Picture-Heavy: My Lust List

Frye Melissa Button Boot (Cognac)


MICHAEL Michael Kors Hamilton Satchel (Black, Vanilla)


Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Clutch (Black)


Marc by Marc Jacobs Baby Groovee (Black)


Marc by Marc Jacobs Hillier Hobo (Sage)


J. Crew Jackie Cardigan (Breeze)


AE Striped Schoolboy Blazer


Kate Spade Fifth Avenue Stripe Earmuffs


Kate Spade Big Apple Owl Earmuffs


Zoya Charla


MoMA Sky Umbrella


Nikon D40 dSLR

15 x 6 = 90

Stolen (shamelessly) from SN's blog.

6 Things You Cannot Do
1. Hand whistle, the normal way
2. Dance
3. Multitask (not well, at least)
4. Lose weight
5. Self-discipline
6. Converse casually on the phone

6 Things You Can Do
1. Make lists
2. Research music
3. Plan for courses
4. Cook fried rice and stir-fry stuff
5. Make jewelry
6. Organize my closet
(I like how all the things I can do are pretty much inconsequential.)

6 Never-Have-You-Evers
1. Pulled an all-nighter (defined here as 24+ hours without sleeping)
2. Gone on a "real" roller coaster
3. Eaten mayonnaise or any hot dog condiment
4. Had a birthday party
5. Jumped in a bouncy house
6.

6 Things You Have Done
1. Performed in St. Peter's Basilica wearing a sweatshirt and jeans.
2. Watched the sun rise and set over the Grand Canyon. Not in one sitting.
3. Eaten fresh raw oysters.
4. Slept overnight on a beach.
5.
6.

6 Things You Want To Learn
1. Guitar/piano/ukulele
2. Two-finger whistle
3. Chord theory
4. Color theory
5. Flying kick
6. Morse code

6 Things You Know Next-To-Nothing About
1. Negotiating/persuasion
2. Cars
3. Astrophysics
4. Computer science
5. Job-hunting
6. Cable TV

6 Things You Know A Bit Too Much About
1. Nail polish. Actually, I don't think I know TOO much about it.
2. Earwax. Don't ask.
3. Confrontation-evasion
4. Placing holds at the library
5. The organizational structure of my iTunes library
6. Glee

6 In A Perfect Life You Would Get/Have
1. Perfect health
2. A small but powerful dSLR
3. Free music
4. A good singing voice
5. A more normal-proportioned body
6. An iMac, a MacBook Pro, and an iPhone with a free data plan
(heh. actually 8 things.)

6 Physical/Aesthetic Traits of Your Ideal Guy/Girl
(or non-physical traits)
1. Cute smile.
2. Sense of humor (but a nice one)
3. Understanding of moods
4. Dorkiness
5. Intelligence
6. Patience

6 Musicians You Would Like To See
1. Joshua Radin
2. Mika
3. Lenka
4. Regina Spektor
5. Muse
6. Coldplay
(I would add the Beatles, but they are unfortunately half dead.)

6 Musicians You Have Seen
1. Ingrid Michaelson
2. Sara Bareilles
3. Jason Mraz
4. Eric Hutchinson
5. Colbie Caillat
6. Sarah McLachlan
(I would add A Fine Frenzy because I absolutely love them/her, but I only saw half a song of their set at Lilith Fair. Sadface.)

6 Favorite Characters
1. Hermione Granger
2. Lily Aldrin/Marshall Eriksen
3. Pam and Jim Halpert
4. Amélie Poulain
5. Chococat
6. R2-D2
(Yes, I cheated by squeezing in a few more. So sue me.)

6 Favorite Athletes/Teams To Root For
1. My school's football team
2. Yu-Na Kim
3. Shawn Johnson
4. Nastia Liukin
5. Evan Lysacek
6. Carly Patterson

6 Things You Are Looking Forward To
1. Brunch with AK tomorrow.
2. San Francisco trip this break.
3. Going back to school.
4. Zoya free polishes.
5. Spring break trip. Hopefully.
6.

6 Thoughts You've Been Having A Lot Lately
1. Bags. Bags. Bags. (which is strange, because although I would like a nice leather bag, I usually think purses are ugly.)
2. Why is it itching WHY WHY WHY???
3. Blink. Blink. Blink. (result of staring at the computer screen too much.)
4. Don't eat more chocolate cookies. (this usually doesn't work.)
5. I should do something meaningful at school. Like a club or organization or research.
6.

Music Mixes: December Mix

Bruno Mars – Grenade
Coldplay – Christmas Lights
A Fine Frenzy – Ashes and Wine
A Fine Frenzy – The Minnow & the Trout
A Fine Frenzy – Rangers
Ingrid Michaelson – Parachute
Jack Johnson – Good People
Nelly – Just a Dream
Shakira – Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show – The Time Warp

Just A Dream - Nelly

Thank you for taking me through two late nights, on replay.

Jake Bruene and Kurt Schneider. My first exposure to this song. Intrigued by the black guitar.


Sam Tsui and Christina Grimmie, produced by Kurt Schneider. Not much to say about this one. Everyone already knows it and loves it.


Nelly. The original. Also good. Don't hate.

Late-Night Cravings

I'm up late again tonight (blogging instead of writing my paper?), and being thoughtless, I had eaten sugar, meat, and fat the whole day (which covers the three biomolecules but somehow is unhealthy anyways?) and now my day's nutrition is all out of whack. So now I'm hungry and only have chocolate, popcorn, and yogurt to eat, but the former two are unhealthy and the latter two I'm rather sick of. Also I have tea eggs, but I already ate an egg today (might break one out later though). And my cheek is swelling up from chewing too much gum, which rules that oral activity out. And late night is closed.

I was pretty desperate when I remembered that I have oatmeal. That wonderful, unassuming, non-unhealthy food. So I started mixing:

1 packet plain instant oatmeal
1 packet apple cinnamon instant oatmeal
1 dash cinnamon
1/2 tsp coconut oil
1 dash ascorbic acid powder
1 dash brown sugar (to neutralize the sour vitamin C powder)
1 splash vanilla extract

It's only vaguely strange, and overall pretty nonthreatening. I love having a pantry stocked with raw ingredients.

