3.13.11

The past 2 weeks:

This weekend:

3.02.11

Kind of sad when my "reward" for finishing one of my two midterm essays is a shower break :(

Lack of sleep is starting to catch up to me - just wrote the following sentence in essay #2:

"Urbanization essentially meant a mass migration of peoples to cities because of job opportunities, environment, etc. Usually by around 3 pm, I have to fight"

02.21.2011

I either need more sleep or I need to get out more because:

1. I dozed off while waiting for my email to load last night around midnight (which is not late at all in college terms!)

2. I dreamt that I was doing laundry. And not even the exciting part of cleaning the lint out of the lint trap, but of loading my clothes into the washing machine. I can't decide whether or not this "laundry dream" is more lame than my "sending emails" dream a few months ago.

02.20.2011

Half marathon went well! The first 8 miles were awesome - I felt really good and was running at a pretty fast pace and passing lots of people. Then I got to the Great Highway part and it was all downhill from there (not literally, unfortunately). Those were the longest 5 miles of my life, and the fact that it was a flat paved straight-away down the highway and then back on the same road did not help. My feet were burning and I kept thinking the next mile marker would be coming up soon but it just dragged on and on.

BUT, I finished and I'm really thankful for making it to the end! 2 hou

rs, 6 minutes. If I ever do a half marathon again, I want to try for under 2 hours.

Last weekend I went to Davis for Janelle's 21st birthday!

Saw the Social Network with Minnie and Joanna at a Haas event with free food. Really good movie and cute actors!

02.05.11

Running my first half marathon tomorrow morning!

1.22.11

Whoops, it's been awhile!

I officially finished reading the Harry Potter series this morning. My winter break goal was to read all seven books before watching the seventh movie, and I finished (though technically I had to bring the last book with me to Berkeley to finish up)! Now I just need to see if there's anyone left who hasn't seen the last movie yet to come with me to the one theater that is still showing it. Anyone? Anyone?

I cut my finger today while cleaning a rusty metal thing and started freaking out because there's still some black / dirty stuff in the cut. Hopefully no infection!

Went to core blast this morning and realized how weak my abs have gotten (actually, how they've always been). Going on a hopefully long run later today - gotta prepare for the half marathon in 2 weeks!

Thankful

Some things I am thankful for:

- My parents, for driving out to see me and taking me out to dim sum, for sending me funny emails, for paying my tuition, for letting me make my own decisions, for supporting me and my major, for everything.

- My brother, for growing up into such a smart and fun guy who still tolerates my nagging and answers frequent requests for computer help, and for the fact that his body is still intact and functional despite doing crazy tricks and many dislocated shoulders.

- My apartment mates Minnie, Jessica and Sam, for enduring my piles of books and papers and other junk around the apartment, for eating my cooking experiments, for listening.

- My health, because I get to walk, run, bike, and push myself through Core Blast.

- Libraries and Cafes, for being there when I needed a change of study scenery, a warm place to read, or some caffeine and pastries.

- Being in Berkeley, because I love all the excitement, quirks, outdoor opportunities, and people that come with this lively city.

- Working with Green Campus and ReUSE, because I have learned so much about project management and communication; for connecting me to such strong yet different sustainability programs on campus; for the opportunity to earn enough to cover rent and living expenses each month.

- Friends, because even though I haven't been very good at staying in touch with high school friends, and even though I'm not really sure who I would consider my closest friends in college, I know that I have friends I can look to for support, good talks, encouragement and hanging out.

And a quick list:

- Warm mochas

- Picking my own tomatoes and learning to can them

- Harvesting grapes at a vineyard

- Watching my brother play volleyball

- Brisk morning air for running

- Figuring out how to sew my backpack

- Online instructions for fixing a blown fuse

- Electric room heater

- Biking

- Getting paid to baby-sit aka watching tv while the baby sleeps

- Berkeley Bowl and their Clearance Produce section

- The Gilson family, for inviting me to their Thanksgiving

- Online weather forecasts

- Time to study over Thanksgiving break

- Joanna Y, Jessica C, and Courtney P for offering a home for me for Thanksgiving

- Clean and great tasting tap water

- Pie: Pumpkin, Chard, Chocolate Cranberry

10.10.10.10.10.

