JOSH JOSH JOSHHHH

Please let me first apologize for the super late post. I've been so busy with frosh week and the first week of classes that i just had absolutely NO time to do anything non academic at all!

Anyway---I'm currently working on my paper from my Experience of Music seminar course. I'll be writing it on the Joshua Bell i attended earlier this year. I was doing some research online and i stumbled across a bunch of super amazing Josh pics...

Isn't this picture GORGEOUS?! Man--- I am so going to Shoppers to get a bottle of this stuff...

anyway---I'm having a lot of trouble concentrating on my work because i keep remembering how amazing that concert was. I mean, i am just unable to put my feelings into words! But i promised myself--i MUST get this done by today. A completed draft and two edits...

OK---that's really all the time i can spare for now...

I'll be back!

MyWay25

Back to One...

Well, what an afternoon...

I was going to enjoy some more friends episodes but i ended up chatting with my friend for hours. Due to a recent development, the conversation was mostly depressing and frustrating. But as the person in charge of sympathy and comfort-I can't really knock her on the head and say "Get over it!".

No, because that is mean and insensitive.

Which brings me to this:

PARENTS- why must you force your own beliefs upon your children. I realize that many parents think that their kids should automatically practice the same beliefs. But let's be honest here. This is the 21st century. And everyone has their own rights. Parents could have, if they want, a certain amount of influence over their child's live but they should not dictate every single thing. For example-this whole: You must marry a person of the same religion and nationality as you! Seriously! How is the kid suppose to control who they like. It is completely unfair to control someone like that!

Those rules and old-fashioned, and in my opinion, not practical.

Because what is wrong with an Indian person being together with, say a French person? Nothing! But those kinds of parents will say that is not how they were taught when they were young.

Well, all I can say is: TOO BAD!

It just so happens that during your youth, you did not have this freedom because you didn't fight for it! But if you did, you might have ended up differently. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with going out with whomever you like. (Well, unless he/she is a convict or someone who kills animals and babies---but that is usually not the case.)

Yeah---so I'm all riled up about this.

This kind of belief is almost like going back to the middle ages... or the 16th century!
When people could only marry people of the same ranking. How wrong is that!

All i can say is: FIGHT FOR YOUR FREEDOM!

OK--it's 8:14pm already and i still have to organize all my books...and seriously clean my room...then i gotta wash off that old layer of nail polish and repaint my nails...

ADIOS FOR NOW!

MyWay25

You may have noticed...[WILL EDIT!]

That the humble "Nature's Doing" has been renamed: It's All Relative

Yes, as today is basically my last day of freedom (tomorrow being the first day of Frosh Week), I decided to spend an hour watch Friends.


Friends, the best way to pass a lazy Thursday.

Anyway-i got to the episode where Monica and Rachel play a game against Chandler and Joey to win her apartment. There were many categories to the questionnaire type game and the last one is called:


(You guessed it!) IT'S ALL RELATIVE


It has the most random questions but all are very interesting. Which made me think--that's what i want my blog to be like! So yeah, i renamed my cyber-home.

I hope you like change---i for one think it's kind of neat. Haha...


Many upsetting things happened today. But i don't want to bum myself out---so I'm writing to forget all my troubles! And what better way to do that than to post those pics i said i was going to?!

OK-so here we go:

#1) "Publish or Perish" Black

Though it may not look it, but this is a very old journal. I think it bought it from Chapters back in... 2003. But the thing is, i liked it so much and didn't want to write rubbish in it that till this day, it's still empty.

#2) Black Leather Journal

This was given to me by a friend back in my tender years: grade 9--i think. I remember carrying it around everywhere. I really really liked it because it was so light. This one has a lot of quotations from "Romeo and Juliet", which was crazy about. Not anymore though-because if you think about it, they were both only like 14 years old. No offense, but what do 14 year olds know about love, or what kind of love is worth dying for?

#3) Large Red Leather Journal

My mom bought me this when she visited me back a few years ago. It's really nice because the pages are bigger so it lasted longer. This one is filled mostly with lyrics i came up with. And random story plots.

#) Soft Red Buckle-type Leather Journal

I got this on my own and i lovvvve it. It's me current one, but i only have about 12 pages left. I just love touching it. SO SOFT!!!