Black Friday Haul

I'd say it was a relatively successful Black Friday. My first one, too! I didn't go hardcore, at midnight, but it was still fun and there were still huge lines. No matter...I went with Ann and Amy at 10am, and we talked during the lines and it was all very pleasant. We did plan on getting there a little earlier, but we stopped at Best Buy and got some TV shows. I still remember when they all got Friends DVDs last year for $10 a season...this time I got the second season of Mad Men for $10, plus two seasons of Smallville for Sierra (obsessed... :P). I actually haven't watched many episodes of Mad Men yet, but I like it so far. And I usually only buy books or DVDs that I know and like...

At the mall, we hit Vans, PacSun, Forever 21, American Eagle, Converse, Gap Outlet, and H&M. I can't post pictures because I can't find the stuff I got online, but I got a black thermal henley and a turquoise cami from PacSun, and a maroon sweater from Gap Outlet. There were actually more sales than I expected - PacSun and AE had 20% off everything in the store, and Gap had tons of sales too. The strange thing was that Forever 21 was pretty much Black Friday personified - huge (disorganized) store, bright lights, loud music, clothes strewn absolutely everywhere, four never-ending lines, frenzied shoppers - but it was not cheaper than usual. I don't understand it. Maybe it's because F21 is always cheap.

Today (today, today, today)

+
Woke up at home, had eggs and oatmeal+cranberries for breakfast
Driven to school
Let out 15 minutes early from bio
Broccoli alfredo for lunch, plus coconut pie
BioE pset back, got 46/50 (wooo A!)
Talked with study abroad program about a term in Barcelona. Sounds freaking awesome.
Got Britney CD from library, among other things
Found a great style book from the library that I actually haven't read yet
Update on papers from this summer
Watched Glee, enjoyed Gwyneth Paltrow's version of F*** You

-
Gnarly elbow rashes.
Couldn't figure out to use the self-scanner in the CT Library. Apparently they don't beep when you scan items.
Got overheated biking across campus twice. Yay sweaty feet in fuggs (fake uggs). Don't worry, I was wearing socks.
Watched Glee, did not enjoy the Umbrella/Singin' In The Rain mashup.

Nightworking

I love working late at night. If I'm not tired out of my mind, it's my favorite time to work. Everyone is asleep, including my roommate, and the world is dark outside my window. In my room, there's just a lamp illuminating my desk, and it's much easier to concentrate on working. I used to think it was because it's the threat of an impending deadline the next morning, but it's so much more relaxing when the deadline is a day away. Look at Monday's late night! So full of angst. That's probably because I needed to stay up to finish an essay due the next morning. Just an extra day before the deadline changes everything. Plus it was a lot less efficient; I stayed up until 5 and still didn't finish the darn thing.

As long as I stay on iTunes (or go music-less) and avoid YouTube, I can focus so much better on my work than during the day. During the daytime, I always feel self-conscious because other people are up and about, and daytime just doesn't have the sense of urgency as nighttime (calm urgency in this case. a good feeling.). It's so much easier to get distracted by other things when you feel you still have time for homework later. And I thought it was better to be in the computer cluster than in my room, but it's really not. It's bright enough in the cluster to resemble daytime, and the presence of other people makes me anxious. I spend more energy than I should trying not to disturb them or not do weird things in their presence.

I love just sitting in my darkened room, Mika's Kick Ass blasting on repeat in my headphones, a half-empty cup of tea in my Friends mug, focusing on one project. It's definitely helped by my cracking open a gold mine of a book for my research paper. I don't know why, I just feel incredibly happy right now, happy to be alive in general and especially at this hour. (I don't know why right now, because it's 3 in the morning and I've had 8 hours of sleep in the last 65 hours, but I'll analyze it in the morning. I don't like not knowing why I'm happy. If I know why, I can make it happen more often!) Besides the book, I think another reason I'm happy is because my brain is only on half-power, so I don't think quite so deeply about stressful issues. (Down-side: short memory span and tendency to spell desk deask.) I've also had a pretty solidly good day, including but not limited to finishing my BioE problem set early, finishing a Tuesday NYT crossword by myself for the first (or second?) time, and was surprising alert for someone running on little sleep. (Actually, now that I think of it, I think I'm only remembering the highlights due to my good mood.) Or this whole thing may just be hormonal. Who knows. Life is good.

The only thing I dread is the morning, when I wake up with a mild headache and a loathing for everything bright, cheery, and loudly social. And early-morning lectures, of course.


Recipe for staving off a cold that's about to rear its head: 1 cup ginger tea with 1/2 tsp ascorbic acid, plus lots of water. But drinking lots of water will make you have to go to the bathroom thrice as often, ruining the Working At Night allure. But only a little. Remember, sick = low concentration = no more working at night! Also, quit going to the bathroom so often. You underestimate the capacity of your bladder. (TMI...?)

Recipe for waking up early in the morning: sleep sitting down at your desk. It's not as soft and warm as your bed, so it's easier to get up in the morning, but it's comfortable enough to sleep through. Remember to wear an insulated jacket and warm pants, or else you may get sick (see above). Also, if you rest your head in your arms, you may have pins and needles for a few minutes. Best avoid this position unless cramped for space.

4 AM Equals...

On full blast and on repeat: Basshunter, O-Zone, Daft Punk.
Actively gross personal hygiene, namely compulsive picking of various regions of the head.
Coffee. When late night closes, chocolate. When chocolate runs out, gum. Gum will never fail me.
Bottle after bottle of water. Trip after trip to the bathroom. Creep out the RA across the bathroom (who's also up this late. solidarity, man!).
Irrational fear of toilets, whose loud and violent flushing sounds should be outlawed.
Twitching.
Self-loathing.
Making lists unrelated to the topic at hand. Like a schedule of the next week to persuade self not to fall asleep. Or this one.

