BAG-O-POCKY

wow, it really has been ages since I last posted... but in any case, I will continue the story of Ling (for those of you who don't know; she's my mom) later - that is a promise. As for now, I feel inclined to list all the Pocky flavours I've tried and have boxes of (I had to take them down and I realized how long it has been since I've tried a new flavour).

Normal Pocky
- chocolate (new & old style boxes)
- black sesame
- soybean
- strawberry cream coated
- cheese cake
- men's chocolate
- coconut milk chocolate

Pocky Mousse
- chocolate
- cream coated
- green tea cream coated
- green flowery box kind (green tea again?)
- purple flowery box kind (??)
- custard fondu

Specialty Pocky
- winter pocky ("made of only the finest chocolate")
- almond crush, chocolate coated
- Pocky G
- Pocky G - berry
- 'Decorer' chocolate/strawberry
- 'Decorer' chocolate/banana

Little-Sized Boxes Pocky
- almond
- caramel
- yogurt

If anyone comes across some funky new flavours that aren't listed here, please buy it and I'll pay you back! ^__^
... you know, this is kinda sad... =P *ha ha* ~shrug~

this is my Ling, this is her story...

Joe stepped slowly towards the small field of delicate bushes where a large gathering of Chinese women plucked off tealeaves into their baskets. He squinted against the sun to look for the woman he traveled miles to see – the one he has yet to meet. His vision narrowed towards one of the younger women who gave quick glances into his direction.

“Is she the one?” he thought, as he walked towards her.

His shoulder-length hair, tight orange shirt and brown bellbottoms didn’t match the plain traditional Chinese villager outfits that were the popular choice on this side of the world. Although viewed as stylish in Canada, awkward looks from people at the airport and on his way to the country side told him fashion is outweighed by function here.

“What a funny-looking man,” Ling thought as she subtly watched the foreigner make his way towards her. Her braided hair gently wrapped around her neck as she quickly and carefully pulled off the small leaves. Long braids were typical on women who worked in the fields because if someone was bitten by the lethal tree snake, the long braids were quickly cut off and tied around the limb to stop the poison from circulating.

The calluses on her palms showed many years of hard labour despite her young age. At age 6 she was forced to baby-sit her brother all day, even while attending school. When he cried, made noise, or needed to be fed, she had to leave the class. Three years later, when her brother was old enough to start school on his own, her baby-sitting years continued with a new baby sister to take care of. Despite her lack of attendance in class, by the end of junior high, Ling was one of 14 students in a group of over 60 who qualified to go to high school in the city. Her hard work and late nights catching up with the rest of the class had finally paid off. Finally, she could have a proper education like her older sister... or so she thought.

Ling was the second daughter of the Gan family and therefore, predetermined to be unloved because of China’s demand for sons; especially since the first child was a girl, the hope for a son amplified for the second child. As a result, from birth, Ling had been pushed into the laborious role of a male without the love and respect that came with it. Hence, when the time came, her acceptance letter and her dream of having proper schooling were torn up by her mother, who already signed Ling up to raise an ox for their neighbour. This was a typical job for young teens that lived in poor families. The long, uneventful hours of tending to the beast gave families enough money to provide one more meal with meat per month.

After 2 time-consuming years of ox-watching, the 14-year-old went off to another village to churn tofu for another 2 years. The daily consumption of soy bean products made her skin radiant and smooth. When she returned home, she had developed into a beautiful and slim young lady. For the next few years, she worked part-time as an assistant to the town doctor and also began to work on the field gathering tealeaves.

Along with her attractiveness, everyone in her community knew she was hardworking and an obedient daughter; the characteristics of a good wife. So, when Ling’s grandfather was approached by an old family friend with news that his friend’s cousin was looking for a wife in China, Ling’s name sprung to mind.


To be continued...

oh brother...

You're going to have to excuse that last post; it was the work of my brother. I would delete it, but I think it's kinda funny and it allowed me to put a cheesy play-on-words title.

Anyway, my brother has way too much time on his hands. And I can’t believe you would “woot woot” that, Darren!! GAAHHHH! O_O

Hey Suckers!

I am a loser :) give me a *woot woot*!

OOTO

As you may or may not know, OOTO stands for: Out Of The Ordinary... yes, I made it up. So here are some interesting things that happened today (besides completing the dumbest exam ever):

• On my way to school, I saw a little note posted on the wall of the bus shelter at Victoria Park and Finch. It read,“FOUND! A set of keys from Victoria Park and Sheppard. Call _____.” Isn’t that amazing? Someone would go so far out of their way to put a little message for a complete stranger that lost their keys. I think it was so sweet I just had to write about it here.