SIGH---i'm sorry guys...

But i'm not too tired to finish doing this. Blogger's picture upload program REALLY sucks. It takes forever to just format one picture and i've got at least 6 more to go...

But worry not--- i will do all of it... one day.

Off to read Soompi now...

Myway25

The Return of the Journal...

Unfortunately, has been delayed.

I have to shower and get dressed to return my cardio thingy. And I've got to meet my friend and then we're going to attend this writing session at UofT.

So by the time I get back---it'll be like 8:15pm at least.

But i promise to add those photos once i come back!

MyWay25

The Price Is Never Right...

So guess what I'm doing...

On this glorious Wednesday morning, I am currently watching the equally glorious Ryan Phillippe with his ultra sexy voice being interviewed by the also equally beautiful Nicole Kidman Let me just tell you, it does not get better than this.

I bet you didn't think it was possible to use "equally" this many times in one single sentence, did ya?

I remember when i frist happened upon Ryan on TV a few months ago. They were showing Cruel Intentions. It was at the scene with the pool scene where Ryan was in this remote controlled wheelchair and so at first, I thought he was disabled. Maybe it was the strange pool reflections or light or something - but i didn't find him that attractive at first glance. The only reasoned i stayed on that channel was Reese Witherspoon. But an hour and some minutes later, i find that I've sat through the entire movie!

And by Merlin! What a movie!

In the end, I thought Ryan's character (Seb) was the most interesting and that he portrayed it incredibly well. Sarah M. Geller is amazing too (Merlin knows how much i adore Buffy!) but her character was just too evil for my liking, and a bit too one dimensional. Her character didn't really show any development-so the performance felt a little flat. And Reese, I think she played it up a little too much. She was too vulnerable and weak. [SPOILER WARNING] When Seb broke up with her character (Annette), i expected her to fight back, not to just cry and be all girly. I mean, she was suppose to be the mature one, and a feminist!

But I guess I can understand. It IS Ryan Phillippe!

I've always wondered, isn't it strange to act with your spouse? Reese was pregnant with Ryan's child at the time and there they were, in a movie where the guy was suppose to have slept with the the girl just to win a bet! But they're all professionals-they get that it's all just acting. But still! It must have been awkward at times!

Anyway-i went on Youtube to watch the first half of the movie. I have to say-the first time Ryan cracked a smirk at the end of the first scene, where's he went to see his psych. appointment-i was GONE. And i thought. Oh Merlin, this man is beautiful!

So yeah, that is how my love for Ryan came about.

I woke up earlier today-at around 8:30am because the stickers were so uncomfortable! They were really hard and so my skin felt all weird. It still does. But there's only 3 hours left to go. No big deal.

I also woke up because Dad was like "It's 8am! Are you going to waste the day away again?!" in a tone that i didn't apprecieate. But at least he's speaking to me again. After i had breakfast, he came into my room and was like "You realize what you did was wrong, right?"

I was tired of fighting, so i just gave in and was like "OK, i get it." And that was the end of the affair. Thankfully!

As per my usual routine, i checked Portal and found that my PHL-Human Nature prof sent me the course material and everything. And Merlin! I can't even begin to tell you. Here's a bit of it:

● Exam 1, 20%
● Exam 2, 30%
● Paper 1, 10% (paper 7%; review 3%)
● Paper 2, 15% (paper 12%; review 3%)
● Paper 3, 25% (22% paper; 3% review)

● In paper 1 (300 words) you will recount an argument from an assigned reading. In paper 2 (500 words) you will recount an argument from an assigned reading and then critically assess one aspect of that argument. In paper 3 (900 words) you will propose and critically assess a connection between a philosopher’s argument and a scientist’s experiment. For each assignment, after it has been graded, you will meet with the grader to discuss your writing. You then will write a one paragraph “review” that summarizes what you learned from the grader’s comments/discussion.

Are you seeing what i am seeing?!

300 WORDS COUNTS FOR TEN WHOLE PERCENT!

That's right, NO PRESSURE at all! YUP!

But i suppose that's the way university is. No wonder people say it's above and beyond what is required of you back in high school.

But I have faith---at least it isn't one of those 20 page papers.

