Jammin’ to: The Great Gatsby Sound Track (specifically Bang Bang by will.i.am, among some others as well though).
You can stream it from NPR and a few other websites, but soundcloud only has a sample of it, so for the full song go
search for it! (Sorry!)
(Side note, I find irony that my title is “one year later…” and this song is a fusion of the 1920’s music then (since the book was published in 1925) with current music trends… hahaha an unintentional time theme? :D)
So to introduce what this whole post will sort of (hopefully) focus on, it will have a few parts; one part is simple update/note of my current life events since the last time I updated on either of my blogs; another is a reflection; lastly (or perhaps just somewhere, or maybe no where) I hope to make conclusions that I can support enough to turn into action. Additionally, if you don’t want to read about my boring life but you’re interested in my potential reflections/thoughts, skip down to where it says “Reflect on your actions…” which is past all the pictures. d=
Life by the weekends
I last posted something last week Monday to my old blog, so since then I’ve mostly forgotten a lot of the stuff I did during the week days after work sadly. I did, however, receive my new laptop! It came in about 3 boxes and then some, but it’s actually quite nice. So long as the long haul it works alright, we won’t have problems. I (not that) surprisingly do actually quite enjoy Windows 8. I know there are a lot of people who don’t like it, losing the home button, having a weird home splash screen that is heavily touch dependent, et cetera, but honestly if you have a laptop (or desktop screen) that has touch capacities, it really isn’t that bad. I don’t treat it as a tablet, I treat it as a laptop that I can also utilize by touching my screen in addition to the normal mouse/keyboard/touch pad for navigation. As I thought from looking at commercials, it is much more, for a lack of a better word, fun than you would imagine. Perhaps not as intuitive in some ways, and yes I do have some qualms about it all (and some qualms with my laptop specifically), but nothing I can’t manage as I would a normal laptop. It has a desktop function that basically, minus the home button and the way to search for applications, works as any normal desktop. I’m not sure if this is my laptop specific but the photo viewer is a bit annoying since it doesn’t stay within the desktop (though you possibly can choose just to open with a different type of photo browser) as with some other applications that work independent of the desktop, but still it’s really not that bad. I can split my screen 1/4-3/4 ways to potentially work on two different things at the same time (not for everything, but for some), and the beats audio system, though still laptop speakers, is a nice feature. Plus now I have a bit more laptop space (500GB, old one only had 100 GB). Eventually I’ll have it more customized to all my needs, but it’s a slow download/transfer process. Overall? I like my new laptop and I enjoy windows 8 on it. I’d be fine with 7 as well on it, but I don’t have any issues with 8 and I actually find it kind of fun.
The box inside the shipping box
opening the box, it had a handle!
third box inside the handle box, which also had a handle hahaha
The laptop (you can’t really see it) & the bag with the power cord)
sorry it’s blurry, but the sleeve it comes in
opening it up!
the shell/top case, it’s fairly pretty and thin.
I added a matte screen protector ($5) because I didn’t want to keep wiping off my finger prints all the time, but unfortunately the screen protector had a small dent that is a bubble and its semi in the middle of the screen, so sometimes, more often than I’d like, I notice it. Couple other bubbles since I suck at putting screen protectors on and for a laptop of this size it was even harder, but those don’t bother me as much since they’re lower down where I don’t normally look. As I was trying to put the screen protector on, a bunch of dust and particles kept getting on the protector inside itself. After 45 minutes of struggle and hassle, I finally got creative and used a lint roller to get rid of pretty much all the crap and then put it on. Lint rolls for the win! :) Seriously, it worked wonders! I only wish I had used it much earlier than I did, it would have saved me at least 30 minutes (which, since I did it this past Sunday after coming back around 11:20 PM from Austin, would have been quite nice). Overall, I like the laptop. It is fairly sensitive to my touch (pad and screen, though with the protector not as much anymore), the keyboard it a bit spacey but I’ll get used to it, it has a lock touch pad if I don’t want to be typing and accidentally brush over it, moving where I’m typing. The right shift key (the only one I really use of the shift keys) has been kind of iffy or I’m not pushing down on it hard enough as I type fast, and it can heat up a bit since the vent is on the bottom, but still I like it. It looks bigger than 15.6″, but still fairly light and incredibly thin. Good purchase I think.
Oh, Monday night last week I did go to Olive Garden. It’d been at least over a year (possibly two) since I’d last gone, but it was nice to just eat with some friends and then later hang out at Yang’s. Also, Thursday K&I went to Richardson to eat with E&S at King’s Noodle. Beef noodles & mango shaved ice! Too bad their shaved ice has (once again?) gotten smaller, but it was still delicious! The best you’ll get around DFW probably (and somewhat sadly). We were going to play with Meeko after at S’s house, but since it was already somewhat late when we ended (8:30) and I still had to pack for my weekend trip to Austin, I decided to head back. Made a stop at A+A’s house just to let my brother check out the laptop a bit, but otherwise dropped K off and then went home and packed. Couldn’t decide what to bring for a bit, the same feeling that I didn’t have the proper clothing for a night out around town (or 6th street, in this case), but I managed to accept a couple of outfits.
Friday I actually arrived at work 30 minutes early (8:30), which was nice since I was leaving a bit before 1 PM to meet up at Yang’s. I spent the whole time at work trying to not be too distractedly writing my work blog. Normally I can stretch the blog to take me the whole day (unintentionally, of course), so that I had to be done by 1 PM and preferably before then was a bit rushed-feeling to me. After that, picked up Bethany’s (called to-go order in) and met K at Yang’s, who has still showering when I arrived. We ate a bit and left around 1:30 for Austin in Yang’s old Camry (not his new car). The drive down was entertaining a bit, which was necessary since we consistently hit traffic. It was as if it was following us, super spotty so even when we did get out of the traffic area pretty soon after we would be back in traffic. Also, Hagrid was being pretty whiny at first, needing a lot of water, so he had a wonderful time licking water out of a tilted water bottle and getting water all around where he was drinking. He also couldn’t settle. He’d sit on Yang’s lap for 10 minutes and then have to travel between me and K, staying 10 seconds with us each, until he eventually went back to Yang and repeated the pattern. It made for an interesting and not so restful car ride there. Additionally I had to use the bathroom for about 3 of those hours in the car (we arrived at our destination, Kao’s place, at 7PM, though we made a stop at Angel’s Donuts around 6:20 first). We chilled a bit before heading out to Tatsuya, a ramen shop, which was pretty awesome. Definitely some legit ramen, though I did enjoy the one I had in actual Japan more (duh!). I half wish Arlington/DFW had one, but if it did, I would lose so much money (and health) to that place, so it’s probably best that it’s a once in a few months or so occurrence. Still, delicious and quite satisfying.

