Of Late

I haven't a creative streak in me so here's a little life update. I haven't really been taking many pics in the last few days either so.... It's not that entertaining hoho.

Of late:

• Went down to Puck's Alley a lot
• Rain is back in Manoa
• Exam results: satisfactory except for pbiochem =_=
• GK GK GK GK GK GK GK

 

On Tuesday afternoon I dropped off the folder contents for printing... Totally ended up stopping by Nijiya since I had a little time and felt like grabbing something, anything... Didn't expect to actually buy this, but it looked like one of those limited-edition, limited-stock kind of things and I wanted to try and share with people so I got it. I tried two sticks today and it's very interesting. I think I'll stick with normal Pocky rather than all these Crush varieties. They just don't have the same crunch.

 

I wish we had a balcony that faced this way or a big picture window like in the freshman towers... My view of campus and the photos I take are obscured by the netting ): But... still get to see the rainbows (and the incoming rain) when I'm back in my room!

 

Running around campus the past week has been met with on-and-off showers, and sometimes they're just these sudden bursts of heavy droplets that are miserable but somewhat refreshing. I'm kind of glad to have indecisive weather again just because now it's not as hot as if it were still summer...

 

I picked up the folder contents on Wednesday between classes... Oh, the effort. It was all stuck in one paper bag so I ended up stopping by Ba-Le to make use of their plastic bags and pick up a coffee. Mmmm Ba-Le coffee... so addictive.

 

So very many papers... We stuffed them on Thursday afternoon, which turned out to be quicker than I thought it was going to take. Teamwork really helps, I guess. We also worked on centerpieces, which were very interesting and filled with candies, pens, and tissue paper. So much blue and yellow... gah.

 

I ended up going down once more to print the programs, and the shop owner was kind enough to get my print job done on the spot because they had the time. For that I'm so grateful, because it meant I had more time to run errands and fold the darn things/put in inserts. Even though Kinko's is right there I guess I'll prefer to get copies from this place because they've been definitely reliable... I need to compare prices for colored printing, though. I'm sure somewhere else would definitely be cheaper for that.

 

With all my walking down to Puck's alley, suffice to say my legs are feeling it. Maybe if I keep it up I'll lose some weight (or become less blobbly?). Though, that might lead me to consistently spending money off campus that I don't need... It's definitely a lot easier to walk somewhere with purpose, though.

 

On Friday, after watching the women's basketball team play (and it was a good game, though I have nothing to actually compare it to so heh don't know if you can take my work on it), I met up with Renee and Grace to watch Uncle Vanya and Zombies. The story was complicated and I feel like I should have maybe read/learned more about the original Chekov story beforehand so I wouldn't be so confused. The play within a TV show within an alternate universe within a play thing was pretty mind confusing. The humor was good. Loved the zombies... even the creepy ones milling around outside beforehand.

 

Grace gave us caramel bear candies along with mints cause Renee and I had bad breath from eating garlic fries from the game.... delicious everything.

Today was the GK NMRE and I'm very glad that went decently well... We survived. Could've gone better in many aspects (cough quartet performance) but I feel like I worked really hard to get things done! Setup, giving speeches, cleaning up... I can't believe I'm actually an EB member and am thoroughly thankful for the whole experience.... This whole semester.

I don't know what to do at this point but I'm going to rest a bit now that the midterm mess is over... Prep for finals, I guess. Definitely got at leat one project to work on...

Until next time,
Romee

Sunday...

In the park car
Must've been the 4th of July  Veteran's day weekend

Heh... My lyrics editing probably isn't the funniest, but this it is taking lyrics from the song that has been stuck in my family's brains all day.

After yesterday's wedding, I think the food and sugary dessert overload completely put me in hibernation state. It would've been much more comfortable if I hadn't woken up with my glasses still on and my hair in a ponytail... But when one's sleepy and the body isn't taking "awaken!" for an answer, anything is good.

Yesterday's desserts (that I tried):

• Chocolate dobash cake (wonderous)
• Strawberry cheesecake (dense and rich)
• Cream puff cake w/whipped cream, raspberries and blueberries
• Bread pudding
• Flan w/strawberries
• Assorted fresh fruit

With this list I'm sure it's no surprise that I was thoroughly sugared-out by evening.

I mean, I think that the quartet was pretty sleepy on the way back from the ballrooms in the first place. Or, at least, the biochemistry half was... I fell asleep to the instrumental music playing from Tyler's laptop. That was seriously the last I remembered and I don't think we had even gotten back onto the H-1.

