Not much has happened except I got a hair cut.
Got it off from Jeff’s blog and it’s not bad. Meet people who feel as excited as you for going to university this fall. =)
Parthi and Tim, enjoy your trip and play safe.
I went to Eaton Centre today, bought stuff from H&M while shedding tears for the decreasing number showing on my bank account. Speaking of bank, BMO is pretty good because I just realized that I still don’t pay any transaction fees for the Young Adult program (which is from 18 to 21) that I just updated my acocunt to, and then after I turn 21, there’s another program for students and still no transaction fee. This makes my debit-card-using-shopping-life so perfect; no worries on getting unwanted pennies or paying them.
Complain: Smart Set really disappointed me this season. Their t-shirts that now are only in plain colours or stripes are good quality and they used to be printed t-shirts last year; now, the printed t-shirts are so.. mushy, and big - even for an XS. If your bag is a bit heavy the t-shirts would be twisted under your bag strap and go off your shoulder showing perhaps bra straps and it looks really bad. And also, other stuff there just look not as good as last year’s. But I spotted a fall jacket that looks quite nice and hopefully their fall clothing would be better.
H&M and Club Monaco are great for skirts but CM’s skirts or stuff in general are really hard to take care of - they are quite fragile. Jacob Connexion has good pants that define a curvaceous line on your little cute bottom.
I’m getting really jealous now, so many people are going back to China, HK, or whatever their homeland/home countries are. On a good note, my grandma just got her visa and she’ll be coming here soon. =)
You know, sometimes the only thing that can save a girl from rotting is a phone call to her girlfriend.
With Yahoo 360 being launched, I think I’m going to launched my own Yahoo 360 sharing space soon. Their photo album service is not bad except that you can’t view original sized photos or hotlink them on your own websites.
With the arrival of the rogers digital box, I’ve been watching a lot of Fashion TV lately - especially the World Fashion Tour program with big names and runway shows. It’s interesting to see most female designers wear mediocre clothes, even when they need to step out and bow at the end of their clothing line runway show while male designers, (I’m not trying to be offensive here but it does look like a generalization) look gay, snazzy and stylish. My favourite model?
Okay I’m really bored at home. Like, really bored. Sadly I don’t even wanna get out anymore; I just wanna stay and home and rot …
Oh, I’m officially declaring that I am anti V-shaped hand gestures on any Asian person. If you are one of them, run away before I vomit on you.
I finished reading HP6 with tears.
I knew Dumbledore would die but I didn’t know he would die in such a tragic way as written in the book. Also, I was really disappointed to realize Snape, despite how evil and dismal he has appeared to be however trusted without second doubt by Dumbledore really turned out to be on the evil side. Call me crazy but I still have little hope that he’d somehow reveal his true loyal identity to Dumbledore and that he killed Dumbledore for good….
At the beginning of the book, there were places that sounded like J.K.Rowling was writing it for the sake of writing, it didn’t seem as natural as the first few books. The conversation between Harry and Ginny at the end reminded me of Spiderman and Mary Jane and any other superheros with their lovers.
And I must say this: I do not like Harry. He seems really nosy at times like how he’s always trying to spy on Malfoy - although Rowling knew Malfoy was up to something but how does Harry know? It’s bit unnatural for the author or as I said, Harry’s just too nosy. And it’s also a fact that he constant asks help from Hermione for homework and such while he can’t even make a perfect potion without the help of the Prince; there really isn’t much he can do that’s developed through his incessant and diligent hard-work, it’s either he’s born with it or not.
Yes, HP7 is going to be great. But I doubt if it’s going to be thicker than HP6 since seemingly Hogwarts is most likely going to be closed down. And truthfully, it’s not gonna shake me much whether Harry die or not.
When I saw HP4 movie trailer before Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I was sooo excited! Can’t wait!
(And this, boys and girls, is the alleged Cho Chang if you haven’t yet seen her picture)
On the same exciting note, one of my best friends in China, Effie, is planning to come to Toronto to study. I really can’t wait to see her here. I haven’t seen her for about 3 years now - and the last time I saw was only for a few minutes…
It’s been a few days full of interesting things to do, and thanks to my procrastination of blogging, this post is going to be long.
On Friday, Parthi, Ross and I finally had the time to carry out our plan of spending some time together, and the plan was for us to go canoeing in the afternoon and then go out for dinner. So I took the bus to Ross’s place to meet up with him and Parthi, the moment I saw them at the bus stop it just felt really comforting; I guess I got so used to seeing people everyday at Woburn that it has become a routine, seeing them again outside after graduating for a month now is just really refreshing. We went to Ross’s backyard and just sat on the trampoline for a while, relaxing and talking about everything we felt like talking about; I met Ross’s dog and finally got used to having a dog around and not being scared - I guess my main problem with dogs is that I can’t stand being sniffed or licked or feeling unsafe that there’s a possibility of being bitten. Tundra was a mild dog, I liked her. Then, we went canoeing - which was the first time for me and Parthi. It was very fun, even the scary part where Parthi can’t balance himself on the canoe when he steps in or out that the canoe starts to waggle sideways in the water. We reached the beach, boys submerged themselves up to the waist, I, having nothing to change into and didn’t want to get wet that thoroughly, just sat on the bank. Sky was cerulean, air was sweetly salted, I couldn’t help to have a reverie while embraced in the beauty of nature; listening to the waves, and feeling the caress of the breeze. Then, we went canoeing on rouge river. It was very peaceful and quiet, we could only hear our own paddling sound and our own voice talking. It had been very breathtaking.
