XOXO, Dani

Responsibility, Professionalism, Etc.

2011-11-09T01:03:00.000-08:00

Today in class we had a discussion about professionalism. I.e. when do you learn professionalism? Is it up to the school to teach professionalism? And if so how? Are rules the only way?

In conjunction to that and a very recent (minutes ago) personal experience:

WHEN THE FUCK DO PEOPLE LEARN TO BE UPRIGHT CITIZENS? When do people learn to throw out the trash? To not leave dirty dishes in the sink? To run/empty the dishwasher? To ask before taking? TO FILL A FUCKIN BRITA FILTER PITCHER BEFORE PUTTING IT BACK IN THE FRIDGE?

Yeah it's like that. Picture this: I am very thirsty from a) self-imposed dehydration so I don't overload my tiny bladder and b) self-indulgence in 135% of my allotted daily sodium intake. I go to kitchen to get a glass of water. I open the fridge door, take out my Brita pitcher...AND IT'S EMPTY!!! WHO DOES THAT?

It always AMAZES me how inconsiderate PEOPLE are. People who the general public would consider to be intelligent, motivated, and stand-up citizens that are positively contributing to our world. But from personal experience, PEOPLE ARE FUCKIN IDIOTS. You'd think that a late-twenty-something year old (yes you are a few years form 30) would know what it means to be considerate towards other people. But I guess they're not screening for those traits these days. Who knew that BEING A GOOD HUMAN BEING was not a requirement for graduate school.

End of rant.

First in 2011

2011-08-20T00:48:00.000-07:00

First blog entry in 2011.

It's a bit refreshing to be greeted by the good ole Blogger interface.

So for the past 1/2 hour, I've been reading back on my previous entries and have realized that I blogged a lot more than I thought during my year off. In my brain, my biggest personal writing accomplishment during the 2009-2010 season of Dani's life was filling up a whole journal (a physical one). But I fail to recall how much blogging I did in that time as well. Of course, it wasn't a day to day thing, but still often enough that there were many months with multiple entries. And looking back, I'm glad that this blog went from trying to be mainstream with comments on my clothes & most-wanted lists back to introspection & reflection. My deepest moments are the ones that I enjoy the most when I look back on my entries. I always marvel at how eloquent I sound as I read back older entries. But I think that makes it even more difficult to compose new entries...because I feel that they have to be so well-thought out. Unlike the entries in my physical journals (which tend to be essentially thoughts spilling onto a page), my blog entries tend to require more thought and general composition & finer word choices, which makes it a daunting task when I hardly have time to eat, pee, and sleep.

But that's just the reason why I decided to take up blogging again. One of my goals for this upcoming school year is to take more time for me & my personal time. I definitely cherished personal time a lot during my year off; but I also had the luxury to take the time to enjoy then as well. My first year in med school was something akin to a tornado: a continuous slew of bursts of activity, only infrequently disrupted by short periods of calm (half of which was taken to recover and the other half to party it off & then prepare for the next burst). As I my years of schooling accumulate, I become more and more conscious of the fact that as I become more "educated," I lose aspects of "me." During high school, I slowly lost my time to write introspectively. During undergrad, I lost French & my web design skills. And now, after just 1 year of med school, I've lost the time to journal/blog semi-regularly. And thus we land back to why I opened up Blogger tonight to blog. I refuse to let higher education destroy me.

-- to be continued --

Med school kills

2010-10-02T17:29:00.000-07:00

all extracurricular interests of mine. But, seriously, if I had a few thousand to blow (aka not a poor grad student), this is a DREAM for moonlighting:

D&G Chiffon Tye Dye Gown

I'd eat this psychedelic beauty for breakfast...

...now back to TCA & OxPhos

These are a few of my favorite things...

2010-08-11T13:43:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty much a gigantic neat freak when it comes to my laptop's desktop clutter. I hate having any more icons than necessary (normally I only have my HD icon & a 'Random' folder in which I keep interesting clips from the internet). I know some people (most of them my professors) love to have their desktop screens filled with little icons, but hello, isn't that what folders are made for? Make a folder, better yet multiple folders, and organize all that stuff. A cluttered desktop screen for me speaks volumes: 1. Laziness, because if you really sit down & sift through it all, every item belongs to a category & should be organized as such, 2. Visual incapacitation, because how can all those icons on your desktop be possibly the least bit visually appealing?, and 3. Disorderly conduct of mind & life, because clutter, either the physical or electronic type, is a manifestation of how a person organizes her thought & everyday behavior. I strongly believe that the way that a person organizes her living & working space represents the manner in which she organizes her brain & her approach to life.

I am definitely the type that, if given the resources, would organize & de-clutter the shit out of my living space. However, the opposing force in all of this is also that I am a moderately intense pack rat. I hate throwing things away, and have started scrap-booking just so I can justify keeping bits & pieces of my life (think movie stubs or trail maps). Each experience to me seems to precious to discard. Which also makes moving a pain in the ass...and sadly, my past few years of school has forced me to move every 10 months, or less. Which has created a slowly acquired yet painfully sharp aversion towards packing. Four words sum up this emotion precisely: I fucking hate packing.

But I digress. Recently, having nothing to do at home as I wait for school to start again, I've been pulling interesting items from the Internet whenever I see them. Sort of a digital wishlist if you will. All my screen caps end up on my desktop (I should create a screen cap folder...hmm) and for the past few days, icons have begun to accumulate. So today, in order to separate my Katie Holmes hairstyle pictures (hair appt tomorrow!) from my conglomeration of things that I'd buy if I were a billionaire, I went through all the items that I had on my desktop & selected a few of my favorite ones.

This image pretty much sums up the color palette I wish to have this fall/winter. Browns, blacks, and olive drab. Thanks a lot Burberry Prorsum FW2010/11, your subtle advertising has leached its way into my brain and is causing me to cling on for deal life, like one does to a good hairstylist. There were more items that I had collected, but they sort of got kicked off the list (I had 3 other pairs of shoes that were just variations of the UO ones). I'm seriously debating whether or not to buy the Minnetonkas that are on sale on one of those sample websites I'm subscribed to. But I've got a pair of Sperry's BNIB, waiting to be worn. BUT they're a pretty blush pink color, not exactly the earth tones that's currently running through my veins.

Also, recently I've been toying around with the idea of building shoe shelves somewhere in my parents' house. But since I'm moving out (likely for the next 8 years) in 2 days, I guess it's not such a good idea to build shelves that would remain empty. If only I could build them in my new housing...I wonder what the university would say when they find a whole wall outfitted as shelves when I move out...