• On my way home, waiting at another stop, there was a brown lady who was singing in her language. It sounded pretty accurate and similar to the limited amount of traditional brown people music I’ve heard. It was beautiful. And I don’t use the term “brown” as a discriminatory-racial remark, I do it because I can’t tell a difference between Persian, Pakistani, Indian, Sri Lan’kan, Tamil or any other people with darker skin tones. Heck, I can’t even tell a difference between yellow-skinned people.

• And lastly, at Tim Horton’s, there was a lady entertaining a little baby by making sounds... it was really funny and even more distracting than anything I’ve experienced at a coffee shop. She made sounds like a fast-forwarding taped-recorded conversation, an inverted bomb sound (so instead of the bomb falling, it was going back up), mini quick farting noises, and high-pitched “la la la”-ing... this is on top of the typical baby-language sounds and the I’m-tackling-a-baby sounds (i.e. “ahh-goo-chee-goo-chee-gooooo”).
  

OH!! And I finally won in roll-up-the-rim! 1 of 9 chances my butt... more like 1 of 27 chances. Anyway, yeah - FREE COFFEE! WOO! ^__^

jab

Moving away from the highly-intensified devastating "e" word of post-secondary education; I would like to bring your attention to something out of the ordinary:

Today, I saw an old man running with a spear in his hands.

That is all.

and so it begins...

My 4 exams in a row begin today (Thursday)... all are 7pm-10pm...

please bring my ulcerized carcass to my mom when all it's done.
thanks.

Habits & Routines

I think they’re relatively normal.

I...

• brush my teeth before I eat breakfast (I think it’s weird doing it after you eat because it’s like you’re eating your morning breath)
• put on my coat and outer garments (except gloves) before breakfast if I need to leave right after
• always check my 4 email accounts, friendster, steepandcheap and msn before I go to bed
• always put the tokens I will use for the day in my right pant pocket
• procrastinate until I can feel the pressure (which usually happens the day before whatever is due or the exam date)
• apply Vaseline on my lips every night before bed
• put the left sock on first
• need to hug something while I sleep otherwise I’ll wake up (I currently hug a stuffed Kogepan [my fav Japanese cartoon character] pillow that has been renamed to Togapoo)
• check my teeth in the mirror almost every time I’m in front of a mirror
• like to compress my left earlobe when I’m sitting around and bored
• pull off the dry/loose skin pieces around my fingernails out of boredom also
• eat a lot of fruit (usually ½ to a whole orange, handful of grapes, and an apple) between the hours of 10pm and 1:20am every night
• weigh myself almost every other morning
• talk to Brian on the phone everyday after midnight

-----------------------------------
Some side notes:
I had my first final today (25%); 3 hours of straight fast writing! I filled 3 booklets and I still didn't have enough time to put the amount of detail requested. Next week Thursday is when the other 4 begin... and I still have a quiz and a final report to do for Monday! York is stupid.

This Friday will be Brian and I's first time going to a club together! It's his year-end party w/ his class so it's not like he chose to go there... but it should be interesting anyway. Our first "Dinner and a Dance"

I've been having some weird, uncomfortable feelings in my upper right gums like they've become sensitive... they bleed sometimes too... I should get that checked out. o_O

more misfortunes

It looks like I’m back in blogging mode... must be from all that losing in Roll Up the Rim to Win. Stupid “1 in 9 chances”... LIES! I buy from 3-8 cups of something from Tim Horton’s a week and I haven’t won once. Last time they had this promo, I won a doughnut, but it expired before I could even use it. ~shaking fists~

I’m done exams on April 9th. Some would consider that a boon; I say it’s just a boo.
Exam schedule: Mar 29, Apr 6,7,8,9. OMG!! My last assignment due is on Mar 27 then I go straight into exam time! THAT SUCKS BUTTHOLES! >_<

I’m piling up and not following through with my responsibilities at church... and ironically enough, here I am using this time to blog... o_O

~dashes away to get Blue Like Jazz book~

TTC "Fun"

I complain a lot about the things that happen to me on the bus, but here’s another episode of Julie’s TTC “Fun”.

I was sitting in the back, next to the rear doors with the little wall-divider on my right. The seat next to me was free and then the next one was occupied by an older Chinese lady. Anyway, then the Persian man came. (I will now refer to this man as Weenis)

So Weenis and his friend come on the bus. Weenis sat next to me and the other across from him. I’m only going to talk about Weenis because his friend seemed to do a good job with unwritten TTC etiquette.