Today's Sunday was a diversion from plans. I ended up driving less than I thought I was going to drive, and accomplished more than I thought I was going to do, so all is well. 

We stopped by a beach near Kahala after dropping my sister off at rehearsal. The weather was kind of chilly and a slight drizzle was falling, but the ocean was beautiful and we even saw a few couples taking pictures for their weddings. Adorable.

I fed my sweet tooth again with the macaron from the wedding and the yuzu flavor was certainly delicious. The macaron was the perfect size, too. Any more and I wouldn't have been able to handle it.

My sister got the soft pretzel she's been craving, and we all ate sushi for lunch. The rolls we ate were loaded but not as spicy as we were expecting... The sweet chili sauce plus wasabi mayo did add slight hints of kicks (more like nudges in the shin), though. My dad's good friend brought us some ribs and BBQ sauce... Mmm. In addition to the apples, oranges, and grapes my dad's other friend from Washington brought yesterday, our tummies are definitely staying full. I'm so very thankful for this all.

After a bio study session (exams every two weeks is driving me insane) and a brief group project meeting, I drove myself to a GBC service AT NIGHT! New things, new things. I struggled in the parking lot (unsurprising) but in terms of general driving and road memory... I think I'm getting better! I mean, that was the first time I've driven completely alone and at night ("dark"). The Hush Sound kept me calm the whole way back ("All we need is a little bit of momentum / break down these walls that we built around ourselves").

The service itself was very different than the type of mass I'm used to... I felt awkward trying to loosen up, trying to get into it all, with the youthful concert vibe. However, I felt the best once the sermon started going, and thinking back on how it actually took up a lot of the hour, it was a quick hour spent. I think there were quite a few messages to take-home from it, and perhaps it changed me inside a bit.

"Be faithful in the now."

This line stuck with me the most. A lot of the verse analysis produced questions with which I need to explore myself with... find myself with.... move on with. It was a reminder and a challenge to change. I think I can. A thank you to Mari for some amazing timing (on God's part, as well?) because this is certainly a perfect time in my life to be reconsidering my life and trying new things.

Along with burning plows and doing what is "greater" rather than "better"... There are a lot of things I have to get to. I will do it. Like my homework and the studying. At the very least, I've got this holiday to catch up, right? (:

Nice day for a.... "Tiffany&Co Blue" wedding

Nice day to... start again!!!

After saying I'd get back into recording my life at the beginning of the semester, I surely did not get to that. I guess it kind of helps to have a camera now.

I feel like I should have been keeping more records of the details of weddings our quartet has gotten the chance to play at. Each time I get more and more ideas and gain appreciation for wedding planners and coordinators and designers... So many wonderful decoration and favor ideas. Beautiful colors and locations as well.

From our day:

Things I loved:

• Some sort of Buddhist ritual (which of course I didn't actually know anything about) for the wedding
• Bride said her vows in Italian
• Quartet played 30 min pre-ceremony music (all "typical" wedding pieces, including Pachelbel's Canon in D, which the guests enjoyed plus Ice Castles, Fascination, and a quick arrangement of "The Prayer" - Celine Dion  + Andrea Bocelli)
• Bridesmaids and bride walked in to the recorded version of The Prayer, recessional song was "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer
• Incorporated bride's occupation (research dealing with (endangered) plants and tissue culture) and took a "plant" theme: the centerpiece was "grown" (mini-garden with little blue fake frog perched on a rock next to a mini rock pagoda) and had self-done prints make from what I would say is... moss or fern of some sort
• Centerpiece given away by everyone opening little gift box - box contained a macaron (same blue, yuzu flavor!) - one box on the table had a different color (red - red currant flavor) which marked the individual to get the centerpiece (:
• Banzai! toasts with apple cider

We had a great lunch with delectable desserts and definitely had a chance to enjoy the people and the location. I was looking at the young girls attending with their parents (relatives of the couple), and thought, I wouldn't be surprised if they had the dreams planted within them to be married one day. I mean... seeing weddings like these, who wouldn't want to get married?

C'mon!

Hello darlings.

It's been a semester and a summer since I've updated this blog, but I figured I'd like to put it in a semi-active state for the sake of my own sanity. It seems like the only things I'm writing these days are poor attempts at smart-sounding commentary and science course-related notes. So we say GOODBYE to the birdy blues of the past two years and HELLO to this slightly aged brown and orange of autumn, one of the many times of drastic change in life.