Hagrid looking cute in the car

Angel’s Donut Shop

Cake balls from Angel’s

K’s maple bacon donut from angel’s

Tatsuya food selection board

My tonkatsu original ramen!
After that, we went back to Kao’s and ended up playing The Settler’s of Catan. BJH joined us (after his 7 PM pub crawl haha) and eventually L did too, with Brian WHO IS ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE AND RIDICULOUSLY CUTE! The first Catan board we used the expansion to have 5-6 players, and BJH won. Because only three 7’s were rolled that game, Kao & Yang decided to do shots every time someone rolled a 7 next game. We did teams the second game (so only 4 players) and they took one double shot to start the game off. I was third to roll, rolled 7, shot, Yang rolled last, rolled 7, shot. Yeah, so not even 5 minutes in and they’re 6 shots in. They quickly re-evaluated the rules to when one of them/team rolls a 7 they would take a shot. Yang tried to “play the dice” by putting it on 7’s before he rolled, it “worked” the first time, but after that it didn’t hahaha. Regardless, both got extra drunk which was hilarious. Kao kept trying to say he was okay for awhile, but eventually his head was down, after attempting one time on his/K’s turn to do some stuff and spending 15 minutes (or whatever) on his turn (K didn’t even realize it was still their turn!). Slurring, Yang actually being touchy, yeah it was funny. Eventually I ended the game by taking longest road just so that the game would end and we could attempt to put Kao to bed because he was super gone. He spent most of his time in the bathroom near the toilet. Yang was with him for a bit of it, but he left to Donald’s house eventually since Hagrid couldn’t stay at Kao’s (too loud of a dog), and BJH also left. We chatted a bit about work stuff before that. Took a crazy amount of pictures of Brian! :D

Brian!

