As Valentine's Day approaches once again, all us single folk are forced to reflect on our single lives and lack of a significant other. During the day of, we have to stay at home and avoid any happy places where a couple may be macking out. Even though we have no idea how the relationship dynamic works, it still sucks to see the "better" parts of it shoved in our faces. This was a mistake I faced last year.
But now, I want to talk about being able to Do Things Alone. This is quite an impressive feat that not everyone is able to master, most of all me. I usually wouldn't eat in a restaurant alone, go shooting alone, or even ride the BART alone (unless I'm sneaking off to a Gap 40% off sale).
I always admire people who are able to enjoy events alone, especially events that others usually do together. Like going to concerts alone, eating meals alone, trekking through Ikea's showrooms alone. They are comfortable with themselves and friendly to strangers, something that I like to avoid by putting on sunglasses and earbuds. But honestly, if you really want to do something, the lack of a SO to share it with should not deter you. If your want for it is high enough then screw all your friends who hate Ke$sha and go to her fucking concert and then have a great time dancing with teenagers!
To myself, I make up lists of things that I could feel would be fun to do with a significant other. Past items on list have included watching Wall-e, going to concerts and musicals, or having a picnic (anything grass-related). While for some things I should just stop bitching and do them without a boy, sometimes there are others that would just be a lot better with a SO.
This is not fair.
How about going to a fancy date-like restaurant - I'd feel weird going with a girl in fear of others mistaking my sexual orientation. Or taking a stroll along the beach at night - not something I'd do with my BFF. Going to a weekend getaway and wine-tasting, a fancy cruise, or even just lying around on the grass on a nice day. Something dancing-related that is not in a club or involve grinding.
So I guess the moral of this little rant is that I/you should just man up and do the shit you want to do. Don't want for some dumb boy to motivate you to finally read that book or go running. Then after you feel all successful and accomplished maybe you can come home and cry about how you're not at Chez Panisse with your future husband.
Happy Valentine's day, kids. Too bad there is no cube competition this year.
Showing posts with label random. Show all posts
Showing posts with label random. Show all posts
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Friday, September 10, 2010
Protip: Being Tired is a Good Excuse
How does one get out of doing something they don't want to, and yet decline in a polite manner? You don't feel like getting food with that guy - tell him you're broke. You don't want to go over and hang out - say it's too cold. The best and most vague reason though, in my opinion, is to say you're too tired.
No one can argue with being too tired. Say, for example, it's summer and you're working - can't use the "too broke" or "too cold" excuse. You can't even say you have homework to do. But anyone can say they stayed up till 5am and are now too tired - even if they were staying up playing Plants vs. Zombies.
People feel sorry for people who are tired. Everyone can relate to being tired. There is no cure for being tired other than sleeping or being lazy in general. You can even say you don't believe in caffeine or don't want to chug a Red Bull after 2pm.
The best part is that you can instantly go from "tired" to "not tired."
"Well I was tired but now I'm excited let's do it!"
"Oh wait, I feel tired again."
You're welcome.
No one can argue with being too tired. Say, for example, it's summer and you're working - can't use the "too broke" or "too cold" excuse. You can't even say you have homework to do. But anyone can say they stayed up till 5am and are now too tired - even if they were staying up playing Plants vs. Zombies.
People feel sorry for people who are tired. Everyone can relate to being tired. There is no cure for being tired other than sleeping or being lazy in general. You can even say you don't believe in caffeine or don't want to chug a Red Bull after 2pm.
The best part is that you can instantly go from "tired" to "not tired."
"Well I was tired but now I'm excited let's do it!"
"Oh wait, I feel tired again."
You're welcome.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
On asking questions, Part II
As we approach the end of the school year and another batch of seniors go off to graduate, here is the question that I've been asking them the most:
"So what are you doing after graduation?"
Although common, this can be a dangerous question to ask. On one hand, it is necessary to know where they disappear off to if you never see them again (except on Facebook). On the other, you can probably expect that they've been asked this a couple million times, and if they don't have a better answer than "bumming around" then it is probably also painful to answer.