We're only three weeks into fall 2012 and I've already had two midterms and an in-class writing prompt test. I honestly don't know how I've been doing. I feel kind of like I'm still in summer mode... with a conscience that knows that I'm supposed to be getting moving on in this world.

This summer: Florida trip with the family, quartet gigs, bondings and explorations, Hank & John Green reading/watching indulgence, Harry Potter, and living day by day.

This semester: 16 credits, a pretty new dorm, and new perspectives. It's all alright.

More to come. (:

I'd like to believe in all the possibilities. - C'mon: Fun. and Panic! At the Disco

As of late (in brief)

Sunset String Quartet

Reunion of our small 11th floor family (+ stuffed faces)

Oklahoma with the lovelies

Mmm, Thanksgiving at home

What else? School, school, school. Eating! Column chromatography in the lab, all the time, baby! Practicing now and then for orchestra, excitement for our theme: From Russia with Love!

Music that's been looping through my head: Surry with the Fringe on Top (Oklahoma!), Blackout (Breathe Carolina), Black Sheep (Brie Larson vocals), Kimi No Koe (Beyond the Clouds), We are Young (Fun.), Taylor the Latte Boy (Kristin Chenoweth version). I watched Edward Scissorhands and I absolutely loved it.

Life's been alright, classes grades are looking decent, registration for next semester is looking a little iffy. Gotta keep motivated because the end of the semester is so near! I should have been posting more... but oh well. New resolution once again. Until then!

2011 WISHLIST!

Woot woot wishlist time!

I like socks with animals. Or colored socks. Socks are just nice. Ankle high, though. High enough so that my heels don't keep dying when I wear my Converse. XD My favorite things include cats, purple, and... chemistry?!

*****EDIT: I broke my cheapy JVC Gumy earphones (Best Buy).  TT^TT New pair pleaseeeeee sob

My GREATEST DESIRE is this clock, but it's way over the price range ($42) and alas, it is also sold out. ):

I hope it gives you a good example of my tastes, though: pretty, functional things, and Doctor Who. Though, I think Doctor Who can kind of be generalized into dorky popular culture.  (If you get me anything with reference to Doctor Who, I think I'd be satisfied. P.S. I love Amy and Rory.) Also, maybe an alarm clock?!

If you want to fuel my inner child.... *_* ... -cough-

I love a lot of the things on Etsy. I've kind of wanted cuff-like jewelry (no, not handcuffs, please take your mind away from that train of thoughts), like these bracelets, or thinner. Not sure what I'd do with them, though. I kind of just want cheap-y versions of Fossil jewelry, as bad as that sounds, haha.

It should also be no surprise when I say I like music. I think vinyl is cool ('cause we actually have a record player at home), but it's also a bit impractical. Thanks to Kat, though, my iTunes music-purchasing fund is full once again, so I can do without more gift cards, hehe! Physical things are nice. I kind of want this single, but it might sell out, which would be sad but not heartbreaking.

I would also enjoy Muse's Resistance. Or perhaps She & Him's Volume One?! Hm, maybe Gold Motel's Summer House... Ólafur Arnald's Eulogy for Evolution or would be cool too. I guess my taste in music is calming down, in some aspects. But, of course, physical CD's are more of a pain to get a hold of... so whatever! XD

Hm. What do I want that is actually reasonable to ask for...

Oh yes. A new planner/schedule notebook thing. Actually I just want a new Moleskine that may or may not have dates pre-printed in it so I can just fill the pages with whatever I want in the upcoming years, mostly schedules and doodles and things. By the way, this is what finals week looks like for me. ):

A small pencil case (not a hard one, though) would be nice, too. I need to stop stabbing my hands on things when I reach into the small pocket of my backpack. I really need a new schoolbag, but I think I'll go hunting for something on my own...

If you buy me clothes, I'd wear them. If you could get me good grades for the semester, too, that'd be awesome, hahaha. I'll be happy with anything. SURPRISE ME! (:

Say what you want

Say say anything (A Fine Frenzy)

I've been listening A Fine Frenzy's Bomb in a Birdcage and frankly, I just love her voice and the general sound of her songs. It makes me feel happy even though I don't really listen to the words that much.