Shearling Goodness

2010-08-04T14:36:00.000-07:00

Made the mistake of going onto Burberry.com to pick out a trench coat. Instead, I just oohed and aahed at this:

Loved it when I saw it from runway pics, love it even more that it's actually available for real people. Even if it's at fake people prices.

Mmm...now that H&M coat is increasing in it's appeal...even if it's probably faux shearling.

In the world of fashion, no animal is safe.

This is what happens to a soon-to-be-student-again does when she suddenly gets a ton of free time...explore ways to spend the money that she will never have as a student.

Ode to Sports Cars

2010-07-08T21:34:00.000-07:00

Oh small shiny sports cars
Why must you go so slowly
Take advantage of your speedy thrusters
Of your light frame
And zoom zoom away
Out of my way
During morning commute

-----
This morning I got stuck behind TWO different sports cars. One, an Eclipse, that was barely going 30 in a 40 zone, and then a Corvette in the left lane, driving as if it weren't 9am in the morning and people have places to be. Also, I'm sick of seeing all these old men in mid-range sports cars. 50y/o men should not be driving a riced out Eclipse. That's just wrong. Capture your youth in a classy way, not like you just stole your teenage son's car.

I've been catching up on The Hills & The City. It's funny when you see your life problems being played out on "reality" TV. Ha, comical. In a sadistic, cynical way.

Responsibility

2010-07-06T22:03:00.000-07:00

Is a burden.
And a boon.
And few people have it.

Lately, I've been learning a lesson on responsibility and what it actually means to be responsible. Also, I've been learning how to be understanding of others that lack it. If our academic experiences are supposed to translate to the real world, then those group project experiences will bite me in the ass for the rest of my life. But hey, it's a tough job and somebody's gotta do it. And so the lesson eventually turns to accepting responsibility and learning how to manage it. I wonder if I'll ever learn.

Another lesson: Common advice are the result of generations of experience & learning. Heed them well or suffer the consequences.

I've also been learning that intelligence is easy to tell after knowing someone for just a few days. Training the interns at work has been somewhat of a task, and now I understand why my colleagues complained last year about not being able to get anything done in the summer. As someone who's been in the lab environment longer than the interns, one feels obligated to devise simple yet meaningful tasks for them to do. That is a lot harder to do than you'd think, especially when not trying to insult the other person's intelligence. But, going back to that responsibility idea, when training someone, the teacher has the responsibility of recognizing the ability of the student. If a student proves to be not as bright as previously perceived, one must overcome that misconception and accept the fact that the student is incapable (for whatever reason) of understanding & learning at a pace at which you had presupposed.

Another lesson: Turn your head to the north and swallow that pill that they call pride. Paying your dues, it's just how the system works.

----
On a completely different note: I'm really liking this slew of one-word titles that I've got going on. I wonder how long I can manage to make them last.

Waiting

2010-06-20T22:58:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been feeling a bit anxious. Maybe because there's so many changes taking place. I'll be moving out of our apartment in a week and a half and moving back with my parents for the first time in a LONG time. It'll have been exactly 22 months since I'd lived at "home home" when I move back, and the first time that I would be staying in the new house for longer than 2 weeks since my parents moved. I'm also a bit concerned about the long commute for the month & half that I'd be staying with them. It's either going to be extremely draining or extremely rewarding since I'll be going to work so early.

I'm also antsy for school to start. A bit looking forward to it and a bit hesitant. This past year has gone by so fast, and looking back, I'm so glad that I took the year off. It's definitely been very hectic, with applications & interviews & work, and the time has flown by. But I really enjoyed it. If I had had a more career-oriented job, maybe I would be even sad to go back to being a student again. Or maybe I'd be more excited. Who knows.

A corollary to that is my moving back into "dorms" for school. My new place will be more like a gigantic apartment, but I'll still end up with 3 random housemates. Hopefully the housing people do just as good of a job as they did for me freshman year. Or else I'll have to participate in my least favorite activity soon after moving into my new housing. The past 5 years has taught me the true atrocity of moving. What a horrendous task, to pack one's life away completely in 1-2 days time and then having to unpack for a few months, only to pack it all up again to go to the next destination. I'm really calling to the gods to give me good roommates so I don't have to move again for the next 7-8 years. Regardless, it'll be a new environment nonetheless, and I'll have to experience my undergraduate institution in a whole new light, as a (not so sketchy) grad student (gasp!). But yes, change is a'coming, yes sir.

For the past 2 weeks now, I've been car hunting with Andre. It's quite an addictive activity, just like apartment hunting is. We've recently moved towards the selling phase, having to flip his car first before we can go out to buy that new one! Notice how I say "we," although I think I'm a bit more invested in the whole situation than he is. However, I am the more impatient one of the pair. I like to get things done as soon as possible so that I don't have to think about them anymore. Peace of mind is my favorite state of mind. But, at the end of the day, he's in no hurry to sell/buy, so I'd just be trying to push a concrete wall if I tried to rush it.

Here's to a smooth transition through the next 2 months.

Simplicity

2010-06-16T23:53:00.000-07:00

I am in love with Blogger's new template design tool. So awesome! Of course this is mostly due to the fact that over the past 5 years, I have slowly lost any and all HTML/CSS skills I had acquired since I was 12 years old. Goes to further show that school is beating out every ounce of creativity I ever had. It's actually quite depressing to think of it that way. As I get older, however, I just simply don't have the time to do all the things that I used to enjoy doing. I say "used to" because who knows whether or not I'd enjoy doing them now, after so long. That's why I really like it when developers make my life easier, and give me a sense of accomplishment when in reality, I hardly did anything. Case in point: the blogger Design tool.

So before I was distracted by the design tool...

Now I got distracted by blog surfing....

Now I'm going to let myself get distracted figuring out all the in's and out's of selling one's own car.

Defining a personal style

2010-05-16T14:06:00.000-07:00

In the fast paced world of fashion, continuously reported on by fashion/style bloggers, it's becoming exceedingly easy to lose sight of a personal style. The fashion world, has at least, found their new way of targeting Gen Y...at least it's been working on me. Someone recently commented that my style is really starting to be defined by what other people think are good...and as much as I'd hate to admit it, I see where that comment came from. Subconsciously, I am being significantly influenced by what I read on blogs and other websites. And that's why, I've decided that I need to subject a critical eye to my fashion choices from now on.

Some days, I dress for comfort, especially when I know that I've got a busy day at lab ahead of me. Flats, jeans/leggings, and a tee are probably the staples for those days. My default when I don't feel like getting dressed: jeans, tee, flats. I'm not particularly big on jewelry accessories...I think jewelry goes out of style too quickly to be worth investing in. Statement pieces are too expensive to only last fashionably for a few months. Instead, I use jackets to "accessorize" the whole look. "Statement jackets" should probably one of the biggest staples in my wardrobe. I can always go for a nice fitted/structured blazer. One of the things I hate is to repeat outfits...but I need to consciously realize that repeat outfits aren't necessarily a bad thing...it's just a statement on my personal style. Especially when I don't have the budget of an UES fashionista. The average person (this excludes all style bloggers) does not have a limitless closet, and thus outfits must be repeated.