If you've read the first part, On Asking Questions, you'll remember that it's annoying when people ask the same repetitive generic questions over and over, and you are continuously obligated to provide the same mundane answers. However, in this case I feel that the graduation question is an important boring question that must be asked. Perhaps it'd be better if you asked it in different ways:
"What are some plans of yours for the upcoming future?"
"Where do you see yourself in five years?"
"What are you going to do with your life???"
Or maybe it's easier to answer if you ask it in a more short-term fashion:
"Anything fun planned for the summer?"
"Where are you living next year?"
"What are you doing tonight??"
But all in all, as much as I hate getting asked the graduation question, I think the ask-ee should simply think of it as a silent plea: "DON'T LEAVE ME PLSPLSPLS." When I ask this question, that and other similar thoughts are probably going through my head - "LET'S HANG OUT DON'T GO FAR AWAY I DON'T WANT TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS."
Yea. So hopefully now you'll feel a little more flattered when I or anyone else ask you this. Or better yet, don't even wait for me to ask! Just tell me! Don't leave! Pls.
"So what are you doing after graduation?"
Although common, this can be a dangerous question to ask. On one hand, it is necessary to know where they disappear off to if you never see them again (except on Facebook). On the other, you can probably expect that they've been asked this a couple million times, and if they don't have a better answer than "bumming around" then it is probably also painful to answer.
If you've read the first part, On Asking Questions, you'll remember that it's annoying when people ask the same repetitive generic questions over and over, and you are continuously obligated to provide the same mundane answers. However, in this case I feel that the graduation question is an important boring question that must be asked. Perhaps it'd be better if you asked it in different ways:
"What are some plans of yours for the upcoming future?"
"Where do you see yourself in five years?"
"What are you going to do with your life???"
Or maybe it's easier to answer if you ask it in a more short-term fashion:
"Anything fun planned for the summer?"
"Where are you living next year?"
"What are you doing tonight??"
But all in all, as much as I hate getting asked the graduation question, I think the ask-ee should simply think of it as a silent plea: "DON'T LEAVE ME PLSPLSPLS." When I ask this question, that and other similar thoughts are probably going through my head - "LET'S HANG OUT DON'T GO FAR AWAY I DON'T WANT TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS."
Yea. So hopefully now you'll feel a little more flattered when I or anyone else ask you this. Or better yet, don't even wait for me to ask! Just tell me! Don't leave! Pls.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Things to Rely on that Begin with 'M'
In Real Life, there are so few things you can consistently and regularly depend on. Places change, the weather varies, people come and go. You can put all your faith into something only to have your hopes dashed against a very sharp object, leaving it bleeding rivers of crimson.
Throughout all of this I thought I'd put together a small compilation of things I can always trust and believe in, because "some things never change."
1. Manga
I just read the 107th chapter of Full Metal Alchemist, a much-loved manga of mine. For a while it has been building up to this epic fight between the God-like evil antagonist figure and our heroes, Ed and Al and their friends. Of course it only follows that at the apex of the fight, when people have their eyes shot out or are impaled on the ground, that Al sacrifices himself for his brother. And because of his brother's undying love, Ed reaches into his deep reserves of emotional strength and begins to WIN.
Ed and all his friends. I wish I had this many friends.
As most fantasy fiction goes, in the end you win because of all the friends you made, supporting you, believing in you, filled with your heroic and selfless love. Then it turns out the antagonist's personal weakness is that he wishes he had such good friends as the protagonist. I can always trust this to be true and that is why manga is so satisfying in its EPIC-NESS.
2. Money
One can probably also count on money to be a definite universally influencing factor in our daily lives. This is probably why many people become workaholics and disregard others - they feel like people only disappoint, but money can always buy you what you want (if inflation isn't too high)
3. Music
Music is a great medium to channel in all your faith, because it won't run away from you, turn into something else, or stab you in the back. The same old song you loved a few years ago can help bring back the same good emotions when you listen to it again. How lovely.
