Musical Marathon

Ah, the holidays. Nothing fills me with more Christmas cheer than listening to the music of the season. Thank goodness for Medical & Molecular Genetics, which has given me more free time than I ever knew in college. I took yesterday off to go to the University Singers and CUSO Family Holiday Concert, immediately followed by the Jubilate Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols. It was kind of weird sitting in the audience instead of standing on the stage with the two groups, but I had a lot of fun. I do have to admit that attending two concerts from 3:30 until 7:00 was rather exhausting. Now I know how my parents felt every time I made them come listen to back-to-back performances. Oh well, I'm an only child, and it's their JOB to provide me with unending attention, affection, and praise.

My holiday spirit was temporarily put on hold when I walked into the library this afternoon. Claude Moore was infested with undergraduate students trying to study in our territory. You could pick them out as if they were wearing neon signs. Their bright smiles, their thin textbooks, and the lack of bags under their eyes gave them away immediately. Just you wait. One day, they too will be in a graduate or professional school, and I'll be... oh wait, I'll probably still be in school, too. Womp womp.

VMed on Ice

To end our Re-Orientation Week, Nosheen and I planned for our class to go ice skating at the Downtown Mall together. This was truly an altruistic decision made by the most selfless social chairs ever. Neither Nosheen nor I had ice skated before, yet there we were, wearing our rental skates, trying to maintain our balance (see us on the verge of toppling over).

All in all, I ended up enjoying ice skating much more than I expected, although I could have done without the little kids whizzing past me and scaring the bajeezus out of me. Then, another novice skater was about to fall and grabbed onto ME for balance. Talk about a poor life decision on her part. It was only by the grace of God that we did not both face-plant. Also, I never really learned how to slow down, so when the girl right in front of me stopped, I had no choice but to grab her torso from behind so that I wouldn't run into her and knock her over. I remember saying something awkward, like "Sorry, I didn't have a choice!" before blacking out. It's too bad that going unconscious is my only reliable method of defense.

Surprisingly, I didn't fall that much over the course of the night. My best fall was the one that involved me sliding between Steph's legs (it was weird; I'm not really sure what happened). My worst was when I got over-confident in my abilities and then fell backwards on an outstretched arm. Luckily I didn't get a Colles' fracture, but I may have damaged my pisiform bone. I'll keep you updated.

Engrish, Part 2

My parents recently returned from a trip to China to see my grandparents, and of course when I went home for Thanksgiving, I was forced to sit through a photo tour of their entire month in what felt like real time. Not that I'm one to talk, because I've done the exact same thing to them each time I've come back from any of my trips abroad. Wow, we really are Asian, aren't we?

Anyway, looking at their pictures reminded me of this photo that I took in the Beijing Botanical Gardens the last time I went to China. I think the most awkward part of documenting Engrish in action is that my aunts, uncles, and cousins always ask me, "Why are you taking a picture of that sign?" And then I have to explain to them that the translation makes no sense and how there's an entire genre of humor in America where we make fun of Asian-to-English translations. Is this done at the expense of the Chinese people? Yes. Is it hilarious anyway? Absolutely yes.

Wonder of Wonders, Miracle of Miracles

My greatest fear in life was realized last night (see "About Me," left). We had a hot tub movie night at the AFC, and I foolishly brought along my phone in case someone needed to know how to find us and my camera so I could document each of our Re-Orientation Week activities. I gently placed my two most beloved possessions in the area between the warm water pool and the hot tub, warning everyone around me to be careful not to splash water onto them. Merely seconds later, I turned around just in time to see He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named fling himself like a seal at Sea World from the warm water pool into the hot tub, dragging both my camera AND my cell phone in with him.

But luckily there's a happy ending to all of this. I left my camera and my cell phone to dry in front of my heater last night, and when I woke up this morning, they were both fully functional! Jesus really does love me!

I've Been Betrayed

Let me get this straight, Chapstick. I specifically give thanks for you less than a week ago, and this is how you respond? What were you thinking? Do you see me as just another consumer who will use you and lose you before even making it halfway through the tube? Well, you might be right about that, but you can't just go around looking like this. I put you away yesterday, looking like any other Chapstick you'd find in CVS or your local grocery store, but when I take you back out today, I can barely even recognize you. It's as if you're a completely different lip balm altogether. I don't know if you're trying some fad diet or if you went under the knife, but this new, thinner look is not going to get you the attention and love that you're clearly in need of. Why don't you stop being something you're not and just stick to what you're good at: protecting my lips from the sun and wind.

On the other hand, if someone did this to you, tell me who it is and I'll show them what happens to someone who messes with my Chapstick. Was it someone sharing the pocket with you? The keys? The pen? The cell phone? He has been acting a bit sketchy lately...

Ripped from the Headlines

Given last night's... interesting blog post, I have decided that I need to post something intelligent and well-written today.

According to BBC News, NATO has agreed to a "conditional and graduated re-engagement" with Russia today. Talks with the government in Moscow had ceased in light of its war with Georgia in August, and although the NATO-Russia Council will not be restored, lower-level discussions will take place. Tensions still run high, as thousands of Russian troops are still stationed in Georgia. The question of whether or not Georgia and Ukraine would be permitted to join NATO, a move strongly opposed by Russia, also divides the organization.

See? I'm capable of being mature if I want to be. Err, boobies. HAHAHA!!

No Backspacke

first durnk bpost ever.


HAHA
EVERYONES LIKE S THIS

WHAT IS HPPAENING!?!?


why did we pour wer hour tonight


worst slash best idea ever

i love everyone
but blgo=gging why!?!?

this is wonderful i hope

WHAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH clas tomorrow at 8am :( sam is sad


hahadhahfhadsf asd;lfkjas;dfilajwe;otiaw;oeitur!!!!!!! POWER HOUR TO MEEE!?

k bye.