Other days, I dress for style. There's the Rihanna-wannabe in me. I'm always down for a sleek hard-edged rocker chick look. And subsequently, another staple in my wardrobe, black booties & boots. I had a huge love affair with black booties this past fall. Now that summer's coming around, I need to start looking at some wedges that can be the warm-weather equivalent. Cynthia Vincent's Luella wedge comes to mind...so do the Balenciaga cork heels (I know, not wedges). Gotta do some more research.

....let's go Magic!

Rapid Changes & Lessons

2010-05-08T00:54:00.000-07:00

There are times in life when things feel completely stagnant and all you're doing is waiting for things to change, or for something to happen. And then these lapses are separated by bursts of activity, of decisions that have to be made, of trips that have to be planned, of friends that have to be met, etc. And at the end of each burst, you welcome those stagnant moments...when all you need to do is enjoy the serenity of life. I'm currently in one of those interspersed bursts of activity...and I long for the moment when I realize that I can be at peace. This gap year has fatigued me, a lot more than I thought. I thought it was going to be a nice lapse from the cyclic schedules of school life, but in reality, it's just been draining. And if there's one thing I've learned, it's that living life can only be learned through experience and that all the important stuff in life, you can't learn in a classroom. I've also learned that one lasting obstacle in life is the ability to maintain boundaries...between colleagues, between acquaintances, between friends, between partners, etc.

- too tired -

Today's April 23

2010-04-24T00:28:00.000-07:00

Last time I was here, it was still March. Life was just as complicated, so not much has changed eh?

One thing that I've been thinking about a lot is the idea of journals/diaries being published as memoirs. Anne Frank's diary is the most famous that comes to mind. I sometimes read over my older entries (both on the blog ones and the old school handwritten ones), and I find them entertaining/amusing because I get to look at situations with the wisdom of hindsight. Plus it's always nice to realize that no matter how horrible a certain situation was back then, everything all worked out for the better (at least up until now...knock on wood). But, I was thinking: what if someone in the not so distant future were to discover my journal? Or this blog? What would they think of it? I know for a fact that what I write is not necessarily publishable material, but that doesn't mean that I don't try to strive for "publishable" material each time I log onto Blogger of write in my journal. It also makes me sad because it just means that my writing is not good enough. Even though I find personal pleasure in reading my journal entries, it does not mean that in contains any real meat. Sometimes, I find myself reading entries such as "I went for a walk today. It was nice. I enjoyed it." And that's it. There's no introspective analysis of why I felt the way I did. Maybe I was having a super stressful week...maybe something important and heavy was on my mind at the time. What I've come to realize, however, is that as great as it would be to be able to analyze every single feeling/emotion, I no longer have the time to be so introspective. I used to when I was in middle school/early high school, when I blogged almost religiously...incessantly. But back then, I guess I had nothing else more pressing to do. Life wasn't as it is now. Plus, my blog was at the time, meant only for my friends to read...if that. I don't think I really thought about blog readership back in the day. But now, when blogs are so widely read, I would feel completely awkward just putting myself out there like that...giving complete strangers a window to the way that I perceive myself. Way too personal. There is a fine line between personal personal and public personal, now that the social media is exploding.

Many people, Andre included, do not understand the appeal of social networking sites and blogs...where people share their private lives with a fairly public audience. Obviously Facebook can be changed to have very private settings...but let's be honest here, not all your friends are created equal and you do not value all your "friends" at the same level. There should be a tier system when it comes to privacy settings. Tier 1 friends get access to everything. And tiers above that, gets sequentially more limited access to your Facebook profile. That way, your Facebook "friendships" can reflect on your real friendships. But nonetheless, even without this tiered friendship system, I still share all my photos and my complete profile with all my "friends." Why? Why do I persistently put my private life up for display? One argument could be that I want my friends to know what is going on in my life. But let's be honest here: If I don't talk to you in real life, then I'm not actually friends with you and you don't need to know what is going on in my personal life. I guess the only answer I can come up with now is: why not?

-- Too tired to type/think more --
Here's a cute puppy: http://www.mrxstitch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/puppy-cute-baby1.jpg

Ah...the good ole days

2010-03-29T23:27:00.000-07:00

May 2005 was Senior Prom for me. That wonderfully, coming of age event (at the time). I cannot believe it's almost been FIVE years. As I am so ardently reminded by the various blogs that I follow, prom season is upon us once again. And as The Cut mentioned, it's one of those nights that you don't expect to look back on and think, "Damn I look bomb!" Oh how I was so misinformed back in the day.

I remember vividly the day that I dragged my parents to the city so that I could go to the Jessica McClintock store to pick out my dress. I knew I wanted a McClintock dress because let's face it, back in the day (and probably still) it was THE prom brand. And after trying on various dresses, everything from Southern belle ball gowns to grecian-draped gowns, I decided on the following ~~beauty~~ monstrosity:

I know a picture is worth a thousand wounds, but just to emphasize: satin mermaid cut, with GIANT ASS FUCHSIA BUTTERFLIES!!!!! My mom and I added straps to it (BEADED straps) so that I could save myself from a full night of adjusting.

At the time, this dressed was THE dress. It (I thought) made me look taller and skinnier. No doubt the mermaid cut is still one of my favorites when it comes to floor length gowns, not because I think it gives me the illusion of being taller (although it probably does...) but because it accentuates my...well let's say assets. [I can't particularly say curves because that would imply that I had more than one...and let's be real here, I am asian...] Anyway, I'm digressing here...

When I purchased this "dress," I thought that I'd wear it at some other formal event down the line (say a formal at college or something). Oh, the wonders of naivete. Needless to say, this dress has yet to come out of its plastic bag home since prom. There was a time when I thought about cutting off the bottom "pouf" part and making it a tutu skirt. I doubt that I could use the butterfly satin for anything, but the fuchsia tulle that's underneath could be easily transformed. Tulle is tulle. But, alas, I did not have the heart to completely destroy my prom dress. Because as grotesque as I perceive it to be, it still holds quite a bit of sentimental value. Maybe one day, I will host an ugly dress party and I can wear it, as I believed I would on the day that I purchased it.

So, all this prom talk inspired me to look at the contemporary offerings. If I were to do it all over again, with the taste that I have now, what would I wear???