Apparently, the first paper is due on Sept 28 (Right after my B-day! I'd better get this fully edited and done before that week-end.) Which isn't so bad. I was going to start the assignment early, but i realized that i have no idea what the paper is on, so i'll have to wait.

Also, my SCI199H1 Seminar course prof ALSO posted an assignment:

The aim of this exercise is for us to start thinking about our musical experience and writing about it. My aim is to learn something about the people in our seminar, what your interests are and how you express yourselves. Later we will get serious about more systematic and serious writing. Describe your experience of a musical event from the past summer, or during the past year. It could be a rock, or jazz, or classical concert. It could be a broadcast. It could be a street busker you spent a while listening to. It could be a public or private performance by yourself, alone or with others. It should be an event that, for some reason, was memorable for you.

Focus primarily, beyond the basic facts, on your perceptions and feelings, as you recall them.

Due: 23 September, in seminar meeting.
Grading criteria: Organization, clarity, grammar and spelling (!).
Weighting: 5% of overall grade.

Uh-huh. Another paper due. But this one sounds like it's right up my alley. I mean, i absolutely LOVE writing about music and the way i enjoy/see it. Most of the time, I want to have proper conversations with people about music, but no one cares. And also, i don't know a lot of people who are into the kind of music i like, even though i like a scattering of everything. So this is perfect!

Right now, i'm thinking i should just write it on that Joshua Bell concert i was at back in June. It was certainly an experience! This, i know i can start right away. I'm going to dig up those notes i took at the concert and begin planning the whole thing.

By the way, why is it that my taste in music is so vastly different than my peers? For example, near grad, i remember my friends were all over this song: Poker Face. At first, i was really surprised, because Poker Face is the name of my fave. Asian female singer Ayumi Hamasaki's debut song. Alas, i was obviously wrong. This one is new, and by someone called Lady GaGa.

From my limited knowledge, when someone says "Gaga", it generally means "crazy", doesn't it? Like if i wanted to say i am crazy over Ryan Phillippe, i could say "I am just Gagas over Ryan!" Am I right?

So if I am right in believing that, then Lady Gaga simply means: Lady Crazy?

I'm sorry, what kind of name is that!? But i won't attack her name. To each her own! (This last bit is an inside joke between my friend Carrie and I. Haha---obviously, it is only funny to the two of us.)

Anyway-so i never actively went online to search for the song or anything. I mean, I haven't even heard Beyonce's new album! And i like Beyonce-relatively speaking.

So out of nowhere, while i was in the car on the way back home from the cardio place-I was treated to Poker Face. (Which in itself was a strange thing. The radio in the car is usually on 96.3 Classical. Maybe Dad got tired of listening to Carmen.)

And wow.

I do not get why people are "GAGA" over this song.

Seriously!

To me, it sounds like any other song! And the "Po-po-po-po-po...POKER FACE" thing gets really annoying after a while. Maybe i'm just not "in style" with the latest hits, but in my opinion, there are plenty of other great songs that are worth loving!

Here's a very short list---I've got my ipod on shuffle and I'm just writing out a few of my favoriates. (Though i've got 500+ songs in my itunes library that has a 5 star rating, so you might not think that's saying a lot. But my database has 40GB+ of music! I'm telling you, i am a certified music freak!)

These are in no order whatsoever!

Title-------------------------Artist-----------------------Album
Romance ------------Yukki Kuramoto ------------ A Bittersweet Life

--->This is a classical piece. Violin with piano accompanyment. Beautiful and heart-wrenching. From the wonderful Korean movie with Lee Byung Hun (LOVE LOVE LOVE him): A Bitterweet Life. For all of you that haven't seen it, go Youtube it now! It's got everything! Superb fight sequence, romance, a mafia-type gang that's threatening to kill the main guy and an AMAZING cast. (Shim Min Ah's in this too! Also love her! Rain fans will recognize her from: A Love to Kill, which is of course, also incredible.)

Fox Rain ----------------------DBSK -------------------Rising Sun Concert Rip

--->A true gem. Five fantastic voices-sometimes melted into one. A soft ballad with a tiny hint of jazzzz-composed by Yoochun. A must listen!

Mission Impossible Theme -------Sungha Jung ----------Guitar Protege

--->People probably already this one. Sungha is a Youtbe celeb! This 11 (or is it 12?) years old boy genius can play like no other! Check out his numerous other clips!

