Is it November already? Where has the months gone? Where has the year gone? Continue reading “Hello November!”
Tag: Lookback
Cheating
In 6th grade, I thought I was wrongly accused of cheating on a spelling test. Continue reading “Cheating”
Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge
Another round of Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge. Thank you, Cee’s for making me a Featured Blogger this week. I discovered I have a lot of which way photos in my archive. So… Continue reading “Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge”
Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge
This is my first time participating the newly-revived challenge. Last week, I was more or less beat from school and work. I’m new at this. So if I didn’t do it, right, please excuse me, I’m still learning. Continue reading “Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge”
Writing 101: Your Voice Will Find You
Writing 101: Size Matters (In Sentences)
This was me when I was 11. I couldn’t find pictures of when I was 12. So I thought, this is just as close. Continue reading “Writing 101: Size Matters (In Sentences)”
Writing 101: Serially Lost
When the assignment said to write about loss, I seriously couldn’t think of a thing. I was going to go full fiction but something came to me at the last second. I hope this is not too sad. Thanks for reading. Continue reading “Writing 101: Serially Lost”
Writing 101: Commit to Writing Practice
It took me two days but I finally come up with three songs. These three songs are not the most important, as stated in the exercise but they do have significant importance. Continue reading “Writing 101: Commit to Writing Practice”
Welcome to My Ever-changing Hometown
Today’s prompt is kind of a tricky one to write. Continue reading “Welcome to My Ever-changing Hometown”
To you…
Today is Valentine’s Day and my cousin’s birthday, not the pain in the a– cousin. I probably should send him a birthday card, after all, it’s not everyday one gets to turn 19. Continue reading “To you…”
Favorite Inventions
“That’s the best thing since sliced bread!” I’ve been wondering what this phrase mean all morning. I have never heard this phrase before, how interesting. In the end, I managed to google it and found a site that will explain the phrase to people like me.
I grew up in the 90’s and surprisingly, I didn’t start to use a computer until the early 2000’s. Before that, it was just my cousin who knew how to use the computer, not me. In my mind, I’d thought it was a complicated object that hardly serve a purpose. I mean, the internet took forever to connect (dial-up) and once it got connected, there’s a timer limiting our access plus, we can’t use the phone while we surfed the web.
It wasn’t until the DSL age and my school started to grow dependent on the computer that I finally discovered its true use of a computer and I have to say, it is the best thing since sliced bread.
Another thing that I think it’s the best thing since sliced bread is the e-reader. I hated reading books. For one thing, my hands sweat a lot and make the books wet and the other down thing about reading a hard copy is that I need light. There is no way I can read anything in the dark.
Well, now I can. I have a kindle app on my tablet and it provides all the light I need to do some light reading before bed without the need to stumble to switch off the light.
Anyway, those are my two favorite inventions. My other favorite invention that no one uses anymore is the VCR. It helped me to record so much of my favorite shows.
Yuck, No Thanks
About four years ago, I applied for an internship with the city. I remember reading the job description and about a third of a way down, there was a bullet that said the interns are responsible to do routine visit to the sewer pipeline. My skin just started prickling at the words “routing visit”.
I didn’t get the internship probably because of my nervousness and my lack of interviewing skills. Honestly though, the interviewing lady that never smiles will making me anxious. I felt good at the end of the interview but I guess it just wasn’t my destiny to work for the city. I’d tried again two years later, still no luck.
My friend got the internship though but they let her go after a semester. Man, I should’ve asked her, “did you get to look at the sewer?” But it never came up in our conversations.
Anyway, I wouldn’t say I would object if anyone ever needs me to go visit the sewer but I will sure take a lot of precaution (full hazmat suit and everything) because I will never let any skin of mine will ever touch sewage water. But if I have any say in this, no thanks, you can explore the sewage yourself.