JS Boutique

House of Dereon

Flirt

Flirt (my favorite actually)

Needless to say, I wouldn't have chosen a print. However, I will say that one decision that I had made back in the day that I still agree with: No black, no white. The former is for funerals and the latter is for a wedding.

Escapism

2010-03-15T23:30:00.000-07:00

Ever have one of those days where you just need to escape from it all? Or just needed a quiet place to collect yourself? Well I found my place. Took a spur of the moment drive up to hills after work and found an old spot, after a good 8 years of trying to find it.

New experiences shape places, leaving a lingering impression on the mind. And I remember that day vividly. If I were a good cinematographer, I'd probably make a little short about it. It was one of those warm northern California spring afternoons. The sun was sitting low on the horizon and the sky was this pale pale blue, the greenery was striking, shimmering from the golden rays of the sun. The wind through the open car window warmed me and messed my hair as we swerved through the winding road. I remember my heart beating a bit faster around the hairpins, getting ready to brace myself for collision...or weightlessness. I was happy, and feeling a little badass, having skipped out on an afternoon class to go on this little adventure. It was a delicious afternoon of naughty acts in public places and looking out over the bay. I was young, carefree, and in love.

If anyone were to ask me about what came to mind as the ideal spring afternoon, the memories from that day would come up. It's been many years since I've been up there, and I've tried a few times to find it again, without success. But, today, with a little bit of Google mapping and a recommendation from a colleague, I ended up at that exact same spot. I won't say that the memories came flooding back...because they didn't. They didn't because they've been ingrained in my mind so vividly that it's become a part of me, in a sense. But anyway, I went up there to see the sunset. And this time, I followed the footpath up the hill. And while it was a bit cloudy to see a nice sunset, I had a fantastic view, with the bay on my right and the ocean on my left.

The original idea was to go up there and to collect my thoughts about all that's going on in my life right now and the mad dash til the end that's to come. But instead, as soon as I reached the top of the hill, all those worries disappeared. My mind tucked them away "for another time," and I just watched the sunset and without even consciously thinking about it, collected myself. Since graduation, there's been a constant array of tasks to be done and obligations to be met. I've learned a lot about Dani the person, but haven't had time to digest. The next few months are going to be crazy busy again, and even more serious decisions have to be made about life. So today was an escape and I am glad I took it.

Ratty Blackberry pictures:

The bay on my right

The ocean on my left

You can't beat this place.

Working on a Beautiful Sunday

2010-03-01T18:56:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, science really blows. Today is one of those days. It's a beautiful almost-spring Sunday, and I've been sitting in lab for the past 5 hours. And because when I had planned my experiment, I had forgotten that Ruth & I are going to see Ovo tonight, I don't even know if I'll be able to complete my experiments today. Which could mean, 6+ hours of work for nothing and having to start all over again tomorrow. Blah! But it's my own fault, so I'm just going to truck through and attempt to finish everything before Ruth comes over.

Besides blowing, science also involves quite a bit of waiting. So in the interim (and while Surfthchannel is down), I've just been browsing fashion blogs and online store websites. I just got off of Macy's website, an experience that has inspired my writing this entry.

I used to like Macy's quite a bit. It used to be my go to store to find somewhat good deals on some on-trend pieces. Now Macy's seems to be digressing. Or is it me changing? It's most likely a mix of the former & the latter, but nowadays, when I look around Macy's, I am overwhelmed by the mass market of it. Items become less desirable and I will only buy things from Macy's if it's dirt cheap. Macy's has now become the equivalent of Nordstrom's Rack for me; a bargain hunter department store.

I wish it were summer already...

2010-02-21T22:08:00.000-08:00

I'm eating some "visually ripe" strawberries, that lack the flavor of real strawberries. I wonder if it's because they're genetically engineered or because they were artificially ripened. Either way, it makes me miss summer. I want my fruits naturally ripe dammit!

I also wish it were summer because I am running out of ideas of how to pair my limited supply of leggings & tights with my not so limited supply of skirts and shorts. Although I just purchased 4 pairs of socks from Target today (2 pairs thigh highs and 2 pairs girls socks), so at least I won't be running out of footwear to wear. This past summer of flights and flip flops has really gotten me out of shape for heels. A careful skill cultivated over the past 22 years of my life, and now I am losing it. I'm trying to get it back, but it's proving harder than I thought. Now I also know why the doctors kept telling me to stop wearing high heels when I was having my back pains. Now they have returned. But the way I see it: the damage has been done, so there's no need to turn back now. I'm trying to float higher than ever!

Yesterday, amidst dim sum, shopping, and Ikea furniture putting together, Andre and I got onto the topic of blogs. He found it surprising that I blogged, and that I'd been blogging since middle school. It makes me chuckle a bit, to think that many of the blogs that I get fed to my Google reader, and which I read religiously, were started only a year or two ago. Whereas on the other hand, my blogging foot print started almost 10 years ago! Oh how I wish Diary-X was still around. Or that my Dell hadn't crashed and lost all its contents. One day, I plan to find those few entries that I was able to save from Diary-X and I plan to read every single word of them! Anyway, back to the conversation Andre & I had. He made me realize that I have probably had a blog on every popular host site. A Diary-X, two Xangas, a LiveJournal, and now two Bloggers. I even had a few stunts on that other CSS based one...forgot what it was called. But anyway, bottom line, me and blogs go way back. Andre also asked me why I had a blog in the first place. Like what was the purpose? To share my personal life on the internet? And looking back to that day when I first started a blog, I don't think I really had a purpose, except maybe to share with my friends the goings ons of my life. But what blogs BECAME for me, was a place to set down my thoughts and to analyze certain events. Granted not all my entries were deep and analytical, but some where. Some allowed me to put into writing what I felt inside, which was a great way to actually figure out where I stood on certain issues. Or what had bothered me in a specific situation. It was also a way for me to write down random, interesting, of the moment things down, for future reference. And in the end, it's always fun to read what I wrote, a few weeks, months, or even years back. And to see the progression that I've been through. Nowadays, my blog posts are much less personal (I keep a personal diary for those types of touchy feely things) and seem to mirror the fashion blogs that I read daily. But it should be duly noted that I make a conscientious effort to make my blog not about fashion, but about me. That's right, it's all a pretty much self-centered process. And that's my opinion on any personal blogs that are out there. Collective blogs, not so much, but personal blogs, no matter how public & popular they are, all stem from the selfish belief that there are people who will care about what one says about a subject matter. Or else, what's the point of creating a notably public blog? That being said, I find them profoundly entertaining. It's like watching reality TV shows, but in letters and still photographs. And if you know me, you know I love my reality TV.