Note to self: I REFUSE TO GIVE UP. I WILL NOT BE BEATEN DOWN.
(repeat to self when about to give up)

Music Mixes: November Mix

Britney Spears - Stronger
Eminem feat. Rihanna - Love The Way You Lie
Group 1 Crew - Live It Up
Ingrid Michaelson - Once Was Love
Ingrid Michaelson - You And I
Kurt Schneider - I Will Follow You Into The Dark
Mika - Kick Ass
R.E.M. - Nightswimming
Sam Tsui - Don't Want An Ending
Sara Bareilles - Hold My Heart
Sara Bareilles - Machine Gun
Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson - Winter Song

Languages

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe I know the three most widely-used languages in the world - English, Mandarin, and Spanish. The trouble is, I'm not terribly good at any of them. My first language was Mandarin, but I was never required to speak it at home so my speaking ability has been diminishing quickly, especially after I left Chinese school. Spanish, well, I never knew well, so my speaking ability is also quite pitiable. The sad thing (or hopeful thing?) is that I know I can get a lot better in both languages if I just screw up the courage to actually use them regularly. But whenever I speak in Mandarin or Spanish, I know that objectively I sound like an idiot, and then I stop. Same with singing. I really want to learn how to sing well, but I'm too self-conscious to try. Sometimes I want to just go to the far reaches of campus and talk to myself in Spanish and Mandarin and English like a crazy person. Or sing whatever. That would be fun.

Inspiration

"The advice I like to give young artists, or really anybody who’ll listen to me, is not to wait around for inspiration. Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work. If you wait around for the clouds to part and a bolt of lightning to strike you in the brain, you are not going to make an awful lot of work. All the best ideas come out of the process; they come out of the work itself. Things occur to you. If you’re sitting around trying to dream up a great art idea, you can sit there a long time before anything happens. But if you just get to work, something will occur to you and something else will occur to you and somthing else that you reject will push you in another direction. Inspiration is absolutely unnecessary and somehow deceptive. You feel like you need this great idea before you can get down to work, and I find that’s almost never the case."

-Chuck Close

(from YY's blog)

Goals

1. Stop bitching.
2. Be more considerate.
3. Be proactive.

Ingrid Michaelson and related

So today was a pretty awesome day. (Or rather, yesterday was an awesome day. Today is officially Tuesday, when yesterday's evening of idle frivolity will come back to bite me.) First I managed to clear one standard deviation above the mean on my BioE midterm. And then I drove up to San Francisco with ML for an Ingrid Michaelson concert. Before the concert, we ate in a little Italian restaurant called Pescara, which has a pleasantly large ratio of food quality/quantity to price. As we finished consuming a meatball sandwich, the Giants won the world series. And then we experienced the concert (see below). And then we went to Quickly's (who had all the drinks normal PMT places have, but - get this - NO PEARLS. what kind of madness is this!? but milk tea is still delicious.)

And the concert. It was fabulous. I feel like I should write this all down this very minute, even though this week will be pretty terrible, workload-wise. It's important to remember these experiences and special moments, because that's what I will remember years from now. Or maybe I just don't want to do homework. I'm going to regret this so much later this week. Or even later tonight. (tick tock tick tock 1am...)

The opener was The Guggenheim Grotto, a great singer-songwriter duo in their own right. They're also Irish, so their accents gave them bonus points. I must make a note to look up their songs on Youtube.

Here's the set list for Ingrid Michaelson:
Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin cover)
Soldier
Breakable
Once Was Love
Die Alone
Parachute
Mountain And The Sea
Everyone
You And I - sung with band mates and The Guggenheim Grotto
Nightswimming (R.E.M. cover)
Annihilate (new song)
Always You (new song)
The Chain
Locked Up
The Way I Am
Maybe
San Francisco - this was unplanned, see below
Toxic (Britney Spears cover)

Encores:
Be OK
The Way I Am, punk rock version

Basically, this is probably my favorite concert to date. The Fillmore is a great venue (a sort of vampire-mansion glamour) with great energy. The only thing I regret is not wearing heeled shoes. I don't think I ever felt my short stature as acutely as I did tonight. But I don't mind only catching short glimpses of Ingrid and craning to peer over people's heads. Because Ingrid Michaelson is a fantastic performer, from the moment she came out with her band mates (I <3 Allie Moss!) in black hooded cloaks. Plus, she could sing and play the song San Francisco, which she wrote and recorded four years ago but never put on an album. A girl in the crowd asked her to play it, and she actually managed to cobble it together from memory despite not having played it in ages. That is a mark of a great musician, in my book. In addition to having a unique voice and singing in tune, two criteria which Ingrid also fulfills.

She also used a looping pedal quite adeptly in Nightswimming. It's this device that can record sound and repeat it back, and then you can sing on top of it and add another layer to the looping track. I actually really wish I recorded that song. She sang it by herself, with only the looping pedal and no instruments. It had several layers, and at the end it sounded like an a capella group singing together. Also she couldn't mess up because any off-tune notes would keep repeating for the song. But she didn't mess up, and it was phenomenal. For real.

Basically, it went something like this: (not my video)

Amazing, no?

Also, I love the snark-tastic stories she tells between songs, like freaking out before singing at Carnegie Hall for a R.E.M. tribute concert, and then giving a kick-ass performance, and then getting drunk from champagne at the afterparty and embarrassing herself in front of the lead singer of R.E.M. Quote from this incident: Sometimes you feel proud of yourself, but then something happens to remind you that you are a troll.

And her punk rock version of "The Way I Am" was ridiculous. In a good way.

I don't regret going to this concert at all. Even though it's hella late and my homework remains unfinished.