Blogging 201: Set Three Goals
I think I should probably say, “Happy 2-year Anniversary!” to this little growing blog of mine. Yup, it was on February 3, 2013 I wrote my first post on here. I think I’ve mentioned this before. Continue reading “Blogging 201: Set Three Goals”
Optimism Backfired
Daily Prompt: Tell us how your week went by putting together a playlist of five songs that represent it.
Five songs? I can’t possibly put together a playlist that represented how my week went. One reason being I do not know a song that truly describes everyday of my week. The other is that I feel terribly embarrassed when it comes to sharing the books I am reading, the 
shows I watch, and the music I like. I’m afraid that if people know I still watch Disney Channel and listen to Disney Kids music (oops), they would laugh at me. Unfortunately, I’ve been watching the mouse network and listening to its music since I’ve arrived in America and I am not going to stop anytime soon.
Anyway, my week had been a total roller coaster, I think. I can’t remember most of it. I remember yesterday though and boy, was I pissed! My mom was urging me to finish the case briefs (which I’ve been doing all week) on the one hand while whining about her job order on the other. I mean how can I possibly concentrate with someone constant shouting and barging in and out my room?
Early yesterday morning, she went to the school to take the first exam for her class. She didn’t come back until around 2 hours later and the second she stepped through the door, she immediately started complaining about the air force dentist extracting two of her molars.
“I didn’t know you were going to the dentist.” I said to her.
“No!” She answered exasperatedly. It turned out her status had been downgrade the day before. She’s in military, you see. Apparently when you’re downgraded, it meant your job was in trouble.
So in order for her to keep her job, she had to get two of her molars extracted at the last second. Ouch!
She told me her molars were rotten, that it was blacker than a plum when they pulled it. Her words, not mine.
The entire afternoon, she was complaining about her toothache. I got to the point that I was so darn frustrated at the sound of her and anyone’s voice. I just want to scream.
Then last night, we attended our last instructor-led training for VITA before I’m set to volunteer next week or maybe even the week after. This morning, we finally got certified to file people’s taxes! I’m so excited!
Oh, I think the biggest thing this week would be today, I have decided to drop my Business Law class. I just cannot handle it. There are just too much homework and with work and volunteering, it’s too overwhelming for me. Also, the teacher is kind of ridiculous. It takes him like a month to answer a single email. And I don’t even think he grade any of my homework!
Yesterday, I got my grade back for my last assignment, he gave me a 50! He said it’s because my assignment had 55% similar when it fact it’s only 16% similar. He looked at my first submission instead of my third. So last night, while I was sleeping restlessly, tossing around thinking of the pile of work I have to do today and I decided. I cannot do it any longer. This simply cannot go on any longer. It’s not really like me but I am giving up.
Two weeks ago, my mom had already asked me to drop and get a full refund but I was too darn optimistic that the class will only get better. Now, I can only get 80% of my money back. Oh well, it’s better than nothing. Ugh, sometimes, I really hate my optimistic spirit.
Oh, and since this prompt is about sharing music, I thought I’d this old favorite of mine. Actually, it’s not that old, I just haven’t listen to it for a long while. Embarrassingly, I have to say it’s teen music, Disney, and kind of hip pop but it’s a positive track unlike most of the music nowadays.
I thought to relive a little of my old simple life, back when I still lived in an apartment and something isn’t constantly needing fixing. As for school, maybe after I dropped my Business Law class, it will free up my time just a little. Then my other classes won’t feel so neglected anymore. I will just have to try again in the fall. I guess just keep moving forward.
The Great Loosening
It reminds me of Fall 2009, just about two months after we moved into our current home. To be honest, I still can’t see why my mom had purchased this house. Of all the houses we looked at, she just had to pick this one.
We spent almost two weeks after moving in painting and cleaning the walls. It was so full of fingerprints and grease that it’s disgusting just to talk about it. We also cleaned every nooks and corners of this house except underneath the range; we didn’t clean that until we replaced the range in 2011. You have no idea what sort of weird objects we found. Currently, the only place remained uncleaned is the deck outside and I don’t ever want to touch that.