He’s such a cutie.

Super photogenic too

I didn’t actually take this one, but it’s so cute! (Y sent it to me)

Brian should come to Arlington and live here. I’ll give you Tenshi….
But eventually L+Brian left. Also! While Hagrid was here, he pooped in front of H.Pham’s bathroom on the tile/mat, and then later Brian pooped in her actual room while exploring! It was a very dog pooping inside day unfortunately. We (K+H+myself) tried to get Kao to his bed and half succeeded twice (he was at his chair near his bed once but then felt like he needed to be near the toilet still) and the second time he made it to his hammock (which we tried to get him to his actual bed but he settled for his hammock) and the swinging most likely caused him to feel the need to throw up again (which he threw up his water consequently) and he just chilled there the rest of the night. The most we were able to get him to do was sit on the ground near the toilet rather than hunch over while sitting on the tub side. Eventually he did make it to bed for about two hours of sleep before all of us woke up (around 10 or 11 AM).
Saturday we went to Gourdough’s Public House for lunch. It was actually pretty busy and my first time at their public house, but still donut filled (burgers, etc) and delicious (and fattening, probably). I shared the Double D’s with K (Angus beef, blue cheese, fried egg, and bacon between a donut, onions taken out) which was amazing, and then we shared a Strawberry Nutella Donut. H+Kao had basically a chicken and “waffle” (donut) brunch meal and shared basically a cinnabon donut. All delicious. :) We then went to Sugar Mama’s for some cupcakes because they often sell out fast. Us girls got one each since we already still had cake balls from Angel’s leftover still.