Today's Firsts

First time driving a road trip
First time driving people I didn't know
First time using a cassette tape to speaker jack converter (thanks DO!)
First time paying a toll
First time going XX mph (well, it was fast.)
First time whitewater rafting
First time driving in socks
First time driving through a drive-thru

Highlights of the Week

disclaimer: very food-heavy :9

Saturday: We (SB, KL, DH, MB, DO, and me) went to the Counter, and I got a beef, pineapple, cranberries, and lettuce burger. It was very good. Plus they have awesome fries. And then we went to Cold Stone while listening to Belle and Sebastian's new album, Write About Love.

Sunday: NS, my brother, and I went to the Tomales Bay Oyster Company near Point Reyes. It was a full-day adventure, driving for two hours up hwy 1 (note to self: don't ever let brother drive up hwy 1, unless you bring a barf bag). It was slightly freezing, but delicious and the first time I ever shuck or ate raw oysters (hellooo 101 in 1001!). Afterwards, we went to Verde for PMT, and then I ate dinner with my brother and his friends at his residence.

Monday to mid-Thursday were dark times. You know, the three P's - presentations, psets, papers. I don't like to think of those. Although I did learn from various coffee runs around campus that I can get Endangered Species chocolate for $1.

Thursday: Lunch at Sushi House with my AIM mentor. They have really great teriyaki chicken and seaweed, like at Ophelia's Cafe, and . Later, after this rhetoric presentation (T_T), I had a poster session and hung out with KH, IN, and WZ. Plus there was a project about pop-up books, and one with a virginal, which were beyond amazing. Went to WZ's that night to check Bio pset answers, and talked about life. Good times.

Friday: Lunch included grilled cheese, broccoli and carrots, and broccoli/sausage/alfredo pasta. Needless to say, I was a happy camper. I watched When Harry Met Sally that afternoon, which was exciting because a) it is a fantastic movie, b) I have the same phone as Marie, and c) it has a bobble bird in one of the scenes, whose mechanism we explained in a BioE pset, and I was one of the few to get that problem right because I didn't look on Google, which had a wrong explanation. (PWNED.) And later I'm going to Nordstrom Rack with WZ and SB for my shoe edification. And then tonight is my Breakfast at Tiffany's party. And by party, I mean movie+snacks.


October is always my favorite time of the year, not because of the season (although it is a nice balance of sunny and lightly rainy).It's because I get to be at school again, and although it's rather stressful, I'm not as burnt out as in spring, and I can still emerge from consecutive late nights generally without horrible angst. I still have energy to do fun stuff (see above) without worrying about what I'll do in the summer (although I should start thinking about that...). Also, since people haven't been at school for ages, the drama hasn't really started yet. Plus I can meet new people in the dorm without seeming weird, like I would later in the year.

Music Mixes: October Mix

Belle & Sebastian - I Didn't See It Coming
Belle & Sebastian - I Want The World To Stop
Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone
Eric Hutchinson - All Over Now
Erin McCarley - Pony (It's OK)
A Fine Frenzy - Lifesize
Five For Fighting - 100 Years
Joshua Radin - I'd Rather Be With You
Joshua Radin - Sky
Joshua Radin - Vegetable Car
Sara Bareilles - Let The Rain
Sara Bareilles - Uncharted

Reflexions

I know I'm not a nice person. I wish I was, and I used to be years ago, but I'm not anymore. I keep saying mean things that I see coming a mile away and it's like I can't stop them from spewing out. It's like watching a glass of water tip over in slow motion, knowing what's going to happen, and not doing anything to stop it. And then the water splashes everywhere, and I just wipe it halfheartedly and wait for it to evaporate.

Currently Obsessed: Yet Another Song List

Sara Bareilles - Uncharted. My first full piano and voice transcription :) ...with a lot of help from watching her fingers on YouTube.

Sara Bareilles - Let The Rain. Actually, pretty much the whole Kaleidoscope Heart album.

Joshua Radin - Sky. The Meiko version and the Ingrid Michaelson version. And also I'd Rather Be With You. Actually, pretty much the whole Simple Times album too.

Plain White T's - Rhythm of Love. I first heard this song from them live at Now & Zen earlier this year, and I really want to learn how to play the guitar part. It's very acoustic-heavy and mostly chords, which is good. I should really learn Hey There Delilah better too. Apparently it was the first drumless #1 on Billboard in years.

My Chemical Romance - Na Na Na. It's been so long since MCR has come out with a new album, and The Black Parade is overall my most listened-to album. I'm so excited :D This is a great first single from them.

My 101 in 1001

This was supposed to be put up yesterday, but I had no internets :(

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

So without further ado.....and in absolutely no particular order:

1. Eat a steak burrito at La Costeña.
2. Attend 5 concerts. (4/5: Alice's Now & Zen Fest 2010, Ingrid Michaelson Fall Tour 2010, Glee concert, Alice's Summerthing 2011)
3. Try out 10 local restaurants I’ve never been to. (7/10: The Counter, Sushi House, New Mongolian BBQ, P.F. Chang's, Coconuts, Madame Tam, Fu Lam Mum)
4. Take a photo a day for 3 months.
5. Live in a foreign country.
6. Travel to Europe.
7. Visit 5 cities outside of California. (1/5: New York City)
8. Visit 3 states I've never been to. (0/3)
9. Visit New York City. (completed 03/26/11)
10. Bike in San Francisco.
11. Explore 3 new regions in San Francisco. (1/3: Tenderloin)
12. Go on a road trip with friends.
13. Go on a cross-country Amtrak tour.
14. Make a snowman.
15. Get a laptop.
16. Get a manicure or pedicure at a salon.
17. Go on a picnic.
18. Ride on a Ferris wheel.
19. Fly parachutes or paper airplanes from the top of Hoover Tower.
20. Eat at each dining hall in Stanford. (completed 09/29/10)
21. Hike the Dish. (completed 09/25/10)
22. Buy food from a truck or pushcart. (completed 03/22/11 in Central Park)
23. Visit an art festival/craft fair.
24. Visit a flea market.
25. Spend a day at a local beach.
26. Eat 10 foods I’ve never eaten before. (3/5: fresh oysters, raw salmon, kimchi)
27. Cross the footbridge over the local highway.
28. Visit the cemetery.
29. Throw a birthday party.
30. Fly a kite.
31. Complete a New York Times Friday crossword.
32. Go on a full-day hike.
33. Donate blood.
34. Find out my blood type.
35. [Private] for one week.
36. Attend a talk by a famous person. (completed 10/14/10 - Dalai Lama)
37. Attend a midnight premier of a movie. (completed 11/19/10 - Harry Potter 7 Part I)
38. Shop Black Friday. For reals. (completed 11/26/10)
39. Grow out my nails (go polish-free, tips and toes) for a month. (completed 01/01/11)
40. Try all my nail polish.
41. Bleach and/or dye my hair.
42. Do not turn my computer on for a week. (completed 6/20/11)
43. Go without electricity for a day.
44. Make some amount of money in the stock market.
45. Change the oil on a car by myself.
46. Take an art class.
47. Take an architecture class.
48. Take an athletic class.
49. Learn to speed-read.
50. Sleep before 11:00PM every day for a week.
51. Pull an all-nighter.
52. Watch the sun rise.
53. Get a 100% (or the highest grade in a class) on a midterm or final.
54. Get A’s in all my classes for a term. (completed 12/21/10)
55. Get a ukulele.
56. Learn Braille.
57. Learn Morse Code.
58. Teach myself French.
59. Do not buy any new clothing items for one month. (completed 02/01/11)
60. Sew a dress for myself.
61. Finish a cabled knitting project. Bonus points if it’s circular.
62. Make a scrapbook.
63. Get/make an accurate dress form.
64. Make 10 pairs of earrings. (0/10)
65. Invest in a dSLR.
66. Get a sheet music editor.
67. Transcribe a song, all instruments.
68. Replace my light switch plate.
69. Buy candy at a chocolate store.
70. Paint a room.
71. Write with my left hand for a day.
72. Amass 10,000 songs and listen to them all.
73. Read 50 of the books on the Big Read list.
74. Increase my movie count to 400.
75. Watch at least 75 movies from the AFI’s 100 Years...100 Movies list.
76. Movie-hop. (completed 6/25/11, X-Men: First Class and Bridesmaids)
77. Watch a movie at Palo Alto Square.
78. Watch a movie at Aquarius. (completed 1/17/11, Blue Valentine)
79. Make chocolate truffles. (completed 11/12/10)
80. Make ice cream from scratch.
81. Successfully bake a pie.
82. Cook a meal for people outside of my family.
83. Leave a note in a library book for someone to find.
84. Go vegetarian for one month.
85. Go snack-free for one month. (Vegetables and fresh fruit are OK.)
86. Run at least 5 times a week for a month.
87. Run a sub-8:30 mile.
88. Weigh XXX pounds and keep it there for a month.
89. Do the splits.
90. Blog in Spanish for one month.
91. Participate in NaBloPoMo five times (unofficial is OK). (0/5)
92. Participate in Day of Silence.
93. Participate in Earth Hour.
94. Present my research. (completed 10/21/10)
95. Learn to drive stick shift.
96. Make a list of 101 things I like.
97. Splurge on one high-end investment item (clothing or accessory)
98. Make a 10-year time capsule.
99. Graduate from college.
100. Make another 101 in 1001 list.

Plain Text - To Do.
Bold - Goal Achieved
Italicized - In Progress

Goal Start Date: Sunday, September 19, 2010
Goal End Date: Sunday, June 16, 2013

last updated: 06.27.11

**note: this list is still unfinished. yay for writer's block.

Currently Obsessed: Pony (It's OK) by Erin McCarley

The album version is perhaps even better.

EggWatchers Egg Timer

http://www.eggwatchers.com/

Currently Obsessed: Crash Years by The New Pornographers

New albums coming out this fall:
08/31/2010: The Weepies - Be My Thrill
08/31/2010: Goo Goo Dolls - Something For The Rest Of Us
09/07/2010: Sara Bareilles - Kaleidoscope Heart
09/14/2010: Weezer - Hurley
10/12/2010: Joshua Radin - The Rock And The Tide
10/25/2010: Taylor Swift - Speak Now

Other albums coming this year:
Hellogoodbye - Would It Kill You?
Until June - www
My Chemical Romance
Jack's Mannequin
Colbie Caillat
Kelly Clarkson

Even more albums hopefully coming soon (2011 and after):
Erin McCarley
Lady GaGa
Coldplay
Jason Mraz
The Killers
Lenka
Mika

Currently Obsessed: King Of Anything by Sara Bareilles

I can't wait for her next album, Kaleidoscope Heart.

Hugh Laurie on Ellen

I love Ellen. And Hugh Laurie.

On Yahoo! News

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20100825/od_yblog_upshot/would-be-purse-snatcher-thwarted-by-his-own-photobomb


NEVER MIND THE PURSE SNATCHER, SHE'S WEARING THE ANTHRO SKETCHED DANIOS DRESS BY WE LOVE VERA!! or something that looks mighty like it...

I think I may be taking this Anthro ID thing too far.

Victor Fleming

He directed two classic movies, The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind, both released in the same year (1939). What an overachiever.

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir

Amazing. I wish I was a part of this.

All Caught Up!

I'm all caught up with How I Met Your Mother, and now I can't wait for the season 6 premiere on September 20! A few notable things about the end of season 5:

Episode 21 - Twin Beds. Field Game Cardigan.



Episode 23 - The Wedding Bride. Blooming Lattice Cardigan.


I love Anthro IDs!!

Episode 24 - Doppelgangers. Finally, A Fine Frenzy on HIMYM! This is when Lily thinks she spots Barney's doppelganger. I knew I heard this great song before, but it somehow didn't stick with me before. No matter. It's in my rotation now.

How I Met Your Mother Songs

How I Met Your Mother has a pretty solid soundtrack. Observe:

Season 3, Episode 12 - No Tomorrow. This is when Ted goes back to a bar and finds the yellow umbrella.