Anyway, I recently watched the video of the 2011 Miss USA delegate's responses to the question "Should evolution be taught in schools?" due to all the hullabaloo on Facebook. Maybe I'm just too accepting of an individual, but I don't see why so many people disliked it, or rather, are displaying such scorn. I guess it's pretty easy to go and think "Man, they're pretty dumb" and say that beauty and intelligence don't mix, but I think they did alright answering such a controversial question. Sure, most of them tried to find a compromise between both sides of the issue (creationism vs. evolution), but in such a competition, where you don't want to offend anyone or let yourself get grouped and judged by stereotypes, such a response would seem like the safest route. I must admit, the part of me that is entrenched in science cringed at the denouncements of evolution as fact and other such sayings, but overall I could just understand the nature of their responses. Miss Vermont did seem to steal the show with really bringing up the need to know and understand evolution with regards to bacteria and disease, but what was said about how religion and evolution can "coexist", so to speak, deserved some attention as well.

In Honors 101, Introduction to Research, we're reading David Sloan Wilson's Evolution for Everyone that has provided reasonable argument for why evolution should be learned by everyone, even those who are religious. It is true that there is the touchy aspect where he shows that evolution is more capable of explaining why things are the way they are with proof, thus pointing out a "flaw" in religion, but Wilson doesn't claim that religious beliefs should be abandoned.

The main thing this conflict has brought to my mind is that the fact that there are parodies like "Should math be taught in schools," implying that saying no to teaching evolution would be like saying no to teaching math. The thing that bothers me about this parody is that while not accepting math would cause an individual to essentially be unable to function in our (what is  meant by "our"?) present day society because of how it is needed in relation to our finances, not accepting evolution wouldn't necessarily impede the individual's chances directly. Oh, sure, understanding natural selection and how we developed gives us information about how we can change our present environments in order to produce desirable changes visible in the future and about what kind of thing (or person) we expect will lose the ever-present conflicts, but we don't exactly see acceptance of evolution as something as necessary to function in our society. Even though we (again, who is "we"?) push science and this pursuit of knowledge and understanding, American has had a history of religious belief, so this fight picked is kind of against ourselves. Proponents of change may, at times, see religion as erroneous, but it does have a function in societies as a binding force and as ideas that give individuals reasons and motivation to live.

It's not to say that I wasn't amused with the parody, but it was quite exaggerated (which, I suppose, is also the nature of parodies as well). Another thing that bothered me, perhaps, about the responses themselves, and the parody, was the focus on the interests of the children. Thumbs up to the delegates that noted the importance of evolution education in high school and college. Those are definitely more crucial decision-making times for individuals', in comparison to their "childhoods", growing up. Families do socialize individuals to believe certain ways. To grow up in a religious family and to keep holding on to those beliefs as one grows older definitely will impact the way an individual views the world and their existences in general. If we really wanted to change the world to accept evolution, teaching children this in elementary school is necessary, though it may conflict with what they believe in at home. The problem is overcoming that conflict, especially with the belief difference across generations. I think back to beliefs about Pluto being a planet, and beliefs of whether or not homosexual relationships are acceptable. There is the conflict between the new generations (the children) and the older generations (the parents), but which group has more power and say in the government, and which group has the greater capacity to accept change? I'm going off on tangents now, so maybe I'll stop talking about this. The greater question behind "Should we teach evolution in schools?" would be "What kind of world of beliefs do we want to create?" I can promote acceptance of everything and choice as did many of the 51 delegates, but is that really going to happen in this world where everyone wants power and someone always tends to have to be "right", where right is not necessarily what's "true" but rather what's believed by majority of society?

The family's role in socialization may not be decreasing as education's (and society's) role may be increasing, but family still has the control of those very first seeds that are planted.

While this is slightly lengthy and unorganized, and I really don't tend to do this kind of thing at all, I just needed to get this off my chest. There will always be this conflict, and creating a peace between both sides probably isn't possible. It is a matter of beliefs, but how do you get the entire world to believe in one thing? Conflict of culture, conflict of lifestyle... With the prevalence of one thing, another thing becomes destroyed or changed. And if some of the people disliking that video are those that claim themselves strong advocates of science (this sounds really dumb), well, I feel like they're wasting their time. Regardless of whether or not these delegates provided acceptable responses, in their opinions, I think that this "opposition" can just be looked over and one's own business can be minded because the people who do want to open their eyes and accept evolution will also be the ones that understand how to use knowledge of it to their benefit.