this is the real me.
look at my teeth :D
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
mute commute
you may be surprised, but one of my favorite parts of my usual work day is the 1.5 hr commute going to work. the 1.5 commute coming back isn't as great because i'm tired and hungry. so for most of my 3 hour total commute, i am mute. it's really great. i pass the time in silence and observance [EDIT: the first thing i thought this morning when i walked out the door for work today was that "observance" is not the word i want to use here...it's "observation" HAHAHAHAAA] . and i read a lot.
timeout:
i've read 8 books so far this summer! that's one book a week! holy cow!
if you're bored, read The Hunger Games Trilogy (Susanne Collins), and One Day (David Nicholls).
time-in:
part of my lovely commute is the twenty minute walk from the train station to where i work. it's such a pleasant walk, passing through this beautiful neighborhood in Germantown. there are some really great houses on the street i walk up on.
and then among all these gorgeous mansions, there's this freak on the street:
timeout:
i've read 8 books so far this summer! that's one book a week! holy cow!
if you're bored, read The Hunger Games Trilogy (Susanne Collins), and One Day (David Nicholls).
time-in:
part of my lovely commute is the twenty minute walk from the train station to where i work. it's such a pleasant walk, passing through this beautiful neighborhood in Germantown. there are some really great houses on the street i walk up on.
and then among all these gorgeous mansions, there's this freak on the street:
ehh, you can't really see how scary it looks in this picture. but it looks dreadful in real life! i promise. it looks like THE haunted house everyone pictures on halloween. it's the house that doesn't give out candy. it's where Casper lives. it's where the mean, old spinster lives with her 2985792486729 cats. it's where Jumanji comes to life. it's where the orphans are kept. it's where Frankestein was created. man. this is one scary looking house. i wish you guys could see it.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
this is the right time
and the days just get better. last night, it finally hit me that i'm a college student and i'm filled with bliss being surrounded by others who are just as confused as i am. i like that we're smiling at each other, chasing after words, and trying to mold an explanation, only to throw it in the recycling bin for later use. i'm pretty certain we'll get back to it. all in good time.
i have two bad habits. well, i have more, but i'm willing to admit these two.
1. i crack my knuckles. a lot. especially when i'm concentrating.
2. i daydream constantly.
throughout the whole year thus far, i see many of my past daydreams surfacing into very real moments and this leaves me unbelievably happy for those few moments. then they pass and i relish the bubbly after effects while i wait for the next scene to come. i thank God that they've been coming frequently and consistently. and i pray that they continue coming for just a little longer before the things i dread start creeping their way in.
of course, spending nearly every evening/night this week in the city has only been fueling my new season of daydreaming. the new series often take place in a cozy, run-down apartment located in a back alleyway of an exciting city. preferably Seattle. the apartment building has steel ladders on the side with black paint peeling off. sometimes there's a stench of sewage when i walk outside. there's rubble lying around at the back entrance and across the street, there's construction going on. the windows could do a little washing, but i feel great having the place to myself. i obviously dream big. you know what they say: dream big or go home.
i have two bad habits. well, i have more, but i'm willing to admit these two.
1. i crack my knuckles. a lot. especially when i'm concentrating.
2. i daydream constantly.
throughout the whole year thus far, i see many of my past daydreams surfacing into very real moments and this leaves me unbelievably happy for those few moments. then they pass and i relish the bubbly after effects while i wait for the next scene to come. i thank God that they've been coming frequently and consistently. and i pray that they continue coming for just a little longer before the things i dread start creeping their way in.
of course, spending nearly every evening/night this week in the city has only been fueling my new season of daydreaming. the new series often take place in a cozy, run-down apartment located in a back alleyway of an exciting city. preferably Seattle. the apartment building has steel ladders on the side with black paint peeling off. sometimes there's a stench of sewage when i walk outside. there's rubble lying around at the back entrance and across the street, there's construction going on. the windows could do a little washing, but i feel great having the place to myself. i obviously dream big. you know what they say: dream big or go home.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
youth
be happy young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgement. so then banish all anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor and meaningless...now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
philadelphia
it has recently come to my attention how many people actually read this blog. it's encouraging and a bit embarrassing. i'm also asking myself whether i should censor myself more, or to just make bolder statements. it's making me feel more self conscious. i need to be a little more responsible with what i'm saying. Brian Hyon it's all your fault! i'm totally kidding. i'm flattered that there are random (and not random) people reading my blog. thank you, closet readers!