4. Memories
Good memories cannot be ruined or taken away. That is why I keep a diary, to write them down and make sure I don't forget. Or take pictures. Now would also be a good opportunity for me to make a comparison of good memories to some sort of delicate and enticing chocolate desert, but I haven't thought of it yet.
What a Good Memory looks like.
For some reason all of these happened to begin with 'M'. These are all the ones I could think of.
Throughout all of this I thought I'd put together a small compilation of things I can always trust and believe in, because "some things never change."
1. Manga
I just read the 107th chapter of Full Metal Alchemist, a much-loved manga of mine. For a while it has been building up to this epic fight between the God-like evil antagonist figure and our heroes, Ed and Al and their friends. Of course it only follows that at the apex of the fight, when people have their eyes shot out or are impaled on the ground, that Al sacrifices himself for his brother. And because of his brother's undying love, Ed reaches into his deep reserves of emotional strength and begins to WIN.
Ed and all his friends. I wish I had this many friends.
As most fantasy fiction goes, in the end you win because of all the friends you made, supporting you, believing in you, filled with your heroic and selfless love. Then it turns out the antagonist's personal weakness is that he wishes he had such good friends as the protagonist. I can always trust this to be true and that is why manga is so satisfying in its EPIC-NESS.
2. Money
One can probably also count on money to be a definite universally influencing factor in our daily lives. This is probably why many people become workaholics and disregard others - they feel like people only disappoint, but money can always buy you what you want (if inflation isn't too high)
3. Music
Music is a great medium to channel in all your faith, because it won't run away from you, turn into something else, or stab you in the back. The same old song you loved a few years ago can help bring back the same good emotions when you listen to it again. How lovely.
4. Memories
Good memories cannot be ruined or taken away. That is why I keep a diary, to write them down and make sure I don't forget. Or take pictures. Now would also be a good opportunity for me to make a comparison of good memories to some sort of delicate and enticing chocolate desert, but I haven't thought of it yet.
What a Good Memory looks like.
For some reason all of these happened to begin with 'M'. These are all the ones I could think of.
Monday, January 4, 2010
On asking questions
You've probably all encountered those questions that are repeatedly asked over and over, to the point where, as much as you appreciate the concern of the asker, annoy you to death because it's the 10th time someone has asked and you've given the same boring answer every time. Usually these questions are some form of "How are you?", but in a more attentive way, like "How have you been?" or "What are you doing during break?" or "How is [insert name of school here]?"
By adding little details, the asker prides themselves on seemingly knowing what is up and happening in your life. In some ways this is pretty considerate, but if it goes wrong the conversation may go like this:
"So when are you going back to school?"
"Um... I graduated five years ago."
"So... how's work?"
"...I'm unemployed."
"Now would be a great time to travel!"
"I have no friends."
At this point you both feel extremely embarrassed and you have failed to be considerate about your friend. In my opinion, the reason most people ask these mundane questions (myself included) is that they do care (however little) about your life and wish for you to tell them something cool about it. Thus, keeping a few interesting stories at hand would make the encounter go a lot smoother.
Since I am not as fast-thinking in actual person-to-person interaction, I cannot come up with the eloquent prose you read on the blog in an instant. So when people ask me these questions my brain interprets it and I answer them literally. A second later I realize I probably should have said something more interesting. But doesn't "how" imply an adjective?
"How has your break been?"
"Good."
"How's Berkeley?"
"Hard."
"How are you giving me the lamest answers?"
"Dunno."
Maybe if they had said something like, "What is the most fun thing you did that was illegal in 48 states?" or "What is the coolest thing you bought exceeding $200?" I would have thought longer and come up with something more appealing. As such, I need to teach my brain to interpret questions like "How's school?" as "Tell me about that time you tried to study for a test but was interrupted by a slew of naked people."
Of course, these interpretations would vary with audience. With anyone older than the age of 30, "How's school?" would interpret into "Tell me your greatest academic achievement so I can go home and tell my kids and compare them to you."