Chicken&Waffle-like donut

Double D’s burger

Cinnabon-like dessert donut

Strawberry Nutella donut

Sugar Mama’s

Cupcakes from Sugar Mama’s, I got the one with chocolate frosting on top :)
After that, we went back to the apt since H wasn’t going to join us on our Austin tour (had to do stuff), so we chilled a bit (food coma!) and then eventually made our way out to the Castle hill Graffiti wall first. Ran into PChen there with his family! It was quite a nice surprise. We ended up staying at the graffiti wall for a fair amount of time in the blistering heat and taking quite a bit of pictures. Totally was not prepared shoes-wise for the place though. It was pretty high up but the “pathway” was fairly sandy so going up was freaky and going down was worse. Seriously was holding onto the wall whenever I could so I would have less of a chance to fall down from the steep hill. Anyhow, after taking a crazy amount of pictures at the graffiti wall, we went to the Cathedral of Junk. It was cooler and different than what I thought it would be, given that it was in some guy’s backyard about a collection of junk haha. Guess I didn’t imagine there to be some sort of actual display, but just a bunch of junk scattered around with no real sense (but there kind of was some, kind of). There were some people shooting a movie or attempting to or something, of which some of them were just waiting around getting high too. We spent maybe 30 or so minutes there before going to SoCo just to check it out. Lucked with some parking fortunately and bought a couple of water bottles since we were pretty thirsty/dehydrated from all of the time we’d been in the heat/sun for the afternoon (high was 97 on Saturday, so you can imagine). SoCo was cool in its own ways, but I guess if you’re not actually looking to buy anything can be a bit less exciting, but still a good experience and nice to now have some sort of understanding when people mention it.
There are a lot of graffiti pictures, so here are just a few of them that I really liked. Some photo credits to J for the one I clearly didn’t take since I’m in it. :)
Herrooo?
Oh yeah! Champ.
News Team Assemble!
Nyan cat!
Kind of a big view of some of the graffiti and how big the place is
The door to Wonderland?
SHARK ATTACK GRAWR
I (strangely?) really liked this one…
Hi!
There was actually a really good view from up to the walls… well, minus how hazy/dusty it is
Cathedral of Junk photos were also many, so I picked a select few that capture it best, or well the ones I liked the most.
I loudly whispered to a car as we were leaving about how there’s a sign here… hehe they moved, whether ’cause of the sign of ’cause they heard me.
someone collected junk electronics!
the cathedral?
I think I see a theme here…
who can guess this song and artist? :)
time for the band!…?
I do love my bottles
peek a boo! Hiii!
I had to crane around so that I could get this properly.. ;)
another cathedral pic, or something…
play with xbox, no?
if not me, then who?
pretty blue bottles. I’d collect them too. :)
Las VEGAS, Texas! In Austin
Skylight cathedral
The drum had the story to the cathedral on it. I got lazy to read and just took a picture to read it later :D
We returned after checking out a couple of vintage-y shops, a candy shop, and some stands/stalls selling stuff. Grabbed some snow cones with H tagging along at Kasey’s (not sure if that’s how it’s spelled), which were super filled with syrup and had interesting compact ice. They were nicely welcomed to the hot day though, even though by the time we got them it wasn’t as bad of a day. Returned to the apartment with them and just chilled out trying to decide where to eat at for dinner. Eventually we just chowed down on H’s egg noodle casserole thing plus the leftover popcorn chicken fried rice K & I had from Bethany’s on Friday that traveled down with us. I ate my cupcake which was pretty good. Oh, after snow cones L. Twu joined us for chilling, eating dinner, and getting ready for the night out. We grabbed some coffee at a nearby place (Kao & I shared a cup) so we’d be awake for the night, and got ready at the apartment. BJH was suppose to meet up with us but while he was with C.Chen/etc he got too drunk to go out so he bailed. There was a bit of waiting around trying to figure out where to pre-game at so we wouldn’t have to buy too many drinks out on 6th, but eventually we just ended up going to the GB party at D’s apartment since the other place we originally were trying for (Ken’s apt), the guy was still watching commencement fireworks and wouldn’t be back until 11:45 and that was too late for us. Before we left though we finished off the Svedka (which burned and was disgusting, don’t know how I drank that much of it the time before with my friends in college) with each of us (Kao, H & I) taking a shot. At the GB apt I took a shot of tequila and then also had a shot of flavored Smirnoff vodka. Headed to 6th, searched a bit to get to the parking spot Kao knew about, and then met up with L/her friends which included Stephen He (surprise meet), John Sim (first meet), and Andrew something (first meet) at Iron Cactus. Had some of L’s drink as well as Kao’s (same thing, margarita I think? some strong alcohol in there), and then we proceeded to Buckshots where He knew the owner or something and so we bypassed the line and went through the back door. Had two shots there, both fairly gross and I think I didn’t finish about 1/4 of the last one and gave it to Kao ’cause it bluurrghh (gross to the point of wanting to throw up from taste) for me, and then we ended up going to the Library. Met up with C.Chen there who also had B.Mei & J.Chien with him. I think originally we were going to get a shot but it was too annoying to get to the bar so we left. Group split with L/He/etc going back to Buckshots I think and the rest of us (Kao, H, K, myself) going to Cheers with C.Chen/group. Had two shots there and also met up with/saw