Guys, it's 10:10 PM on 10/10/10.

Best Thing Ever

Models falling on the runway.

BIO BIO BIO BIO BIO

In my attempt to actually keep up with the class, do readings on time, and understand what's going on AS the class is progressing through the semester (instead of not doing much until the first midterms roll around and I panic), I went to FIVE bio sections / classes today! Biology lecture, professor's office hours, biology discussion, biology discussion office hours, and biology lab lecture. That's right, I'm actually really trying! Let's see how long this lasts...

It's only the second week

So far this semester has been a whirlwind. No wait, more like an angry offspring of a tornado and hurricane. WHY AM I SO BUSY ALREADY?

I've been reading and writing emails for the past 2+ hours, all work related, and I haven't even gotten a chance to do actual school work or reading.

On the bright side, my roommates surprised me with a belated birthday cake today! Lemon cake with frosting, from scratch.

I hate you, Bike Thief.

Yesterday I was just thinking about how thankful I was for finding and buying such a great bike last week. It was perfect: Silver, Specialized brand, super comfortable and easy to ride, and it fit me as if it was custom made for me.

And it just so happens that between last night when I locked my bike in my apartment building and this morning, SOMEONE STOLE MY BIKE!

Here is a little bit of what I'm feeling like right now:

From now on I'm going to use a U-lock, cord lock, chain lock, and maybe hire a buff body guard and some aggressive guard dogs to protect my bike. That's right, bike thief - you won't get away with this ever again (on my bike, at least).

I'll have the Cabernet Sauvignon

The agroecology lab I'm working at this summer is proving to be quite the social activity! Today I went to a lab BBQ at an intern's backyard. Besides good food, we had wine-tasting. Two things I learned today:

1. All wine tastes the same to me. Acidity? Rich fruity overtones? Oakey flavor? Nope, can't tell the difference.

2. I don't think I am sophisticated enough to appreciate the taste of wine - it all tastes pretty gross to me. I don't know how people can like this stuff! I had to follow every sip with food.

Eat A Damn Good Breakfast Everyday.

I'm learning how to play the guitar - I have no excuses this summer: free lessons, free guitar lent to me by a friend, and no homework to compete with practicing!

Andrew's Graduation

Aw my little brother is all grown up!


I'm so proud of my brother, not necessarily for graduating high school, but for the awesome person that he has become... from an awkward dorky little kid to a smart, social guy who fixes peoples' computers and plays varsity volleyball and is tan enough to look like he could be Filipino, Mexican, Indonesian, etc... Congrats!

The Cookies that look like Vomit

A few days ago, in a desperate attempt to use up half a can of pumpkin before it molded, I made these babies:



These are extremely modified chocolate chip cookies. Instead of butter, I used pumpkin, and instead of chocolate chips, I used crumbled up brownies because I didn't have chocolate chips but I did have already-baked brownies.

Verdict? Surprisingly edible, despite the unappetizing appearance.

The Last Supper(s)

My roommate moved out a few days ago - I'm going to miss her and her cooking! She was the one in our apartment of four who could actually make things that looked and tasted really good (as opposed to okay-tasting stir-fry and rice that we resort to when she's not cooking). During her last few days here, I tried to cook with her in hopes of learning... here's some of what we made:

Homemade pizza crust, topped with mushrooms, garlic, tomatoes, fresh goat cheese and mozzarella, and asparagus from the garden.

Salad with dressing (not pictured) that we made from olive oil, balsamic vinegar, mustard, garlic, salt and pepper.

Some sort of braised chicken with olives and a green leafy herb (parsley? oregano?).

Gettin' Dirty

Just discovered the Student Organic Garden on the north-west side of campus:




I am now adding "volunteer at the garden" to my summer to-do list. PLUS, free and fresh vegetables to take home with me!

I am so FORTunate...

Bring it ON

3 finals in the next day and a half... then freedom!