So it is up to both the asker and the askee to make something more of general vague questions. As I proved above, the askee should think of some interesting stories beforehand. The asker, depending on how much facebook stalking they have done, may choose to ask more personal questions. This depends on the extent to which they want to reveal the level of their stalking. Such questions can range from "How do you have so many presents in Farmville?" to "Why is there a picture of you passed out with hieroglyphics on your face?" to "Why do your wall-to-walls with so-and-so go all the way back to 2005?"
Having said all this, I don't want you to get the wrong idea that I'm silently seething while you're making small talk about the weather. It'd just be nice if both parties deferred a little from generic question/answers, because we all know the answer to "How's home?" is "Sooo relaxing and sooo much food it's sooo awesome." Because you know what you get when you have an actual conversation that's not about how hard school is and how bored you are and what you ate for lunch? SECRETS.
By adding little details, the asker prides themselves on seemingly knowing what is up and happening in your life. In some ways this is pretty considerate, but if it goes wrong the conversation may go like this:
"So when are you going back to school?"
"Um... I graduated five years ago."
"So... how's work?"
"...I'm unemployed."
"Now would be a great time to travel!"
"I have no friends."
At this point you both feel extremely embarrassed and you have failed to be considerate about your friend. In my opinion, the reason most people ask these mundane questions (myself included) is that they do care (however little) about your life and wish for you to tell them something cool about it. Thus, keeping a few interesting stories at hand would make the encounter go a lot smoother.
Since I am not as fast-thinking in actual person-to-person interaction, I cannot come up with the eloquent prose you read on the blog in an instant. So when people ask me these questions my brain interprets it and I answer them literally. A second later I realize I probably should have said something more interesting. But doesn't "how" imply an adjective?
"How has your break been?"
"Good."
"How's Berkeley?"
"Hard."
"How are you giving me the lamest answers?"
"Dunno."
Maybe if they had said something like, "What is the most fun thing you did that was illegal in 48 states?" or "What is the coolest thing you bought exceeding $200?" I would have thought longer and come up with something more appealing. As such, I need to teach my brain to interpret questions like "How's school?" as "Tell me about that time you tried to study for a test but was interrupted by a slew of naked people."
Of course, these interpretations would vary with audience. With anyone older than the age of 30, "How's school?" would interpret into "Tell me your greatest academic achievement so I can go home and tell my kids and compare them to you."
So it is up to both the asker and the askee to make something more of general vague questions. As I proved above, the askee should think of some interesting stories beforehand. The asker, depending on how much facebook stalking they have done, may choose to ask more personal questions. This depends on the extent to which they want to reveal the level of their stalking. Such questions can range from "How do you have so many presents in Farmville?" to "Why is there a picture of you passed out with hieroglyphics on your face?" to "Why do your wall-to-walls with so-and-so go all the way back to 2005?"
Having said all this, I don't want you to get the wrong idea that I'm silently seething while you're making small talk about the weather. It'd just be nice if both parties deferred a little from generic question/answers, because we all know the answer to "How's home?" is "Sooo relaxing and sooo much food it's sooo awesome." Because you know what you get when you have an actual conversation that's not about how hard school is and how bored you are and what you ate for lunch? SECRETS.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Let your imagination take root...
A couple of days ago I had been thinking about my life back in high school/middle school compared to my college life. What did I do all the time, cooped up in my house after school with limited transportation and at times limited internet access? (dial-up netzero, anyone still remember that?)
Managing my own forum, of course.
(I had a thing for something-spirit-something)
Eventually became co-admined with KP, who made the latest layout. We had almost 2000 members and was actually pretty active at one point (until we stopped checking it).
Should I be worried that I managed to login to my admin account with my current password? That means I've been using this password for ~5 years...
Also, from 8 Top-Paying Part-Time Jobs for College Students
1) Computer Lab Assistant (on-campus)
This is me at work reading about what an awesome job I have. Go me!
Managing my own forum, of course.
(I had a thing for something-spirit-something)
Eventually became co-admined with KP, who made the latest layout. We had almost 2000 members and was actually pretty active at one point (until we stopped checking it).