Anyway, back to Fall 2009. In our backyard, we have this huge plot of soil.
This wasn’t always like this. Back we moved in, this lied an above ground swimming pool. After the previous owner removed the pool, we were left with this awkward polygon shape plot of soil. My mom thought we’d turn it into a garden except the surface at the time resembled this:
The summer was dry that year, I remember. We didn’t get a lot of rain and every commercial on TV was screaming at us, conserve, don’t water your lawn.
In September or October, we finally got a decent storm and when the storm finally ended, I decided to take a shovel, go out into the backyard and start loosening up the soil. The day was wet and damp but the air felt fresh and breathable for the first time in a while. I set my shovel on the soil and effortlessly lifted it. The top layer resembled mud but the soil was drying up quickly, I had to work fast.
Finally, I managed to get the top soil loosened and then I began digging into the next layer and the next and the next. Of course, my mom came out and helped but after a short time, she gave up and went back into the house, leaving me out there to continue digging.
By the time I completed and went back into the house, it was about 4 or 5 hours later. My whole body ached but when I looked out at the plot of land, I couldn’t help to admire the result of my hard work. It no longer looked like a desert, it looked like a garden.
That year, we planted three plum trees (two on this plot of land and one in the front yard) and two blueberry bushes. The tree in the front yard survived but the two in the back along with the blueberry bushes died. We didn’t know why at first but we found out later that too much Chlorine had seeped from the pool water. The soil was toxic to plants.
We had spent the past five years or so neutralizing the soil with topsoil and cow manure. It’s worked so far but the trees and plants are still struggling, I can tell. You can tell too. The apple tree has been there for five years, yet it’s hardly grown. Not enough nutrients in the soil.
We planted cherry trees for the third time two years ago but it died after a few months. So last year, we decided on Asian Pear Trees and it barely survived the year.
The entire yard was covered in frost. I had to be very careful this morning when I stepped out to marvel at the beautiful blue sky. Not for long though, spring is coming real soon and we’ll have to start planting again.
I wonder what my mom has in mind this year. I know snow peas are a definite yes. I know she’s already given up on corn. We probably won’t have blackberries this year, well maybe. As you can see in the above picture, my aunt’s went overboard with the trimming. I still can’t believe she did that. Hopefully this garden will flourish this year.
Have to get back to my assignment, so ciao for now. 🙂
That Mighty Long Chat
I went on a camping trip for three days and two nights during the summer between 6th and 7th grade. It was fun and not fun as I pointed in this little walk through my adventures.
The fun? We got to go to all these cool and amazing places. The not fun? 3 minutes cold showers and the constant teasing by my camp-mates and the camp counselors couldn’t do anything about it.
I didn’t quite enjoy the telling ghost stories around the bonfire either. The log wasn’t comfortable and not a fan of burnt marshmallows. Also the night was still chilly even with the fire burning in the middle.
That’s why if I want to have a long chat with someone, I would definitely not do it around a fire. If I am to have that long chat, I have no idea who, surprise me, I don’t care, I would most definitely choose some place comfortable and indoor, preferably some place with couches.
Imagination Recharged
Last week was both a great week and a bad week for me. First the new semester began and that came with a lot homework and reading. Continue reading “Imagination Recharged”
Blogging 101: Be Inspired by the Neighbors
I have been mulling over this post for a few days now. You know, homework, outings, lack of time, blah blah blah. Continue reading “Blogging 101: Be Inspired by the Neighbors”
Amazed…
You know, I’m kind of amazed at myself right now.
I finally finished this month’s work last night. I am so happy I get to relax and decompress during these last few days before the semester officially begins again.
Now I know I’ve complained about my work often because it’s so bored. I just sit at my computers translating stuff. Is that boring or what? So to take away the dullness, I decided to scour through my CD collection and listen to songs I haven’t listened to for at least the past 5 years.