From PR

2010-02-19T22:53:00.000-08:00

"Children these days are very fashion forward, especially when they're eight. They start to wear more sophisticated pieces." - Jay from Project Runway.

HAHA great.

Bags Bags Bags

2010-02-15T23:05:00.000-08:00

I'm your natural bag lady. I've got bags on the brain today!

So, the goal is, once I decide on where I'm going to be next year for med school, I'm going to reward myself with a new handbag. For the past few months, I've pretty much had my eyes set on the jumble Chanel 2.55 in either black with gold hardware or a dark purple or deep blue or a powder pink. So choice #1:

Chanel Jumbo 2.55

Measurements: 12" x 8" x 3.5"
Price: $2500 - $3000

But just a few hours ago, I realized that it might be better to buy a more messenger bag type of bag so that I can also use it for school! Also the Chanel bag is getting dated. And while Chanels will always be classics, getting a bag that's been out and about with everyone for the past 5 years is definitely less exciting, especially at the price that needs to be paid. It's like paying a high price for a whore that you know has gone the rounds...So anyway, here are the 2 new options that I'm looking at:

Proenza Schouler Large PS1 in Midnight

Measurements: 13.5" x 10.5" x 4.5"

Price: $1995 + tax

Mulberry Oversize Alexa in Blue

Measurements: 16.5" x 12.5" x 8.5"
Price: $1250 + tax

Of course I can also just go for a regular bag, in which case, the regular sized Mulberry Alexa would be pretty cute, but probably in the brown/tan color.

The more I look at these options, the more I feel that the PS1 would be the best choice for school. The other bags can come in good time...I've got at least 8 years of being uncareful with my money. That's the joy of being a student.

And thus, more motivation to keep with my no shopping streak!
Day 26!! Almost to 30 days! It's sad though, that I think I already know what my first purchase after this no shopping streak is going to be...a pair of oxfords or comfy but cute shoes that aren't just flats. But good thing I still has that Macy's gift card eh?

Happy Lunar New Year!

2010-02-13T19:39:00.000-08:00

Year of the tiger...roar :)

Just had a HUGE dinner at home. Now they're watching that ridiculous Chinese New Year program.

Day 24 of my no shopping and things are going great! Although if the point was to save money, I doubt that I'm doing a spectacular job at it. I've just found other ways to spend money, i.e. expensive dinners, hobbies items, etc. But at least I'm showing myself that I can survive without buying something new almost every week. Plus, the nice thing is that my "to buy" list after my month of no shopping isn't super long. In fact, there's really nothing concrete on it. Except my trench and some American Apparel socks to go with my wedges in the spring. I need to start looking into purchasing some items for spring too... :)

Like a crack addict

2010-01-30T23:46:00.000-08:00

I have a horrible addiction to fashion blogs. I know, I know, in the past year or so, there has been a huge boom in fashion blogging and there are predictions that blogging will render cyclic editorial magazines obsolete. But nonetheless, my addiction to fashion blogs has rendered me brain dead in front of the computer for HOURS at a time. Not to mention how horrible it is for my eyesight. However, fashion blogs have really been my entrance point into real fashion (i.e. not just the stuff you see in your average department store) and has allowed me to enjoy the artform from afar. All that preface, however unrelated, was so that I can introduce one of the most joyous looking dresses I have encountered thus far. Got the image from Style Bubble. The dress is designed by Roksanda Ilincic.

What I love most is that it's so simple, but looks so goood.

I also fail to mention that my obsession with Jersey Shore has probably contributed to more dead brain cells than fashion blog browsing. I watched the "Before the Shore" special today. I'm going to miss those guys. They were like my friends...for a little while. I actually remember the first True Life: I'm in Jersey Shore (something or another like that) where it was a short 1hr special on life on the shore. And I think the house was the same house...or at least it looked the same...maybe all the houses look the same there.

Day 11 of Shopping Ban...and I've got a loooong way to go. Today I resisted temptation...over a cheetah print faux fur jacket (with hoodie!) for $32 at Goodwill!! I am proud of myself. Sad that I will probably eventually purchase a potentially sub-par item of the same description at around five times the price. But it's the self control and conscious realizations that I have a habit of buying things because I want it at that small instant of high. Is it natural for a human's brain to secrete dopamine in response to spending money? Maybe it's just in response to buying something that I want.

Tonight (or this morning, since it's almost midnight) I will wear my fur coat. Each occasion that I get to wear it makes me happy. What will make me even more happy is the moment that I get it re-lined in hot fuschia or a beautiful pastel floral print. Maybe that'll be my first "purchase" after my ban.

Fashion Addictions

2010-01-23T10:14:00.000-08:00

Day 4 of NO SHOPPING month.

Lately I have been having strong predilections for black ankle boots (particularly of the wedge variety, a la the sam edelmans & jeffrey campbells). Something about a statement ankle boot makes my heart flutter and bank account cry. But, most recently, I've been looking at these alice + olivia for Payless Madison boots. Sadly, Payless is no longer stocking this item, and I am left staring at its beautiful image on my screen.

One downside about this boot is that although I haven't seen it in person, I'm sure the faux leather is of shotty quality...I mean it's Payless nonetheless.

I also need to buy more jewelry. Jewelry and accessorizing is a weak point for me. When I'm at a store looking at pieces, I can never decide which would integrate well into my wardrobe and jewelry collection. I always end up with random pieces that never go together or is only good for one look. But, I've decided that I want more bracelets and rings for sure. Practice makes perfect.

I woke up early on a Saturday morning because I wanted to blog. Sounds super nerdy, but I've been having this urge to really sit down and write in the blog, whatever I feel like. Although I am also planning to really start scrapbooking soon. Just need to get some materials. Maybe I'll just buy a giant notebook/artpad and just paste stuff in there and denote with sharpies. I just want to be able to look back on my memories.

Last night was Wayne's WDesigns Venus collection debut. All the dresses were so pretty! I'm glad that he incorporated prints (!!), plus his inspiration&vision really came through. The event itself was very well done & professional, so kudos for everyone involved. It was funny sitting at a fashion show, with friends & people that I know from school and sitting with SF/Bay Area bloggers that I only know through their blogs. It's that contrast&collision between reality and virtuality. Anyway, good show. Here's a quick snap from the parking structure of my outfit:

Blogger image resolution stinks, but it'll work for now :)

Funny how I drove 2 hrs for a 20 min show. But well worth it.

Afterwards, I came home, binged on curry and then watched Project Runway and Jersey Shore.

"it's like a chuckee cheese for dudes"

That expression & quote finally endeared me to the situation, on the last episode nonetheless.

Jersey Shore's good, not as trashy as Real Housewives though.

XOXO, Dani

Shoes...