Season 3, Episode 19 - Everything Must Go. This is when Lily is trying to sell her art on the streets.


Season 4, Episode 6 - Happily Ever After. This is after Ted imagines confronting Stella after his ex-wedding. Regina Spektor is, as always, a good choice.

Alternate version:


Season 2, Episode 9 - Slap Bet. How could a list of HIMYM songs not include this gem?


Then there's also Barney's Get Psyched Mix for New Year's Eve (Season 1, Episode 11 - The Limo): You Give Love a Bad Name by Bon Jovi, Don't Stop Believing by Journey, Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield.

Legen - wait for it - DARY.

150 Movies in 4 Years

According to my records, I have watched exactly 150 movies since I started keeping track four years ago (September 2006). Most of these I watched lounging around at home, with or without my mom, but a few I saw in local movie theaters, and others I watched in class, or in my dorm, or traveling (I saw The Dark Knight in Ithaca, NY, Alice in Wonderland in LA, Scary Movie 4 on my friend's portable DVD player in Italy, and a few others on airplanes and buses). They are a mix of Golden-Age Hollywood movies, silent black-and-white films, animated movies, chick flicks, comedies, romantic comedies, Oscar winners, cult classics, children's movies, movies in French (but none in Spanish, oddly enough), and some other random ones thrown in. Note that there are almost no horror/thriller movies on the list. I don't do scary movies. I really really wish I could watch The Silence of the Lambs, Rear Window, and Psycho, but I'm too scared as of now. Maybe later. I also learned that I can't do action movies with complicated storylines like Snatch; I didn't really understand Ocean's Eleven until the middle of the movie (but that's probably because I wasn't paying enough attention in the first half). Multiple storylines I can handle, as long as they're somewhat related (Love Actually, Babel, Crash). I also don't tend to repeat movies; I think I only saw four movies twice during these four years (Breakfast at Tiffany's, Iron Man, Rent and Up). However, although I watched most of these movies for the first time in the past four years, some were repeats from before I started the list (Pirates of the Caribbean, a few of the Harry Potters). Some notable ones (and not-so-notable ones) are not even on this list because I didn't watch them in the last four years (Finding Nemo, Amadeus, The Phantom of the Opera, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Inspector Gadget, Spy Kids).

I saw a lot of these movies because my mom checked them out from the library. She's not really a big movie buff, but she likes Dustin Hoffman and Audrey Hepburn. She also believes in Oscar Best Picture winners (when I was small, any book I was reading would automatically get bonus points if it had a Newbery Medal on it).

I actually did not finish Blade Runner due to a technical difficulties, but I put it on the list because I watched it 95% of the way through and I rather don't want to watch the end. But I think I left out a few movies during the first half year because I kept forgetting to write them down. I thought I watched the first two Shrek movies in the past 4 years...but maybe it was earlier. I also added The Magic Flute, which is an opera that I watched in video form.

I'm actually rather surprised I watched so many, because I'm not a huge movie fan (I prefer books), and sometimes I consider them as cultural homework (or actual homework, in the case of 2001: A Space Odyssey). I think it's because I have a short attention span and I forget things easily, and it's harder to go back and remind myself of something in a movie than it is in a book. Plus in a book you just have to read all the words, but in a movie you have to watch everything. Which also makes them more interesting, I suppose.

So (drummroll please), without further ado, here is the nearly-complete List of Movies I Watched in the Past Four Years, alphabetized:

(500) Days of Summer (2009)
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
13 Going On 30 (2004)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
27 Dresses (2008)
50 First Dates (2004)
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
A Walk To Remember (2002)
Accepted (2006)
Aladdin (1992)
Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
American Beauty (1999)
An American in Paris (1951)
Analyze This (1999)
Atonement (2007)
Avatar (2009)
Babel (2006)
Batman Begins (2005)
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
Being There (1979)
Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
Blade Runner (1982)
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Broken Arrow (1996)
Bruce Almighty (2003)
C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)
Cars (2006)
Casablanca (1942)
Charade (1963)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Chicago (2002)
Chocolat (2000)
A Christmas Carol (1951)
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)
Citizen Kane (1941)
City Lights (1931)
Clueless (1995)
The Corpse Bride (2005)
Crash (2004)
The Dark Knight (2008)
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Die Zauberflöte (2000)
Dr. Strangelove (1964)
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Ella Enchanted (2004)
Emma (1996)
Enchanted (2007)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
The Family Stone (2005)
Fight Club (1999)
Finding Neverland (2004)
Forrest Gump (1994)
Funny Face (1957)
Funny Girl (1968)
The General (1926)
Girl, Interrupted (1999)
The Gold Rush (1925)
Gone With the Wind (1939)
The Graduate (1967)
Grease (1978)
Hairspray (2007)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Hercules (1997)
High School Musical (2006)
The Hot Chick (2002)
The Hours (2002)
Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
The Hurt Locker (2008)
I ♥ Huckabees (2004)
I Love You, Man (2009)
Iron Man (2008)
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Julie & Julia (2009)
The Jungle Book (1994)
Juno (2007)
The Kid (1921)
La Science des Rêves (The Science of Sleep) (2006)
Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Legally Blonde (2001)
Les Choristes (2004)
Liar Liar (1997)
The Lion King (1994)
The Lion King 1 ½ (2004)
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Love Actually (2003)
Love in the Afternoon (1957)
Ma Vie en Rose (1997)
Mean Girls (2004)
Meet the Fockers (2004)
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
My Fair Lady (1964)
The Notebook (2004)
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Office Space (1999)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
The Parent Trap (1998)
Persuasion (2007)
Peter Pan (1953)
The Pianist (2002)
The Pink Panther (2006)
Pinocchio (1940)
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Pride and Prejudice (1995)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Ratatouille (2007)
Red Eye (2005)
Rent (2005)
Roman Holiday (1953)
Sabrina (1954)
Scary Movie 4 (2006)
Schindler’s List (1993)
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
She’s the Man (2006)
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Shrek the Third (2007)
The Simpsons Movie (2007)
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2002)
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008)
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Snatch (2000)
Star Trek (2009)
Superbad (2007)
Thank You for Smoking (2005)
To Sir, with Love (1967)
Tootsie (1982)
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Underworld (2003)
Up (2009)
WALL-E (2008)
Wedding Crashers (2005)
Yes Man (2008)

My favorite movies would probably have to be:
(500) Days of Summer
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Chicago
Chocolat
Finding Nemo (not on this list, but who cares)
The Hours
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Rent
Shawshank Redemption
The Science of Sleep
Tootsie
Up

I really need more Sam's Town in my life.