Should I be worried that I managed to login to my admin account with my current password? That means I've been using this password for ~5 years...
Also, from 8 Top-Paying Part-Time Jobs for College Students
1) Computer Lab Assistant (on-campus)
This is me at work reading about what an awesome job I have. Go me!
Monday, February 9, 2009
at work
My first 4-hour shift at Moffit! At least I'm getting paid. Here's the plan:
First hour: cube, get 50+ solves
Status: still slow, only on 17th solve
Second hour: shop online. being here means I can justify spending money
Status: already started in first hour
Third hour: Pretend I'm coding for fun while in actuality working on CS project (2-week no homework policy for noobies)
Prediction: reveal secrets on aim, make embarrassing ranty emo blog posts
Fourth hour: Read Watchmen
Prediction: figure out how to not get mugged on way home (can I count on not waiting for night shuttle until 4am??!?!)
real post coming up laterz.
First hour: cube, get 50+ solves
Status: still slow, only on 17th solve
Second hour: shop online. being here means I can justify spending money
Status: already started in first hour
Third hour: Pretend I'm coding for fun while in actuality working on CS project (2-week no homework policy for noobies)
Prediction: reveal secrets on aim, make embarrassing ranty emo blog posts
Fourth hour: Read Watchmen
Prediction: figure out how to not get mugged on way home (can I count on not waiting for night shuttle until 4am??!?!)
real post coming up laterz.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
happy chinese new year!
"If desire did not dim the brain, nobody would ever get married, drunk, or fat. -V"
Another chance to start a new year, and I'm not married, drunk, or fat! And this is what I'm counting on.
The single Dragon will be happy to know that romance is favored this year, so you may find someone to share your experiences.
Steph: Romance is favored for you!
Me: Yay!
Me: Yay! Romance is favored!
Steph: Yay!
Me: This is so pathetic.
There will be a number of occasions that will allow you to add to your circle of friends.
More friends!
The Dragon would do well to pull in the reins on lavish spending and take a more conservative approach this year.
....no because I will have a job.
This is what I really look like.
Another chance to start a new year, and I'm not married, drunk, or fat! And this is what I'm counting on.
The single Dragon will be happy to know that romance is favored this year, so you may find someone to share your experiences.
Steph: Romance is favored for you!
Me: Yay!
Me: Yay! Romance is favored!
Steph: Yay!
Me: This is so pathetic.
There will be a number of occasions that will allow you to add to your circle of friends.
More friends!
The Dragon would do well to pull in the reins on lavish spending and take a more conservative approach this year.
....no because I will have a job.
This is what I really look like.
Monday, October 20, 2008
I Google myself regularly
I should really clean up after myself on the WWW. I've been using this "spiritgreen" thing for years, and when I search it on google odd things come up:
1. Legit, my livejournal <3
2. My attempt in middle school to create a forum for artists/writers everywhere. We reached 300 members and slowly died... should get rid of that
3. Last.fm! Hopefully I'm not listening to a lot of angry music
4. Icon Journal
After the first page it gets a bit weirder:
1. Some weird asian girl took my name!
2. Deviantart! (mental note to delete some really crappy art)
And then there are bunch of posts from... slickdeals. But after that there are lovely people crediting me for use of my icons.
And I really don't know what I'm doing with this blog. I've been stalking around Blogger for a while now, and maybe this time I'm just going to quietly start posting and see if anyone notices. I need a better name.
1. Legit, my livejournal <3
2. My attempt in middle school to create a forum for artists/writers everywhere. We reached 300 members and slowly died... should get rid of that
3. Last.fm! Hopefully I'm not listening to a lot of angry music
4. Icon Journal
After the first page it gets a bit weirder:
1. Some weird asian girl took my name!
2. Deviantart! (mental note to delete some really crappy art)
And then there are bunch of posts from... slickdeals. But after that there are lovely people crediting me for use of my icons.
And I really don't know what I'm doing with this blog. I've been stalking around Blogger for a while now, and maybe this time I'm just going to quietly start posting and see if anyone notices. I need a better name.
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