2010-01-21T20:39:00.000-08:00

So it all started with photographing my two new pairs of boots...

but then, it devolved to this...

I think that's 32 pairs of shoes (I couldn't figure out how to make the boots stand up). Not a prolific collection by far, but definitely a headache for when I decide to move. I never thought that I was a shoe type of girl...always thought I was a bag girl, and maybe in high school I was, but lately, it seems like all I can think about are shoes. Eventually I'll have to clean it up, but now that I'm looking at this neat stack of shoes, I wish I had a closet to set up something like this. It would make choosing the right pair of shoes (and making sure that each pair gets its wearing time) much easier.

The time that it took to set this all up also reminded me why I'm on my 30 day non-shopping treatment. I have way too much stuff. And it's time to be creative with what I have, instead of running out to buy something new just because I feel like I have nothing exciting to wear. And to be honest, if I did a similar photoshoot for all my jackets/coats, I would probably observe the same excessiveness.

Which gets me to another point, after my interview season, I need to take some time and organize my closet. Although the question is for how long will it stay organized. I'm sort of sad that I will have to deconstruct my shoe "pyramid" so that they can go back onto the shoe tree.

It's 12am, and I still have to figure out what to wear tomorrow for Wayne's show...grrr...at least all my shoes are laid out for me.

Tomorrow: Heidi Montag & her plastic surgery.

PS: I have fallen back in love with photoshop

XOXO, Dani

"Plus size" by V

2010-01-11T20:47:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, if you were to tell me that V is coming out with an issue featuring plus sized models, I would have been ecstatic. And in many ways, I am glad that people in the fashion industry are keeping the spotlight on how unrealistic fashion editorials can be. But at the same time, I am saddened that the fashion industry, and society in general, still draws a line between "model" and "plus-size model." When will society fully digest and integrate the idea that people come in all different shapes and sizes? And that a distinction between different sized or ethnic models (especially a whole "special issue" about these people who are not the norm for fashion) only further marginalizes those that identify with the models that are photographed.

Another bit against the V issue. Why do the models have to be naked or nearly nude? This is the same question I ask of the Dove campaign with their "Real Women" campaign. Why can't people (women in particular) look good CLOTHED while still NOT WAFER THIN? What is this idea that "big and beautiful" also means NAKED?! If the idea is that women aspire to be like models, then does that mean larger sized women should aspire to be naked all the time? Also, does anyone else think it's ironic that Karl Lagerfeld shot a "plus size" girl for the "special issue"?? Maybe he was imagining that the camera was an actual shotgun. Who knows, stranger things have happened I guess. That editorial looks pretty degrading too, although the subject is a burlesque entertainer. Nonetheless, is the recession so bad that the fashion industry can't afford to put "plus size" girls in clothes?

Anyway, I have ambiguous feelings about this new issue. I guess I'm sticking to what I said before, the fact that a "special size issue" has to come out only shows how close minded people still are.

XOXO, Dani

Ripping my hair out...

2009-12-28T19:16:00.000-08:00

I don't understand how anyone would ever voluntarily move back in with their parents after college. I've been home for about a week, and it's getting unbearable already. There's absolutely nothing to do around here (not to mention the fact that my parents would never let me drive around downtown to just explore) and all my friends are across the bay. Besides that, my parents are completely getting on my nerves. Not the way they treat me, but the way they interact with each other. It's as if they can't go half a day without yelling at each other about something. And usually it's not even a big deal, they just don't seem to understand how to communicate with each other without yelling...and even when they do, neither listens...it ends up being a lost cause and annoying as hell to listen to. Just now my mom kept going on and on about something that just happened. And she wouldn't stop! Even after both me and my dad told her to just move on...she wouldn't...she just fumed while doing the dishes and slammed them down. Fuck that, my dad went to go watch TV in the study and I went upstairs. ANGST ANGST ANGST

Thank god I'm going back to the bay tomorrow...for one day, but at least it'll be a nice escape.

Impatience

2009-12-25T16:28:00.001-08:00

Today, I had to wait 10 mins for a Starbucks latte. I think one rule for coffee shops is that they shouldn't keep customers waiting for more than 5 minutes. The assumption should be that the customer is in need of caffeine and thus is already prune to impatience. Upsetting the customer is the biggest no-no in customer service. Bah humbug.

L'amour est sans doute le plus beau des voyages - LV

2009-12-23T22:53:00.000-08:00

Title = a line from LV's recent advertising campaign. Such a beautiful phrase...though it idealizes love.

I *heart* Sam Edelman boots. The first wear was slightly nerve-wrecking...the boots were a bit tighter than I remembered...but with the second wear, they feel a bit looser. Key is to wear very thin (but thick enough) socks so that the fit is perfect and my feet don't slide. The inside sole is sadly a slippery metallic fabric...so thinking about putting one of those Dr. Scholl's padding thing, to make it less slippery. Also the ankle part was a bit tight since being packed in the box caused the top part to be squished.

Also I wore the fur coat for the first time last night. Even though it was just to the movies. Felt marvelously warm. :D

Blogging

2009-12-18T10:57:00.001-08:00

Every once in a while, I get inspired and start either a new blog or journal. But after a few days, the novelty wears off and I stop updating. But the whole point from the start is to document my walk through life so that I'd have something interesting to look back on in the future. But each time I sit down & think about something to write, I always realize that I don't want to write about the monotony of everyday...I want something deeper, more meaningful. I remember when I first started blogging, I'd talk about things that were on my mind and elaborate and try to write down my thoughts/opinions/point of view so that I could better understand them. Back then, it seemed as if I had all the time in the world to just think and to express myself on paper. Nowadays, I feel too busy, too superficial to jot down any deep intriguing thoughts. Or maybe, I've grown up, understand myself better, and my mind automatically does the sorting through my thoughts...

Anyway, I think the best way to pick up blogging again is to start from a humble beginning...just writing down what's happened in my life each day, and maybe as I write those words down, the thoughts will flow freely again...eventually...

Yesterday was a great day in terms of feeling personally fulfilled. I went to work (not very fulfilling...don't have much to do at this point because a) it's almost the weekend and b) people are gearing up for the holidays anyway...it's quiet in the lab). After work, came home, and just hung out with Shahrzad. She made tikka masala and then Thomas came over to hang out. It was a good feeling...almost like back at Stanford, when friends would just gather together to hang out, chat, catch up. We then went to Safeway to try to get the Harry Potter movie from the DVDPlay machine (alas they were out) and then ended up buying desserts and things. Went home and downloaded the Watchmen movie and watched that. I get very frustrated watching movies like that...where there seems to be a deeper message but it's marred by all the gratuitous violence.