I discovered The Killers in early 2008, and it was their first album that got me hooked. Hot Fuss was one of my obsessions for a while, and I've listened to each song in that album somewhere between 12 and 102 times (not including the times I used my iPod). It's still a good album, which is saying something, because I usually tire of albums quickly. I listened to their other albums briefly, only identifying a few notable songs - "Human" and "Spaceman" from Day & Age, and "When We Were Young" and "Read My Mind" from Sam's Town. I just listened to Sam's Town again for the first time in months, in its entirety, and I actually really liked it. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Sawdust. Oy vey.

Awkward TV Show Stage

I just finished season 4 of How I Met Your Mother, which is the last season that's out on DVD. Season 5 comes out on DVD the day after the season premier of season 6 airs, in September. I think I'll just try to nab the season 5 discs as soon as they come in the library, watch them, and then try to catch up on season 6 as it airs. Plus I need to get cracking on the Wire...season 3 awaits!

To the Lady Who Donated the Almost-New Anthro Dress to My Local Goodwill...

Thank you. Thank you so very very much.

It's this pale pale green strapless (removable straps, but the strap attachments are placed a little weirdly so I doubt I'll use them much) dress with a sort of splashy floral print. It's made by Maeve, and it happened to be my size, and it doesn't bag over my not-well-endowed boobs, and it's not too long on me like most Anthro dresses are, and it's not poufy, and it was $10! omgomgomg and you know what? According to the tag, it was put out for sale the very day I bought it. *squee* I love thrift stores!!

Shopping Problem

I know what my problem is. When I start to run low on money, I don't think about how to stop spending money, but how to make more money to keep spending. I think that is sad.

Productive Day

Today I cooked dinner by myself for the first time ever. (Rice, broccoli, eggs and basil, beef and peppers, and winter melon soup.) I also cut my mom's hair.

Obsessed with Strings

I recently sold my old guitar to my roommate, in an effort to upgrade to a better one. It was a Jasmine by Takamine S35 acoustic:

After doing the Taylor 110 vs. Martin DX-1 debate, I finally decided on a Taylor 110:

Now I really want a ukulele too. (Heh.) The one I really want is the Kamaka Standard (HF-1) uke, but it's like $700.

So, I'll probably get a Lanikai LU-21 sometime, which is loads cheaper.

Speakers = Alive?

Now that I'm home, both my computer speakers suddenly work :D and now my new favorite song is Snow (Hey Oh) by Red Hot Chili Peppers. I love that intro :)

Self-revelation

I've made a self-discovery: my confidence and my voice volume are directly related (confidence is independent variable, volume is dependent variable). I'm pretty much sure that's why people couldn't hear me in high school, but they could just fine in college (even when I talk to old high school friends). And then my voice volume dropped during my first days working in the lab.

First (full) Day of Summer

And I have nothing to do. How awesome? I think?

Yesterday I went with my mom to the mall and I got my first maxi skirt, a blue gradient tiered one from Old Navy. I'm a little worried, since I've never worn a maxi skirt before, and my rule has always been "right above the knee."

On another note, I need to get a webcam. Like maybe this one. Or this one.

iTunes Library

As of 12:55pm, on June 3, 2010, I have officially listened to every song in my iTunes library. All 4007 items.

*does happy dance*

I'm currently into what I refer to as "underrated songs," the ones that are really good but not the single on the album, so people (including me) do not think of them readily. BUT THEY'RE STILL GOOD. Here's a list of my current favorites (some of which are not on albums. or they are actually the most popular single. but still.)

Allie Moss - Melancholy Astronautic Man
The Beatles - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
The Bird & The Bee - My Love
Bon Jovi - the three most popular songs. haha.
Coldplay - Death and All His Friends
Daft Punk - Aerodynamic
Dawes - When My Time Comes
The Fray - All At Once
Green Day - Know Your Enemy
Green Day - Viva La Gloria!
Keane - Everybody's Changing
Keane - Can't Stop Now
Matchbox Twenty - How Far We've Come
Matt Nathanson - Car Crash
OK Go - This Too Shall Pass
Train - Save Me, San Francisco
3 Doors Down - It's Not My Time

Glee and Anthropologie

On the episode of Glee first aired on 2010 Jun 1, entitled "Funk," Quinn Fabray wears the Grasslands Dress from Anthropologie, under a navy cardigan.



My first ID. So excited :)

Memorial Day Haul

AE 15% off + free shipping

AE Straight Jean, Dark Indigo Wash ($29.50). Style #0435-7599. Been stalking this one for so long.


AE Jewel Tank, Navy Eyelet ($11.95, marked down from $29.50). Style #2361-9034. I really wanted the red one, but it when I went online to buy it, it was sold out :( but I think this blue one will also be cute. I'm a little worried about the straps, because spaghetti straps don't really work for me, but I'll probably wear a cami under it.

Shoes

I don't think I have too many shoes. Really, I don't. Just twelve pairs! I wear them all in different situations:

1. Rain boots
2. Leather boots
3. Converse (cool walking shoes)
4. Plaid Converse-alikes (beat-up sneakers)
5. Running shoes
6. Moccasins (covering-toes-without-socks shoes)
7. Old Navy pearl flip-flops (shower/indoor flip-flops)
8. Rainbows (outdoor/sturdy flip-flops)
9. Gap pink crinkle-flower sandals (fun cutesy sandals)
10. Silver strappy sandals (all formal occasions)
11. Old choir uniform "Chinese shoes"
12. Red quilted ballet flats

OK, the last two don't have a real use in my wardrobe. But I didn't buy the former and the latter was like $7 at Marshalls and kinda cute (but painful, which is why I rarely wear them).