K. Chan + his friend Andy, who is friends with another Andy who is boyfriend to high school friend Ellen! Super surprise meet up there and crazy connections! After that it was about 1:40 or 1:50 by then so we headed to the final destination (Latitude, though we never ended up going in actually hahaha). I actually walked out a bit earlier than everyone else because I was saying later to some people and then couldn’t get back in since it was close up time but others ended up coming out soon enough anyhow. Met up with Y and Yang outside chilling, also saw E.Lai who came down with C.Chen. Regrouped and headed back to the cars. As we were heading to Sim’s apt He tried to pass me gum, throwing the first piece past me into the car through the window and the second stopping short. Eventually he just threw the whole gum box so I/we could grab some. Parked and met up at Sim’s apt where we were listening to Daft Punk’s newest album and chilling. Jandy+some other girls met up with us there then too. Jandy ruined the “Lose Yourself to Dance” song though for everyone when she finally spilled what she thought it was saying something along the lines of suck your own dick or something. Now everyone just thinks of that instead of the actual lyrics sadly, even though the words are not similar at all. Eventually called it a night once He+Andrew+L fell asleep on Sim’s beds, leaving no space for him, so he came with us back to Kao’s around 6 AM. Crashed and woke up with K rolling on top of me around 11 AM (she’d been up since 10). We chilled a bit, packed up and got ready for the day, communicating and deciding with others on where to eat (Juan in a Million). Met up with everyone from last night basically and BJH as well. K & I split the food, ordered a to-go one for Yang who was still sleeping/at D’s, and chilled and talked there. Eventually went back to Kao’s to get our stuff and kill time at Sim’s because Yang had to do some errands with D.Tran and Kao’s dad was here. We were chilling for a bit together, eventually splitting out with K+Sim chilling in the living room area, BJH + I in the bedroom chatting as L slept. L eventually went to the 360 bridge, meeting up with He/etc. K & I just chilled around for a real long time until a bit before 8 PM wondering where the heck Yang was/what he was doing. I gave him a call, finding out he had attempted to text K twice, one hour apart from the first which was a response to her last text around 4 PM. He had also been waiting for us, thinking maybe we had just left without him (stupid). So yeah, D.Tran met up with us at Sim’s since he was on the way/nearby and we finally were on our way. BJH left on his bike and we said farewell to Sim as well. Hagrid was much more calmer and better on the car ride back and there was no traffic the way back, so that was really nice. K (possibly) napped in the back and Yang drove, with one pit stop for gas. Of course, he had to do a U-ey basically at one point where he was suppose to go straight but took a right to go the way BACK to Austin (stupid).
Eventually we made it back around 11 PM to Yang’s. I got my laptop (left it in his room) and headed home. After showering/getting ready for bed, I spent an hour at least trying to put my screen protector on since it had arrived, got a phone call from a super drunk/wasted Jeffkins from C.Chen’s phone (where the conversation centered around him asking questions like how I was, if I was at home/Dallas, wish he could have seen me, etc, without him actually ever hearing my answers as he kept saying hello? hello? as if he wasn’t sure if I was still on the line), and then eventually passed out around 1:30 so I could wake up for work. Got out of bed at 8:25 AM and somehow got ready, in my very not there & tired state, the fastest I’ve ever done given that I got out of bed at 8:25. When I manually unlocked my car to go to work I closed the door with the key still in the outside lock… And while I was at work I sent a message to a group and fifteen seconds later questioned whether I had done it or not… Yeah, my brain was not completely there. After work, I FT Kimzey, wishing him a Happy Birthday, did P90X Cardio as my mom prepped some dinner (she had returned by then, around 7:20 PM).
And now today I’m fairly sore, especially the shoulder/arms area. Legs not so much at all really. I’m hoping I get back my flexibility a bit more, and maybe eventually become more flexible! And so far at work, besides my short meeting with my boss where he loaded more stuff onto me, I’ve been writing this (and I’m only done with the recap of events!). Seriously need to buy an HDMI cable for work so that I can use it at work… Also trying to figure out where to eat for dinner since mom leaves tomorrow for Taiwan. Additionally, mom came to visit at work! And by that I mean she wanted her car back so came to switch keys. Yeah, that was awkward, but whatever.
Anyhow! Plans to hopefully watch Star Trek on Wednesday at 7 PM I think. Seriously need to watch The Great Gatsby, but I guess I’ll have to find the time. Already my weekends are booked up until mid-late June, so I guess we’ll see.
Reflect on your actions, and learn? Hopefully.
