Dec 21st 2009 Day 8

Apologies for my infrequent blog entries.

It's interesting how time flies when you're on break. You think you'll have plenty of time to do what you want but find that you either squander the time or spend so much doing one task that multi-tasking is rendered ineffective. Like helping Mom bake persimmon cookies and fighting over how much cups of sugar to use and duhhdah^3.

SO I did some errands with my mom. We braved the heavy downpour and I stayed in. Well, we stopped by the library to drop off some dvds, only to find that I borrowed more. I got caprica, the new mini-series prequel to ronald moore's reimagined bsg and also bryan singer's "the usual suspects"

Just saw ordinary people last night; very touching and sentimental film. I think coping with the grief of the lost of a loved on has helped me value this film as a gem. That "messes" happen and you can't just pick up the pieces, clean up and move on. You take that pain with you but find the strength, courage and hope that life is precious and all worth holding onto despite all the "normal" stuff going on.

I guess that's how nostalgia is like a pain in your gut that won't go away. Like overstuffing yourself and hoping that one glass of barq's root beer at the all you can eat buffet can push down all the food you've just eaten in the last twenty mins from the sashimi to the sweet and sour pork.

(that's another story to be told at another time/if you're interested in hearing about it, talk to me.)

Well, a well-made film. Always appreciate dramas from time to time that don't involve love stories, babies switched at birth, far too many subplots and forbidden love (ok, so basically I outlined every sappy east asian melodrama, sorry to spoil the fun...)

Ok, so this is my second cup of tea and I better end here lest I slack off and not work on crammin for my us constitution test.

Day One of Break

December 14, 2009

For my own memory which is horrible, I pledge to keep a record of this break in the form of a journal.

First off, I woke up late. I knew I had to wake up earlier and observe a classroom, but I decided to rest for a few mins. What happens in a few mins became a half hour. Way late.

I rush into my car, steep some strong green tea and I grab some quick breakfast at a burger king drive thru. fast food, ugh, but its food.

With the smell of grease permeating the interior of my P.O.C. (piece of crap) car, I am lost in the web of freeway overpasses and strip malls. It's Story and King and I think I'm in Little Saigon. I finally realize that I missed the street sign, hidden by the glare of the bright afterrain sun and I make a left turn.
I'm in the classroom, my pen in hand cradling my notepad. My friend teacher's trying to appeal to her student's common interest by relating a letter to a teacher as a form of setting lifelong goals.

Such a uplifting story, to share how as a high schooler she had high aspirations and looking back after college and receiving that letter written a long time ago, like a time capsule, everything seemed to fit and work itself out. Ah, the joy of teaching....

Ok, I'm running some errands, spend a great deal of time shopping for a USB/AC power outlet adaptor. I'm home, slurping on my mom's noodles and chomping on wontons submerged ina light chicken stock and I'm watching Spike Lee's "When The Levees Broke" and it brings me to tears.

My mom returns, and I retire to my room, set on working on the household finances. I work on em some more, dinner arrives. Some friends are leaving out of the country, I hand them a Xmas present and bid them safe journey. Order a few things on Amazon, listen to my podcasts, twittle my thumbs for a bit and here I am.

Another unproductive winter day.

End of day one. 37 outta 38 days left of break...