So, I didn't feel that bad when I bought another pair of Gap sandals. They will be my "goes-with-everything dressy-ish sandals." They weren't too expensive, for shoes at least.

Gap Leather T-Strap Sandals, $29.50.

I was pretty excited about them, so I tried them on right when I got home. Aaaugh I love them now! They are so comfortable! Plus, although they look like they would destroy my arches, it's not so bad. I always have my Rainbows to boost them back up.

Daydreams

Sometimes I am afraid that my dream worlds will become so real to me that I will escape to them forever.

Sleep Schedule

Sat-Sun: No sleep (read for IHUM, form thesis + outline)
Sun-Mon: Sleep (in anticipation for no sleep the next night)
Mon-Tue: No sleep (write IHUM paper, due Tue)
Tue-Wed: Sleep (in anticipation for chem midterm, Wed)
Wed-Thu: No sleep (write chem lab report and prelab)
Thu-Fri: Sleep (preferably for 12+ hours)

Look, it worked out perfectly! Woooo...

BTW, "no sleep" means "little sleep." I'm not that hardcore yet.

Marina and the Diamonds - I Am Not A Robot

Assassins and Nail Polish

I just got killed in our dorm Assassins game :( I actually made it to the end! I was the last one to die, out of 44 people (well, 43 dead). At least that part is exciting :)

I also got my Zoyas today! Of course, I had to do a photo shoot...

Akyra, Blair, Casey, Charla, Elodie

Irene, Kotori, Lael, Mieko, Posh

Rea, Richelle, Roxy, Suvi

Tammy, Valentina, Yasmeen

Family pic:

My pre-cleanup NOTN: Zoya Posh with Poshe tips (haha, didn't even realize that until now!)

Seagull Epic Win

Emo Week

Or maybe it'll be longer than a week. Who knows.

I'm pretty sure it started last Wednesday, when we learned minor scales in music class. I remember thinking it was just too ironic, and it didn't bode well for my midterm that night (which actually went OK, but not great). And after that, it was just a week of bad grades in homework, essays, and midterms, and messed up labs, drama over next year's housing, and general emo-ness. It wasn't even PMS. And then yesterday, after I got my two worst grades ever (relatively for my midterm and literally for my paper), I skipped dinner and went to sleep at 8pm. Yay for thirteen-hour naps!

There were good parts this week, too, I suppose. It's been sunny the whole week. I went running twice, outside. (The second time I almost pulled a muscle, but still.) There were dumplings today at lunch. I got free Jamba Juice yesterday at Frosh Rally (some kind of mango one, it was really good), and I got a letter from S. Plus last Thursday I went to eat at the Creamery with G and W, and although it was $$, it was really good. (oven-fried chicken? mashed potatoes? steamed vegetables? mint-chocolate-chip shake? All signs of general win, in my book.) I also went home last Saturday, so I ate two lunches. I'm noticing this all revolves around food...

Oh, and I hauled twice this week. The first was the annual Zoya Polish Exchange. The deal is that you could send in six or more unwanted polishes from your stash, along with $3.50 per bottle, and you would receive a new bottle of Zoya nail polish for every bottle you send in. I split a package with K, so that we could get over the six-polish minimum. Turns out we both sent in six. At least we saved on shipping, right? I got these:

Blair

Casey

Lael

Posh (why is this the only one with a cap?)

Richelle

Roxy

K got these six:
Akyra

Charla

Kotori

Mieko

Rea

Suvi

I wish they'd let us exchange for their polish remover, because I desperately want to try it. Plus I'm out of acetone remover.

My second haul is with the Old Navy 30% off sale. I got a black string bikini bottom, because my current swimsuit bottom is kind of huge, even though I can tie the sides. My new one looks exactly like the old one, except hopefully it fits better. Here's a picture:

I suppose it doesn't count as a good thing this week, because I haven't gotten them yet. I just paid for them.

I also watched this week's Glee episode, Bad Reputation. I really liked it for some reason. I don't know if it was the harem pants in Can't Touch This (Brittany in red Hammer pants? hilarz.) or Mr. Schuester's interrogation scene (esp. Kurt and Brittany) or Rachel's Run Joey Run music video, or the last Total Eclipse of the Heart. That last song is my current favorite Glee song, along with Like a Prayer from the Madonna episode, and Gives You Hell (whose clip I found on iTunes for free!) and Hello Goodbye, and possibly Run Joey Run. Can't Touch This is also good, but only with the video. I watched the music videos for Glee songs so many times (esp. Total Eclipse and Like a Prayer). Mum would say that watching too much TV is why my life is deteriorating. She's probably right.

I think this should be the end of this Emo Week, because I have a break in midterm season until next Friday. Plus I got all my bad grades back. No~~just remembered my psych project is coming back soon. Won't be pretty. And my music midterm is coming back next week too. I don't know if I should be worried about it. I finished in the first half hour and I was the first one done. I thought it was easy...

Looking back on this list, I'm not sure why I was so emo this week. I did forget/de-emphasize a lot of the more depressing parts here though. The housing drama and the bad grades were pretty aggravating. Also, I'm not in as emo of a mood now (knock on wood), so I'm remembering the happier parts. You know those questions on psych surveys where they ask, "Do you think you can change your emotions?" I'm pretty sure the answer is no. To some extent, mood isn't even based on what events happen in your life. If you're sad, you think about events differently than if you're happy. Stuff that might not be a big deal when I'm happy may seem extremely annoying or depressing when I'm sad. Even if something happy happens, I would just focus on the bad parts of it (because I can always improve, no matter what the situation is).