but BHyon has brought it to my attention that i've been writing with so much anger lately, so i'll switch to a more happier tone, which will be easy because this past week was the best week ever this summer! there were so many good things that happened, the weather was great, and my slimy, arrogant, creepy boss was not there all week!! HIGH FIVE. but we will be ending on a rather depressing note.
but BHyon has brought it to my attention that i've been writing with so much anger lately, so i'll switch to a more happier tone, which will be easy because this past week was the best week ever this summer! there were so many good things that happened, the weather was great, and my slimy, arrogant, creepy boss was not there all week!! HIGH FIVE. but we will be ending on a rather depressing note.
how can you not be happy when
you have clouds like this all week??
top events of the week:
1. the week started out with a great previous weekend at the beach with my lovely girls who graduated <3
1. the week started out with a great previous weekend at the beach with my lovely girls who graduated <3
New Jersey Beach, i don't care how much crap you
get from people. i will always love you and the unflattering
bodies (including mine) that inhabit your sandy shore :)
2. i got my ears pierced. shhhh don't tell my parents. tee heeee :3
3. i helped a camp across the street from where i work install their adorable, colorful Painting and Sculpture Garden. these kids, mostly from lower income families, have so much spunk! i wish i had more time to spend with them. the camp was called Artology because their curriculum connects Art with Science. SO CUTE.
4. a couple weeks ago, i came up with an idea to curate a mini-exhibit in an empty room we have in our mansion at work. since my organization is underfunded and dirt poor, we had no money to carry out my idea. so i took a gamble and wrote a grant proposal. and guess what? I GOT THE GRANT! so i have $1000 from the National Trust of Historic Sites to curate my own exhibition! this is really exciting and i'll definitely be busy these next few weeks because i'm literally curating this by myself!
5. HARRY POTTER. my childhood has officially come to a close. this is so depressing! i want to read the books all over just so i can pretend i'm still in high school...
6. a day at Wissahickon Valley Park with friends. we waded across a stream. i pretended i was Pocahontas.
other things on my mind:
everyday when i take the train to work, i pass through North Philadelphia. this region of the city looks like a scene straight out of the movie, I Am Legend. vines crawl around the rotting carcasses of abandoned buildings. once in a while you see dinosaur-like tractors and cranes devour bricks and steel. it's haunting and incredibly frightening how empty the view from my window is for about 15 minutes. a couple days ago, i had to walk around the desert like streets when i was running an errand for work and never in my life have i been so nervous walking around in broad daylight. how can we heal Philadelphia? how do we prevent blight? how did this happen here?
other things on my mind:
everyday when i take the train to work, i pass through North Philadelphia. this region of the city looks like a scene straight out of the movie, I Am Legend. vines crawl around the rotting carcasses of abandoned buildings. once in a while you see dinosaur-like tractors and cranes devour bricks and steel. it's haunting and incredibly frightening how empty the view from my window is for about 15 minutes. a couple days ago, i had to walk around the desert like streets when i was running an errand for work and never in my life have i been so nervous walking around in broad daylight. how can we heal Philadelphia? how do we prevent blight? how did this happen here?
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
uhMERikuh
despite how unflattering the people are, how poorly the people present themselves to the world, and how stupid the people can be, it is still great to be American. i love this country and i really feel blessed to have been born in the US of A.
BUT OH MY GOSHHHHH @$%&#*&$#%# how amazingly arrogant/stupid/idiotic/rude/ignorant American Men can be.
story time.
while the average American sleeps in on the 4th of July, and lazily starts up a BBQ in their oversized backyard, i had to get up early and go to work because i work at an underfunded historical landmark. old, patriotic Americans in Philadelphia like to come to Germantown to hear the bells being rung 235 times (marking each year since the signing of the Declaration of Independence) and to hear the Declaration of Independence being read dramatically. they also pretend that they understand their country's history and take tours around town. but i digress--let me tell you about two assholes i encountered while working on July 4th.
imagine a typical overweight American man, short and middle-aged. of course, he's wearing a hideously over worn t-shirt that barely covers his frighteningly large belly. he comes in and starts acting like he knows his history, talking about the Battle of Germantown that took place where i work. he obviously assumes i'm another visitor waiting for the tour to begin. so he starts talking, acting like he knew what he was talking about.
man: do you know anything about the battle that took place here, young lady? it was one hell of a bloody battle with thousands of Americans dead. they fought for our country!"