We came home and I realized my pants, despite I didn’t even get them wet up to my knees, were very muddy. Ross’s mother helped me to cleaned them up and then we went out to Il Fornello down at Queen’s and Woodbine for dinner. Dinner was delicious although perhaps half ruined by Parthi’s involuntary incessant watch checking and worrying if he could get home on time. After we stuffed ourselves and paid about $20 each for our dishes, we went for a walk along the beach. It was just great to get together and relax with the, in Parthi’s words, “lifelong friends”.
As I was spending such a wonderful time on that day, I realized that this is perhaps my first summer/break totally free. I’ve never had that before really. Ohhh… so good. As I haven’t been practising or doing anything much, I’m hoping I could just spend this summer relaxing and just experience the life I haven’t had hitherto; and when September arrives, I’ll give my all to what I’ll be doing.
On Saturday, I came back from work and voila, there was my Harry Potter VI on my desk. I anxiously opened the package, and saw a weird looking card sticking out with the order summery. On the card it says: Let the magic continue… and it’s a “Magic Card” which can contain Chapters/Indigo gift card value of $5, $10, $15, $25, $100, or $1000. One purchases over $50 in August can activate the card to reveal the magic value. Ooo. Just in time for me to buy my university text books. As for the book itself, I haven’t even gone as far as finishing the first 1/5. Yeah, I’m just gonna savour it, slooooowwwwllly. (It’s sad though, that everybody will probably die in the end; but I suppose it’s J.K. Rowling’s only way to avoid being bugged to death to write more HP books.)
And yesterday, I saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and thought… it was great! I liked the music as well; very cute. Today, I’m planning to go down to the beach again for the Beaches Jazz Festival; there’s a workshop with Joe Sealy about piano accompanying that I’d like to attend. And after that is another unplanned week… luckily I have some Harry Potter to read. ^^
we like everything complicated.
That was one of the welcome messages we received while attending the course selection counseling session following a pizza dinner. That’s certainly a uh, good omen…
The counselor explained that the credits at Faculty could be 0.33, 0.67, unlike the credits in Arts & Science, straight out 0.5 or 1. Explained things regarding electives and other courses. Not a lot of students went, and there was a lot of parents. People are nice and strange; there was this guy who asked about four questions just on whether he could exempt taking keyboard harmony because he’s got a certificate of gr.5 harmony. Big hair, thick glasses, kind of geeky looking, reminds me of Kissin. I talked to him afterwards and he’s in piano theory; a very nice guy though, but I don’t think I can help but to call him Keyboard Harmony for the rest of my univeristy life.
There was a black guy who was dressed in a pink striped polo shirt, apparently in the jazz division, always asking questions. That’s not a bad thing until you keep on asking questions on the topic that’s just the next one the counselor is going to talk about which is put up on the overhead.
But anyway. Meeting new people wasn’t that scary. I also saw this girl who’s a very good piano player whom I used to participate in the same piano competition with, but she’s in common first year rather than piano performance, I think.
It is going to be a very interesting year. Lots of great courses, lots of great people, lots of great music. The foremost problem I need to solve right now is to decide whether I wanna minor in one specific program or just take all the courses I’m interested in as electives (which is like about 50…).
Yeah, lyke, I really can’t wait for September.
This afternoon I downloaded this CD called Classic Meets Cuba which is a fabulous CD to put on while relaxing. It’s got some Beethoven piano sonatas, some Chopin pieces, The Flight of the Bumble Bee, and some other classical music in the form of Cuban jazz. It’s great.
As far as summer goes, this blogging thing seems like it’s going to extinct.. for everyone. Kinda sad, but seems like everyone’s having too much fun to sit down and write stuff. Or too bored? =P
Yay, paddling + dinner + beach tomorrow. Whoohoo.
So, the Chinese government finally blocked blogsome. I had to split my Chinese blog and my English blog again and that’s why you noticed the extra link on the top.
I don’t know when it was that I realized it’s a very difficult thing for the three of us to talk normally - and by normal, I mean the mannerism which doesn’t involve any intentions of using harsh words to ridicule or deprecate another.
Dinner is usually the only meal we have together. And you know there’s the existence of a dimensionless space between everyone when all you talk about during dinner - your only meal together - is the food. How to cook them, how to store them, the difference of the tastes… Or sometimes with the sound of chopsticks, there’s only another sound - silence. There isn’t even any moment of awkwardness in such silence, we’ve all learned how to live in our own little worlds. The ones who adapt live, and we’ve certainly adapted to having a fantastic time with our own worlds, even if another breathing human being who just happens to be the one we love - or should love - is sitting an inch away from us. I’ve only grown nonchalant, if I’ve grown at all.
