ll be in better shape and not so drunk to run on a treadmill.

I’m starting to enjoy the Flickr community. I read an article from Digital Photography School. I often forget the name of the website, but it’s easier to remember now because its initials are DPS. The article explained the perks of Flickr as a photographer, and I really dig the idea that it’s a pool of talented photographers who are really just about getting to know fellow photographers and learn new things off of each other. I uploaded a bunch of some of my old stuff onto my account.

I know it makes me quite guilty, but I’ve grown to embrace the essence of being a digital photographer. Here goes folks: I shoot in RAW. And I love it. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t get a spectacular photo like this worth sharing with the rest of the world.

Time to retire. Goodnight.

Errands

olea — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:46:29 +0000

Last night, I ended up in bed at 2am. I came home pretty late from the gym last night, and gave myself a short amount of time to do a round of regular Internet stuff before I plopped onto my bed exhausted. I didn’t even shower off all the sweat I worked up and the microbes I invariably collected from touching all that gym equipment. The worst feeling ever is laying back on some weight machine with a sweaty back, and knowing that my back pores must be having a party as I try to tear up some muscle. This is partly why I like to jump into the pool not because the pool would presumably take everything away as I swam, but because I could shower in the lockerroom. I don’t bring my own shower stuff to the gym though; I previously thought that the Reebok gym bag my sister donated was way too big, but now I’ve managed to fill the bag… That’s girly Joyce for you. Returning from my tangent, the shower gives minimal support to washing off the chlorine though. In fact, maybe it just doesn’t matter whether or not I shower in the gym. I can open my front door with the sweat and dirt I pick up (it’s a finger scanning lock…) better than all the chlorine residue on my skin.

Speaking of shower, it’s still a weird sensation not to care who might see me naked in the locker room. I’ve never seen so many nakey girls my age at one time. Already I’ve taken on a sense of carelessness to see another naked person next to me. Gyms de-sensitize you. @_@

I woke up this morning by a phonecall from T.J.. His voice sounded like he had been up. He asked if I wanted to help him do errands today in an hour; namely, visiting a professor during her office hours to inquire about a course grade, and helping him pack up his belongings and haul them into his grandmother’s house. As soon as we got off the phone, I immediately jumped in the shower and then drove off.

Today, we ate at Smoke Eaters in downtown since it was close to campus. I thought perhaps the hot wings might upset my stomach, but the weird mix of ranch and “zingy Thai” sauce upset me instead. T.J. ordered “atomic” hot sauce with his wings, and they tasted so good. I know what I’m going to order on my next visit! On Wednesdays, Smoke Eaters has a Widmer special, in which you order a 24oz of hefeweizen and the glass is yours. It felt so great to drink a thing of that, I ended up drinking it like it was soda.

T.J. and I rarely drink nowadays, so that much over lunch made us happy and buzzed. Wandering the streets of downtown made it feel even better. T.J.’s new bedroom at his grandmother’s is bigger than his current one. I’m actually quite excited for him to move out, and maybe he will feel better about himself and his studies in a new atmosphere.

T.J. went to SJSU to talk to his professor, but I decided to split up and visit the bookstore. I was interested in seeing if the campus had any postcards I might want to send to L.D., but not really. >:’

I wrote another one of my weekly letters to L.D. as I came home. There is a little carnival looking thing being set up in the far end parking lot of the Oakridge mall. I’ve been seeing them slowly set up as I get onto the 87 from 85. I am inspired to take some time lapse photos with my tripod one night in memory of L.D.!

Work out accomplished

olea — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:50:20 +0000

Just got back from gym. It’s 1:49am, and I feel so much better. I wish the gym wasn’t so packed earlier in the day!

Nonsense

olea — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:57:08 +0000

The bright blue walls of my room adopt a sullen grey mood with the faint glow of sunlight that the overcast skies provide. It’s 4:42pm and I just might have to turn on my lights. But I appreciate the natural lighting that creates these nice and subtle gradients of shadows. I’m noting the shadow of my forearm, and the way in which the shadows are cast on the keys of my laptop. In a photo, a photographer might admire the use of sunlight albeit devoid of it.

And as I turn to my window, with its plastic, black tarp still stapled to it on the outside, I sort of drown into a haze. Like in a movie, when someone has been enclosed in darkness for a time and someone opens a door to let in some blinding light. What’s going on out there to permit such light? Except I find it quite nice the way in which the plastic material is battering to the semi-violence of the wind out there. And how at my eye level, I am graced with nothing but the quality of the sky and birds who give the outside character. What’s going on out there to permit such light? In my kiddy imagination, it feels like I’m in an alternate dimension and the real world is through that piece of tarp. Or is that the alternate dimension? What’s the difference? Quantum physicists must be really fun and weird to talk to at the same time.

I have to wonder… I know every individual is unique. But is there someone out there who is experiencing the same thoughts and mindsetting as me? Cause I’d really like to talk to that person. Maybe I should just start talking to anyone at this point… lol.

T.J. and I have adopted a new TV show, due to come back on air on the 18th. For now, we’re watching the remaining episodes on Hulu before the air date. This means sushi night is back on the week, though moved to Thursdays. I’m not sure how that plays out with T.J. in school all day til 9pm, but for some reason I give him faith to make it work.

The show in which we’ve taken an interest is FlashForward; it appears to be fairly new. It’s about how the entire human population blacks out at the same time for 2 minutes, and everyone see’s a glimpse of the future. I guess the show unravels how these discrete visions manifest over time. In some ways I think this show is quite primitive; but otherwise, I’m not in the mood to complain about a little fictional show designed to entertain me. It’s good acting anyway. I’ll just be entertained.