When my stereo was still in the basement, I used to go down there and sing along to all the song I know. This week, I decided to do the same thing. That’s why I am so amazed. I still remember the words. All of them. It’s like when I want to sing along, the words just flows perfectly out of my lips and I heard these songs forever ago.
I don’t know how I do that because if you ask me to repeat it back to you, I cannot but when the music plays, I can sing the lyrics perfectly.
Blogging 101: Introduction
In less than a month, this blog turns 2! Continue reading “Blogging 101: Introduction”
To the Rescue!
Daily Prompt: Tell us about the time you rescued someone else (person or animal) from a dangerous situation. What happened? How did you prevail?
Ha, ha, me rescuing someone? That’s hilarious. It’s more like people rescuing me. I don’t think I’ve been rescued by someone before. I’ve always managed to come around on my own. Even the time when I was squirming crazily on my bed, my body going into full spasm. When I came around, I was shocked to find my step-dad, the one who’s training to be a RN was the one freaking out.
But no, this is a story for another time. This is a story about how my mom prevented a major house fire. I know, the prompt said a person or animal but a house, to me, like most inanimate objects are looked at like a person.
It was September, 2013 (wow that feel a little weird to say), it seems everything happens in September. Anyway, an international student came to stay with us because the school had no host family available. I had just begun my job with my former boss, Mr. Li.
It was a Saturday, it was my first day on the job. I reported for work early that morning and my tasks that day were to assist on his trip to the accountants’ office as well as the supermarket. Basically, I was supposed to trail behind him like a puppy while my mom was his wife’s volunteering driver for the day.
When I finally came home that day, my mom said, “She almost burned the house down!”
“What happened?” I asked curiously.
“I just stepped out for a few minutes and she left the toaster oven on! If I didn’t see it, the whole house would have gone up in flames.”
After a few days, weeks, months and even now and then, she was still talking about it, telling about her heroic rescue of the house. Unbelievable! The story became horribly annoying after a while but hey, she did prevent a fire and saved the house.
Different Generation, Different Attitude
I hope you all are having a Happy New Year. Continue reading “Different Generation, Different Attitude”
Tears, can’t live without them, just have to live with them
Daily Prompt: We cry for lots of reasons: sadness, pain, fear . . . and happiness. When was the last time you shed tears of joy?
Hmm, that’s interesting. I don’t remember crying for joy, ever or maybe I just haven’t yet.
Do people do that? Crying for joy just seemed a little funny to me because why would happiness provoke tears? Wouldn’t it provoke laughter and smiles?
Ah, I get it. It’s not the kind of joy that makes a person smile but the kind of joy that causes one to feel surprised, glad, or even relieved like right after a mother gives birth. I’ve seen it in the news and movies. Or when someone realizes that person’s been there for him/her all along and is grateful. I guess I just never had that kind of thing happen to me yet but I’m not giving my hopes up. Someday.
I remember exactly the last time I cried. It was tears of anger. It was at the end of September right after my aunt back my mom’s car into a pole. Then the very next day, my mom blamed me for it. My fists and teeth clenched and tears fell from my face while fire looked like it’s about to flare from my nostrils. There was this pull inside me rendering my ability to speak or fight back.
It’s not my fault, I wanted to say but couldn’t. Ultimately, I just had to ignore every hurtful my mom said that day.
The result of that event?
It set off a domino effect and it went on for almost two weeks that ultimately ended with my mom buying two airplane tickets for my aunt and cousin to go home at once but fate intervened. And they’re now staying until February.
It was strange for me to cry because I don’t usually cry when I’m angry. Actually, I can say I’ve grown stony and hard ever since I’ve been living with my mom alone that it’s hard for me to cry any sort of tears. But tears are meant for cleansing, so I guess everyone has to shed some tears once in a while whether it’s for joy, sadness, or anger. Tears are tears and everyone needs them.
This is Another Story 