As for the actual note that is more related to my post, it’s been a year since graduating from Emory. Man, a year doesn’t really seem like that long and yet given how long it sometimes takes for things to change it can be seen as long or short. It seems as though I haven’t set out to accomplish what I hoped to since then really, but then again I’m not sure if what I wanted was/is really achievable in a year. Have I grown much since then? Or even a few years since? Yes, for sure I have. I have learned more than I would think to admit, especially because I can recognize how little I do actually know. I started this job at VRBA about 6 months ago now, and still I feel as if I’m doing things I could have been doing when I first started out doing, which is partially true but also partially not true. I know I have more knowledge than I did before, and ultimately what I wanted when I graduated was to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, to possibly find something I’m passionate about, or something I know I won’t go crazy doing for the rest of my life. Have I found that job/route yet? I’m not sure. I guess in some ways I always thought maybe I would take a few jobs, try a few things, and then settle. Yet in ways, I don’t think I wanted to be going to graduate school when I’m 26 or 27 for the first time, I still want to do it when I’m a bit younger (23-25), so that I have more of my life later to be doing other things. And yet, I want kids and a family and everything before I’m in my 30s as well simply so I’m not still raising a dependent child into my 50s… I don’t know, maybe I should worry less about time and just focus more on the things at hand, at just working towards my goals, not worrying at what speed I actually achieve them.
A year later from graduation, and I’m still not much closer to figuring out what I want to do with my life. But maybe that’s okay, and maybe I just need to stop thinking about the future, about what I want later in life or what I feel as if I need to be doing before I’m X age or how fast I need to achieve things, and just achieve. Just live life as it comes and find/do the things I want to do, and everything else will happen on its own when it does. I’ve grown to live by expectation, pressured from my surroundings, societal, parental, friends, etc, and mainly myself, and perhaps because of it, I’m trying to force something that shouldn’t be forced. Trying to force furthering my education, trying to force figuring out my destined path, trying to force myself to decide my future now, when the future has never been something you can really decide. It just happens, sometimes by your planning, and sometimes despite all planning it doesn’t happen. Maybe I should just live my living, and worry about everything else-well-maybe I shouldn’t worry about everything else. Just let it be.
I feel as though I had more to say, in fact I know I did, but given the length it took for me to complete this post (as I’ve been writing basically since this morning when I got to work), I have somewhat lost my thoughts. Perhaps I will write a post dedicated to thoughts alone later. In fact, I am beginning to think I’m about to switch to a more thoughts-based posting here anyhow, and dedicate my more detailed life events to private posts. After all, my purpose to write them is really for my own record-keeping, and not so everyone in the world can see what I’m up to all the time (why would you want to do that and learn it through my blog if you did want to know anyways? Haha). So maybe I will make a change to my posting strategies.
Additionally, I mentioned it before, but my weight has gotten a little out of control as of late. I don’t think I’m fat, I just don’t like how much weight I have gained even if I have the room for it. My shorts don’t fit as nicely as before, and I do not want to buy a new wardrobe just because I’ve gained some mass (muscle or fat). So! I’ve decided to hopefully take some precautionary steps by decreasing my intake overall, except at times with friends, for I’m not going to sacrifice my social life for my diet though perhaps maybe control it a little more, and start a more dedicated exercising pattern. I’m thinking I’ll go back to Cardio X, because it gives me flexibility as well as helps me maintain weight loss for a bit, especially since I am the current weight that I am. I will possibly also switch around my exercise regiment as well, including some running or weight lifting or what nots rather than JUST Cardio X. Either way, let’s hope I get the fitness and diet I can maintain, because I don’t want to forever be gaining and losing and gaining and losing, but rather a maintaining kind of lifestyle would be better.
I also think, despite how this looks since I’ve spent all day at work not doing any work really, I need to get more serious about doing my work. I guess I just feel as if I’m not actually achieving what I set out to do because I’m being lazy and feeling as if I don’t want to do it. Well few people WANT to work if given a choice, and while I like being active, I need to motivate myself to actually do what needs to be done sometimes, because there is a sense of reward, accomplishment, and satisfaction/happiness when I complete my work and do a good job at it (hopefully). I don’t want to just waste my time, and while I don’t think all my distractions are necessarily a waste of time, I am in some ways just killing time sometimes. So hopefully I can start to get a bit more proactive about my learning time here and actually do some work. Who knows, maybe tomorrow will be like today, full of not working. But maybe not.
Additionally, after talking with BJH I want to once again put a pause on clothing shopping for the most. I know I have plenty and that I don’t really need more, even when I feel as if I don’t have anything to wear for specific events/occasions/times. I really don’t need them, so just don’t buy them. There are some other things I still want to buy that may not be necessary either, but they’re more purposeful than new clothes. I have enough clothes.
Let’s see how long this lasts… Hahahahah. Either way, I guess I’m hoping to grow a little, and to do that I have to take the first step. So let’s welcome the future to the present, let’s make what’s now important, and let’s try to exercise some self control a bit better. Cheers to everyone who graduated, and I hope you go wherever you want to go.
Also, if the formatting is weird for this post I apologize, for some reason when I copy+pasted my post (I write it in notepad first), it formatted weirdly and had a bunch of breaks based on the notepad’s size even though it shouldn’t have… Sorry! Hope you enjoyed reading.
/end.