Whatever -------------------Ayumi Hamasaki ----------LOVEppears

--->Let me confess that at first, i HATED this song. So much that I didn't even sit through the first quater of the song. I'm not a fan of techno. And this song (though depends on which version you listen to. It's like about 10 different remixes.) begins with the telling sounds of hurried drumbeats that i generally associate with techno. But wait. A few years ago, i made myself listen through all her albums (which isn't a small feat. I have 400+ songs of hers in my library), every single song, from start to end. And surprise! Once the singing began, it got me all hyped up and i ended up loving this song. And that's not all, the ylrics are amazing too! Ayumi is known for writing all of her lyrics: (and composing from time to time as well! Under the name: CREA)

How much thought is necessary
And how should I write
To send my feelings to you?
Perhaps no one knows
But please tell that person
"Here is the power of believing firmly"

It has been a long while,
I was freezing so much and closed my eyes
No one noticed us, but the season
I was looking forward to is passing

Now I do here what I should do
And will smile if I become calm
Please tell that person
"Far or near, I'm always next to you"

It has been a long while, I can be bathed in the warm sunlight in a short time
I was actually enduring so much, so as not to yield to myself
It has been a long while, I can be bathed in the warm sunlight in a short time
If I say I wasn't lonely during the time we spent apart, it is a lie

It has been a long while, I can be bathed in the warm sunlight very soon
I was actually enduring so much, so as not to yield to myself
It has been a long while I can be bathed in the warm sunlight very soon
As I think it was not only I who wished to be together

(btw---these lyrics are translate from Japanese... So some of the original meaning prob wasn;t transfered... also here's where i got the translation-very helpful site if you want to read more about Ayumi: http://homepage2.nifty.com/morimasa/l-love.html)

Billie Jean ----------------Michael Jackson ------------Number Ones

--->Ah, no playlist is ever complete with this song, according to me anyway. I don't think i need to elaborate how amazing this song is. But to fully apprecieate Jckson in all his glory, i suggest you watch a live performance of this song. I myself is a fan of the 30th Anniversary Concert edition, because it just shows taht he's still got it. WHOO!

Grown-Up's Christmas List ------Michael Buble ---------Let It Snow

--->I lost interest in Buble after his hit: Home. The guy's got a great voice but most of his songs song kind of the same. But this song is a must have during the winter holidays. It's so soothing! And it's got an important message. A beautiful beautiful song.

Masterpiece Theater Pt. 1 --------Mariana Trench --------Masterpiece Theater

--->My friend Robin introduced it to me a while ago. She's a fellow music freak, like me. I found this song on while browsing her ipod. It's kind of like an acapella mixed in with rock and ballad-inspired pop. The bridge section (and also the beginning) are my fave. parts.

Whoa! I've got 7 songs down already. I think I'll stop for today. This post has already gone beyond my usual post length and i still have to write my FAVE ITEM. But I'll have more songs next time!

OK- so today's FAVE ITEM is:

-writing journals

Nice, maybe hand crafted, but definitely quality writing journals. I bring a plain lined notebook to school in case i want to jot things down while I'm getting a hot dog or something. This happens quite frequently, Merlin knows what hunger can do to your brain. And also, hunger feels uncannily like yearn for a long lost love.

Haha, just kidding-this is only true to some extent.

Though it is true that i can not live without my writing journal. There's just something about writing in a nice journal that... i don't know... juices my creativity. Having to write in it makes me go "I can't waste a single line in this book-i paid 30$ for it!" Therefore, I always do a few drafts on regular paper and then transfer something that's been edited onto the journal.

Well, at least that's what i try to do. But honestly, since I'm a student (meaning tons of homework and things to study for) and i commute (so that's 2 hours out of my time, at least!) so i don't really have all that much free time. So nowadays, i just write it without much thought. But this summer's been good... so I've got a few pages of not so bad writing squeezed in.

Clearly, this post has go on long enough-so I'll say Adios for now. Now I'll be back with actual pictures of my journals, just to prove how serious about this whole writing thing.

And besides, it's lunch time!

BON APPETITE!

MyWay25

Matters of the Heart...