On another note, I'm wearing the new Sam Edelmans. They are comfortable enough for 4.5'' heels, but definitely not walking shoes. They are super hot, but they don't make me as tall as I thought...I'm pretty sure my Dollhouse strappy platform sandals. At least the feeling is similar. But they do make my legs look incredibly long. I think more practice in the shoes and a bit more of wearing in will make them better.

Mmm Darbar for lunch with the lab today...excited :D

PS: This is cute

Chicago, Il

2009-12-10T17:11:00.000-08:00

...is soooo cold! It's the day after the first major snow storm (not even that much snow) but it's freezing...-12degC but feels like -22degC (from weather.com). It's insane!! I walked down Michigan Ave (about 6 blocks) and my thighs were literally frozen...it took at least 1/2 hour for me not to feel as if my blood was solidified.

Made a couple of purchases today...including the Sam Edelman Zoe boot. Plus the store ships them directly! Yay! And I only had to pay 8.25% tax. Ha, take that Santa Clara county...holla!

I think I'm going to give my mom a cashmere sweater and I don't know what to get my dad...bah

A Fresh Start...

2009-12-01T23:47:00.001-08:00

I finally loaded the BB software onto my Mac. And during my first time syncing my BB to my computer, it said I had a bunch of updates to do. Sadly, in the middle of the update, my BB froze and died. Thus, I had to force turn off everything, and for some reason, I don't know if my OS updated or not, but basically all my settings were gone and I ended up with no contacts.

Maybe it's a sign. That it's a fresh start. A fresh start with the people around me. And that I should be discriminant about who I add to my contacts list again. Making me think hard about, who am I actually going to call? And who is just going to be dead weight in the address book. Unfortunately, I used FB's phone book and added everyone that I wouldn't feel awkward interacting, slash anyone that I'd be remotely interested in speaking to in the future. But still....it was rather symbolic, though annoying that my phone died and I had re-enter some 90 phone numbers.

Black Friday 2009

2009-11-27T19:44:00.000-08:00

Americans are seriously crazy. If I had just arrived from a foreign country right on Thanksgiving, I'd receive a heady dose of American capitalism at its best (worst?). First, there is stuffing ourselves into pregnancy with copious amounts of turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. Second, there is the food coma and early bed times. Third, there is the waking up (and now-a-days not sleeping) at wee hours of the morning, bundling up against the cold, and queuing up for discounts on items that, were they not on sale, one would not have bought them in the first place.

After that crazy rant however, I'd like to say that today was quite a fruitful Black Friday. My parents and I went woke up at 4:30am, spent ~1 hr online to buy a TV, and then headed out (with all the Black Friday ads...annotated btw) to war (so it seemed). We first drove by Walmart, there wasn't just a line outside...there was a GIANT crowd...at 5:30am in the morning (and I thought Walmart had opened at midnight...). Needless to say, we didn't even bother to look for parking. We then headed to Michael's, boring. Then Kohl's. Kohl's had pretty good sales, especially on their small electronics. I am finally a proud owner of the Magic Bullet (works just as well as on TV!) and got 2 pairs of tights for $5/each. Came home for a food break, and then headed out to the mall. Didn't end up buying anything except for another pair of tights from Express and returned a shirt at Bebe (yay). As we headed home, we stopped by Costco and bought a whole Wii set, including the Wii Fit package. My parents and I are now hooked.

All in all, good & fruitful day. Although I wish I had bought those Ugg-ish boots from Kohls...

If I Were a Rich Girl...

2009-11-03T10:56:00.000-08:00

...la la la la la la laaaaa...I'd have all the clothing in the world, if I was a wealthy girl...

So so so in love with:
Pixie Market
Nasty Gal
Urban Outfitters

All I can say however is: one item at a time.
Time to save up!

Also in love with:

Aqua leopard print faux fur jacket. So soft, so pretty, so eco-friendly :)

Halloween was pretty much a bust. Friday before though was a ton of fun. Some friends and I went to the Halloween Haunt @ Great America. Nice to spend some quality time with some quality people. :D. Getting drunk after graduation is just down right lame. I'm swearing off alcohol from now on...at least more than one drink in a night. Lame lack of aldehyde dehydrogenase. Womp womp.

I need to go to Goodwill and dig around some more!! The one on Santa Cruz Ave is full of designer ish. Too bad I'm not looking to spend ~$100 at Goodwill.

Pre-Halloween 2009

2009-10-27T23:56:00.000-07:00

Every year, the same age old question: "What are you going to be for Halloween?!" And every year, for the past few years, I have had the same debate: Creativity or Slutty? And for the past 4 years while in college, I've always been semi-creative, usually using pieces that I already had in my closet or that I would be able to wear in my everyday outfits. Freshman year, I was a cowgirl with my NaNa boots, Sophomore year I was a mafia girl, Junior year I was a 60's mod chick, and Senior year I was a boxer. So now that I've graduated, and no longer have Mausoleum party and will most likely be out and about in public with my costume, I need to decide what to be!

So here are the options for the time being:
1) Harry Potter character: Make a Gryffindor sign with felt and wear my graduation robe
2) Malibu barbie: Get a blonde wig, wear plastic-y pink clothing
3) Matador: Get a bolero jacket and pirate hat

I really want to be a matador, but the bolero jacket will be the hardest part, especially now that I don't have a whole dorm to email out to in order to ask for ideas. I also don't want to look too "package costume"-y.

-1/2 hour later-

I think I've figured out how to get the matador look without having to spend $$ on a crazy (yet crazy cool) bolero. I'm going to make fringe shoulder pads to attach to my black vest and add gold lining to the vest. All I'll need to buy is the lining & the fringe & shoulder pads & long white tube sock (nylon-y). Yay! oh! And a red piece of cloth for a sash & that thing that they wave around for the bulls.

[Update] Maybe I'll be Lara Croft! It'll be a bit more complicated and I'll have to buy leather gloves, toy guns, and somehow figure out how to get gun holsters...but it'd be hot :)

100% Completed!

2009-10-26T00:15:00.000-07:00

I finally finished that stupid DriversEd course! Yay! 6 hours of my life cannot be returned to me, however. I only found out, after taking the test, that if I had disabled JavaScript, I could have gone through the course much faster. Bleh. Should always Google things before doing. But, the end result is that I am finally done (with about a week to spare before my deadline).

After using my dad's Dell for about 4 hours, I finally got tired of its super hot casing (had to put a pillow between my lap & the computer and it was still burning me up!) and inability to really function like the Mac that I am now used to. I am such a convert. Although I'm definitely not a die hard Mac-y. I enjoy PC's and I think there is still something cool about being able to really get under the hood of the machine. Macs are so sugar coated and so user friendly that if anything REALLY went haywire, I would have NO idea how to even approach it. But I guess the point is that they shouldn't go completely berserk.