You have not a damn right to talk to her like that, even if you are my father.
What is the meaning of marriage?
The commitment, responsibility and certain legal entitlements? - benefits, let’s make it straight.
Marriage rots love.
Because marriage invovles money. Money rots love. Doens’t money rot everything?
Everything rots love except for freedom.
I am just going to run, endlessly, nonstop. With the flying silk, the light breeze, the streaks of sunglow. I can be catched, but not stopped.
I’m stopped, only when my heart also stops.
“What is being normal? Maybe being abnormal is normal.”
Some wedding shoes to go with wedding gown here. Tis exactly the kinda shoe I wanna wear on stage for piano.
Yesterday we went downtown to Dundas and Yonge for the Toronto Street Festival. The Giraffe show was interesting but we were standing there for about 40min without knowing what exactly was happening. I also liked Broken Social Scene, but I don’t really have any opinion about them because I’m ignorant in that field of music- although I thought the female singer looked idiotic when she just stood there doing nothing with her body and just shaking her head in attempt to swing her hair around, and it wasn’t even on beat.
I got home around 12:45, and when I came back my parents were already sleeping. I quietly went into my room and went to bed because I didn’t want to wake them up and I turned my cell off before I went to bed. Next morning, when I was calling work while still lying on my bed I realized that there were four voice message, so I listend to them and was frightened. Apparently my mom woke up just after I went to bed and she didn’t know I already got home. She was worried and she called me so many times, left the 1st message at 1am, and then another one at 2am -sounding really worried and angry that I didn’t call her and she couldn’t reach me, 3rd one at 2:30am -even more angry, last one at 3am -almost yelling and threatening if I don’t let her know what I was she’d ground me for the rest of my life. I was consternated, so got up, talked to my mom and was told that at 3:20-ish she came into my room found me sleeping on my bed, otherwise she would’ve called 911.
Anyway. Harry Potter next Saturday! Can’t wait.
I came across this useful article for pianists; and also this article agreed with my statement that piano playing is a sport.
Someone calculated that it takes the equivalent energy of shovelling three tons of coal just to move the keys in Rachmaninov’s Third Concerto - and this does not take into account the emotional and intellectual energy used!
Bahaha.
Alack, lack of update induced by lack of life.
Seriously, I feel like I have no friends when school’s out. Everyone is busy with something and no one is free to go out with me. This is called no-school period, not summer vacation. I’m planning to get a few more private students - to come to my place for lessons that is - as a source for more $$ because I’m just that pathetically lazy to go out and enjoy the sun and enjoy taking the TTC to places and work (hmph).
Aside from that, though, today has been the most productive day. I called my piano teacher earlier this week to schedule for a piano lesson tonight, not only because I’m bored at home, also because I just miss my teacher and my lesson thaaat much. I haven’t seen her for 2 whole months now speaking of it.
Dad had been bugging me yesterday to go to U of T to get them sign my educational fund paper, so I was forced to go to downtown by my parents which is really rare. This morning, got up at 9:44, got my stuff together and went out the door. Went to U of T Faculty of Music, got them signed my paper, and also pre-activated my student card so I can go straight to use their practice facility after Sep. 1st. Then, came out from the back door, walked Philosopher’s Walk, passed the music library and then, I hit College St. by going through U of T’s campus. It was really breathtakingly beautiful. I concluded that whenever I’m not feeling happy during my four years at U of T I’d 1/take a looong walk in the campus 2/go to AGO and sit in front of Monet’s painting (I just received my membership card yesterday, and apparently they also give me a 20% discount on TSO tickets aside from several restaurant discounts and National Ballet ticket discounts. Hooray.)
I went to Kensington, got the argyle belt I’ve wanted to buy for a long time, a patch for my UB pants; then to Chinatown, got a new plastic cover thingy for my cell phone and made some other frivolous purchase. I must say, Chinatown is the loudest and probably the smellist place in the whole downtown area. Not that this has anything to do with my trip but for reasons I find myself unable to relate to most Chinese communities - no I’m not trying to be white-washed, and I think not being able to relate to them is rather sad, but I just… feel that I can’t bring myself up to their standard of moral values, worldview, etc.. and considering I’ve only been here less than five years… I must choose one to side with.
Bought iced-cap and this kind of Vietnamese bread which tastes really good, checked out a store for wireless routers and headed home. Walking alone in downtown is the freest meditation for my soul. Forget what other people think about you or any other crap, if they infringe your uniqueness, tell them: screw you.
In hope to help other helpless souls out there who are bored at home, here’re some of the things I’m planning to attend:
-Beaches Jazz Festival
-Kensington Pedestrian Sunday
-Toronto Street Festival
Enjoy yourselves also.
eating in the bathroom?
This is a restaurant in Taiwan with the theme of bathroom.