Well, I've just come back from my cardiology appointment. I've had heart palpitations since a very young age and i have to do annual checks to make sure my condition doesn't develop into more serious problems like heart disease or something. (Though i have to say that I've been neglecting to check up on myself in recent years. According to the health centre's records, the last time i was there was in 2003, which is 6 years ago.)

(By the way, i just have to mention this bit-because i think it shows so much of my "character". Yesterday, i was going through all the different settings on this blog and there was one that said advanced posting option. I thought it sounded great--and so i clicked. And it is! It has all these features like strike-through, and resetting the width of the post and everything. But it was lacking in one feature: SPELLCHECK! I tell you, i can not live without spellcheck. I know this is tragic, since I'm going to be an English student-but honestly! I tend to get hyper when i write---meaning I'll type very fast-meaning there'll be a gazillion mistakes. Spellcheck enables me not to spend a hour proofreading a blog post. It's my live saver! Anyway--the moral of the story is that i switched back to the old posting option. So hopefully, this post and every single one on this blog will be spell-error free!)

Anyway-I got there at 4pm and was led into a small room by this very curvy lady. I know she's curvy not because I'm a pervert or that I play for the other side or that i simply know to acknowledge the beauty of a woman's body-but that she was dressed in a very low cut sundress in a vintage flower pattern with a humongous bow tie that went around her tiny waist. I am completely serious. Is it just me or is this a slightly uncommon attire for members of medical institutions while they are at work? Don't medical practitioners usually wear white lab coats?

I am just saying-I felt a little under dressed in my graphic tee and pants.

So there i am, standing with my bag on a stool beside me. Then she went, "Please take off your shirt."

Having done this many times-I wasn't shocked by this or anything. But I felt so self-conscious, I'd think anyone would if they just stood in their underwear in front a fully dressed person (those i quite like mine. I got it on sale from La Senza. It's like a very nude pink but it's got lace all around and a pair of little bells in the middle.) Besides, i think her waist was at least 22inches or something. Because it looked smaller than mine and the skinniest part of my waist is 24inches. Maybe the bow is really tight or something. But still! My waist was always my favorite part of my body. Mostly, fat goes on my thighs. I mean, i can wear a size 0 skirt but my jeans are always either size 2 or 4, depending on the store.

Anyway-so she rubbed this sticky clear gel on where she's going to attach the wires and then stuck like 5 rubber stickers on my chest. Then she plugged the wired into the stickers and connected the other ends of the wires to a machine. And that was it. Well, then she had to put the machine in a waist bag which went around my waist. God she tied it so tight i swear my waist was probably 22 inches at that point too. Anyway-I retied it once i got home so i could actually breathe. But that was the end of the whole thing.

When I got home, i checked ROSI again and was pleseantly surprised. I was on the waiting list for Human Nature (hmm... maybe i should change this blog name to Human Nature?) but I've moved up enough that I've been given a spot! The only sad thing is, I used to have no classes on Mondays-but now I do. But that's the price i'll have to pay. I really wanted to take that course.

It's 5:29pm and i still haven't had lunch. Merlin, I'm starving! But there's nothing to eat in the house... I had waffles with ice cream this morning. I'm kinda tired of sweets. I need something meaty-like BBQ ribs or something. Merlinnnn--i'm so hungry! I'll have to raid the fridge once i'm doing posting this.

Oh--here's today's FAVE ITEM:

-quality earphones.

I usually prefer BOSE-but really as long as they're superb quality, i don't mind. A lot of people think deep bass is good-but that's only when you're at a club or dance. Bass drowns out all the finer details of music! I myself LOVE the ones that elimenates outside sound. They are fantastic. When i listen to music, I want to enjoy all of it. Having quality earphones means you getting closer to the real thing: live performance. Also, bass kills your eardrums! I've still got a good 3/4 of life to live-so I want my ears to last.

-JOSHUA BELL

I know he's not an itme. But he was and i had the funds, i would buy him. I love love love this man. In fact, I'm going to see him again this Sept! I am so psyched for this! (Also, i'd also like to buy Rain, Jaejoong and Ayu. Oh, and Tom Felton.)

Ok-my stomach is practically eating itself up. i have to go hunt for rations now.

Until my tummy is full,

MyWay25