Sad note: I lost all my photos of Hawaii. Apparently the hard drive on my old computer went kabunk and they couldn't retrieve any information from it. I think that's bull! I'm so sad all my lovely (and probably hundreds) of Hawaii pictures are now gone. Including pictues of turtles!! Now I need to email all my Hawaii co-travelers and ask for their pictures. Sad :( I wish I had burned a disc of those pictures. That being said, I'm glad I didn't delete other pictures like from Senior Formal & Dinner on the Quad from my camera. Or else those would have been really lost memories! That being said, I am now going to have to research into getting at least a 1tb external to "time capsule" my shiiat.

Tired...night!

xoxo, Dani.

Driver, Driver's Ed

2009-10-25T22:55:00.000-07:00

I've been going through the online DriversEd course for HOURS now. The policeman must of thought I was retarded, telling me that it only took ~1.5 hrs to complete. I think all in all, I've spent ~4 hours on this stupid thing and am only 83% complete. At first, I paid attention, now I'm just blogging and watching the news, waiting for the time slots to tick down. I hope I can pass the final test so that I don't have to go through this suffering again.

So, new blog on Blogger. I tried Wordpress (a la previous posts indicate) but found out that Wordpress won't let me customize a layout unless I pay for it. No way WP! Back to blogger I come, but also with a new blog. "XOXO, Dani" is going to document my post-undergraduate life, into medical school, post medical school & beyond hopefully. I can't wait to have time to start thinking about a new template! What I have realized is that now, I don't have as much free time to design templates anymore :(. This just means I must make time!

[now DriversEd.com is showing a video about anti-lock braking systems...is this supposed to make my driving safer?] I will admit however, that I've learned some few interesting facts from going through this online course. However, most of it will not help me drive safer. :P Although the Road Rage section made me realize that I do have road rage. That's bad. Eh.

Being home this weekend has been pretty good. It's nice to come home every so often, although my mom definitely still gets on my nerves sometimes because she forgets that I'm not 2 and I forget that I'm not longer allowing her to baby me. Progress must be made by both parties. I also got my hair trimmed today. I'm glad that the person I get my hair done by is consistent (and remembers me!).

Now there's a story on the news about how video games can cause kids to have seizures. Apparently 700 Japanese kids got seizures at the same time after watching a specific Pokemon episode. Weird.

xoxo, Dani.

Real Life & Things

2009-10-25T22:53:00.000-07:00

(originally posted on Wordpress)

So, 4 months since I started living in "the real world" and I now definitely miss the security that being a student brings. Many things that are particularly challenging about life as a "real" adult: 1) keeping track of expenses & making sure you stay on budget, 2) feeling old because I get sleepy early because I wake up early and the whole 9-5 cycle, 3) responsibilities that come with a job, mainly having to go to work every day. I miss being in college and waking up and thinking, "Eh, I don't feel like going to class today so I'm not." Especially when the day is really nice and all I really want to do is go to somewhere grassy and read or just chill outside. So yeah, the daily cycle is just tiring and monotonous. But that being said, I do enjoy certain things about living out on my own & having a job: 1) the evenings & weekends are mostly my own, I can do whatever I feel like, without worrying about studying. Okay yeah, that's only one thing, but it's still a very good feeling. I don't know if I even remember what it feels like to have that guilty feeling that I need to study or do a problem set.

On another train of thought, yesterday when I was driving home, there was a car next to me with 2 old ladies (white hair and everything) that were just jamming to something on the radio. It was pretty hilarious to watch, knowing that they were doing exactly what my friend and I do in the car. I hope that when I get old, I'm like those ladies. At least one or two close friends with whom I can still jam with. :)

Documentary to Watch

2009-10-25T22:49:00.000-07:00

(originally posted on Wordpress)

Just really a self reminder: HBO's documentary "Schmatta: Rages to Riches to Rags" about New York's garment district.

Yar Yar

2009-10-25T22:48:00.000-07:00

(originally posted on Wordpress)

Yar yar, blogging blogging. Now I have to start thinking about a new layout...probably fashion related since that's my biggest obsession du jour. But it's difficult to try to figure out somethin good and relevant, but easy enough so that I don't hit too big of a learning curve.

Of course first things first, I have to learn CSS Style sheets again, but this time, I'm really going to learn them. I'm going to try to find a good tutorial. So that my blog can actually look the way that I want it to :) Right now it looks a little too Asian...with the imperial red and the sun in the top part and the name of the blog. Definitely too Asian.

I've been making lists/tasks that I want to accomplish this year off, so I guess I should write them down so that I remember & can look back on it:1. Start a scrapbook (topic TBD...probably senior year or something)2. Make clothes! (first item, a bright neon/highlighter yellow skirt...now the actual technical skills are a diff question)3. Keep a good journal/diary (still debating whether or not to start a written diary...the sound of it is so good, but I don't want to start one up and then end up discarding it in the end)4. Get back into web designing :D

I also need to get a planner. Even though there's not much to plan, I'd feel more official if I had a planner and had things written down like groceries lists, etc. I have a horrible habit of buying too much groceries and having all my food ending up rotten or in a curry that I have to eat every single day. I'm going to work on that proportioning thing.

A Fresh Start

2009-10-25T22:47:00.000-07:00

(originally written on Wordpress)

I'm hoping that a new blog will inspire me to a) take up blogging again [even though I always tell myself that I should write a real diary in hand because it'll be more interesting to read over later...but c'mon, who am I kidding] and b) get me back into web designing again.

Going through college has really killed my side interests. I don't blog as much, I don't read for leisure as much, I don't web design at all. And while I have found more value in human interactions, in physical activities, etc., I still relate good memories to the times when I did all those things. During middle school through high school, I kept a fairly up to date account of my day to day life. Sometimes those accounts were boring, but every once in a while, there would be a post to help illuminate how I was feeling at the time or what was really going on in my life, etc. Plus, all those blog entries really helped me to sort out my feelings and I really believe: helped me to understand and find myself more. And I also believe that over the past few years since I have stopped blogging, I feel less connected to myself, that I understand myself less. Time to take up that self-analysis again :)

So yep, taking up blogging, on yet another blogging user website. I think I've probably been through them all: diary-x, xanga (2 of them!), and blogger. Now I'm on Wordpress. Fantastic. I wish I could pick up those pieces from my past and put them together in a time capsule, but sadly, many of those entries are lost (the ones from diary-x at least). I know I have a semi-back up of some of the entries on a computer somewhere...I'm really curious to dig those old entries up and to read my thoughts again, now from a "more mature" perspective. Ha.