(in my head): ermm...nope. wrong. there were only about 60 Americans who died here...but yeah, i'll ignore that you missed the number of casualties by a mile because i know you want to look patriotic right now.
me, in reality: *silence + a judging nod*
man: so where's the tour guide?
me: i'm giving your tour.
man: *startled + condescending voice* and how do YOU know so much about our country's history, young lady? did you come here to be a history major?
(in my head): i don't want to give this tour. i'm gonna find someone else to take care of this one...
me, in reality: no. i was born in philly. and no, i'm studying politics. i just really like history. *i walk away*
when i think about it, this encounter really wasn't that bad. and i'm a little surprised it pissed me off so much. but my next encounter was disgusting.
enter, old mad looking man. you can tell he's not all there, mentally...
old man: *stops and stares at me* are you japanese?
me: no, i'm korean.
old man: oriental women are so beautiful.
me: thank you.
old man: you look like you're chinese!
me: nope. i'm korean.
(in my head): go join the fucking tour group and stop talking to me.
old man: have you ever tried sake? i really love it.
me: no. i've never tried sake before.
old man: are you sure you're not japanese? not even the slightest bit?
me: no.
old man: you would make a beautiful geisha.
me: *stare + pause + pissed off* you should leave now.
so yeah. happy birthday, america. you're a really great country and i actually enjoy reading and learning about your history, but you sure do have a lot of people to be embarrassed about.
despite these upsetting moments, the weekend was great! birthday brunches and a night with seats to see The Roots, Sarah Bareilles, Earth Wind & Fire, Michael McDonald, Boyz II Men, and DJ Jazzy Jeff in concert!!
BUT OH MY GOSHHHHH @$%&#*&$#%# how amazingly arrogant/stupid/idiotic/rude/ignorant American Men can be.
story time.
while the average American sleeps in on the 4th of July, and lazily starts up a BBQ in their oversized backyard, i had to get up early and go to work because i work at an underfunded historical landmark. old, patriotic Americans in Philadelphia like to come to Germantown to hear the bells being rung 235 times (marking each year since the signing of the Declaration of Independence) and to hear the Declaration of Independence being read dramatically. they also pretend that they understand their country's history and take tours around town. but i digress--let me tell you about two assholes i encountered while working on July 4th.
imagine a typical overweight American man, short and middle-aged. of course, he's wearing a hideously over worn t-shirt that barely covers his frighteningly large belly. he comes in and starts acting like he knows his history, talking about the Battle of Germantown that took place where i work. he obviously assumes i'm another visitor waiting for the tour to begin. so he starts talking, acting like he knew what he was talking about.
man: do you know anything about the battle that took place here, young lady? it was one hell of a bloody battle with thousands of Americans dead. they fought for our country!"
(in my head): ermm...nope. wrong. there were only about 60 Americans who died here...but yeah, i'll ignore that you missed the number of casualties by a mile because i know you want to look patriotic right now.
me, in reality: *silence + a judging nod*
man: so where's the tour guide?
me: i'm giving your tour.
man: *startled + condescending voice* and how do YOU know so much about our country's history, young lady? did you come here to be a history major?
(in my head): i don't want to give this tour. i'm gonna find someone else to take care of this one...
me, in reality: no. i was born in philly. and no, i'm studying politics. i just really like history. *i walk away*
when i think about it, this encounter really wasn't that bad. and i'm a little surprised it pissed me off so much. but my next encounter was disgusting.
enter, old mad looking man. you can tell he's not all there, mentally...
old man: *stops and stares at me* are you japanese?
me: no, i'm korean.
old man: oriental women are so beautiful.
me: thank you.
old man: you look like you're chinese!
me: nope. i'm korean.
(in my head): go join the fucking tour group and stop talking to me.
old man: have you ever tried sake? i really love it.
me: no. i've never tried sake before.
old man: are you sure you're not japanese? not even the slightest bit?
me: no.
old man: you would make a beautiful geisha.
me: *stare + pause + pissed off* you should leave now.
so yeah. happy birthday, america. you're a really great country and i actually enjoy reading and learning about your history, but you sure do have a lot of people to be embarrassed about.
despite these upsetting moments, the weekend was great! birthday brunches and a night with seats to see The Roots, Sarah Bareilles, Earth Wind & Fire, Michael McDonald, Boyz II Men, and DJ Jazzy Jeff in concert!!
i arranged the fruit!! aren't they purrddyyy :)
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