Weenis had relatively thick shoulders, clearly wider than the width of the seat with his coat on anyway. He literally wedged himself between the woman and I… like fitting the square shape into the triangle hole. Not only that, he had to sit all the way back in his chair with his chest practically sticking out and his shoulders back.

Then, to top it off, he sat with his legs open; plainly breaking the invisible plane that partitions each seat. My natural reaction was to cross my legs. And when I did, he opened his legs even more! >=o( ... ugh... freakin' Weenis.

Lost: Grey Prison’d Housewife Models... will be found by CSI

I know many people already know this about me, but I don’t watch TV. I’d say the only times I look at the TV is when I’m with other people who “need” to watch something or I happen to enter a room where the television is already on.

In the past month or so, there has been a lot of hype about a bunch of shows I know nothing about. The title of this blog is just some of the key words people tossed around while conversing about hypothetical characters/plots of a show (speaking as if these people are real). I find that quite amusing. It’s kind of like how some girls fall in love with a character from a movie... thinking he’ll really die for his woman in reality. PSHH. Actors/actresses are rolling in dough because they can cause people to feel that way... you would’ve never thought buddy from Gladiator would beat a busboy over the head with the hotel phone (I heard this type of violent behaviour from him is common).

OH, and not to mention how viewers of reality TV shows think they know the participants inside-and-out just because they happen to watch a fraction of their life.

“I can’t believe so-and-so is such an ass! He should be shot and kicked around!”

Okay, no one really said that to me, but you get the point. People act differently when they’re in front of cameras! And a lot of things get edited out so we never know the full/real story.

Sports. I must admit, that’s fun to watch... but some people take it way to seriously. This one time at Kelsey’s, these guys in the booth next to my friends and I were so danged loud about a basketball game, that I/we would’ve smacked them upside the head if I/we were bigger, stronger, faster, and more populated than they. And this was in the middle of the day! Not saying that type of behaviour is okay at night, but in the day, people usually don’t drink themselves stupid. (FYI: When I say they were loud, I mean they didn’t simply cheer when we get a goal, but they yell stupidness throughout the game, talk/swear/laugh deafeningly, and occasionally bang on the table.)

There really is no finalizing point to all this. Just remember, back in the day, teachers called television “The Stupid Box” and if you watched too much of it, you’ll become stupid... but then again who listened to the teacher anyway? Like, no one really thought about what they did wrong when sent to the corner, nor mean it when asked to apologize to another kid and mean it...

for richard and albert

you guys check my blog almost every morning
but you see the same thing, isn't it boring?
my lack of updates isn't rewarding
but this poem's for you - without any warning!!

i wrote these blogs, knowing you guys would read it
leaving your comments and showing your wit,
reaching your hand out and grabbing my ... ARMPIT
*heh* reading these lyrics that don't flow a bit.

... that's all i got thus far. thanks for stickin' around. ^__^

blog culture

looks like people (myself included) aren't into blogging as much as we used to be...

no control

Through my hands, my life was shapeable
By my sweat, my works were amendable
With my fists and my strength defensible,
I believed in myself; in myself, I was dependable

I needed no favors, had no dues to repay
But from under my feet, it was all taken away.
Without a warning, no sign or delay
The colours of my dreams were blemished with grey…

I worked so hard, every ounce of my ability
Pushing to be the best, making my targets a reality
But how maddening it is, this possession-fertility
When it’s all been stolen by some unknown deity!

Out of my control
Regardless of my patrol
Swept from my payroll
Ending my calm stroll

I was striving to stand, when my legs were numb
Shivering with agony, release please come!
Until you have nothing left, can you only fathom
Tasting the dirt, the pain of hitting rock bottom

I have nowhere to look, but to face upward
Expecting a miracle or something absurd
I was more than staggered, when it actually occurred
A supernatural moment left me pleasantly disturbed

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This is part one of the story I want to tell... not sure if part 2 will come about anytime soon, but I'm sure you folks already know what will happen next. =) Jesus saves the day! Everything was inspired by this passage I read during devo a few days ago:

“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread along but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” - Deuteronomy 8:4

a little "fact"

Today I was told that we have Reading Week because the suicide rate for students in post-secondary education was the highest during this time... I don't know how reliable my source is. =oP

my pearly wood

I went to the dentist for the first time in 8 years yesterday. I had no idea getting your teeth cleaned was so painful... vibrating all the life-accumulated tartar off like you're sanding down wood, followed by forceful scrapping and double-checking, and finishing off w/ some polish. (It tasted like toothpaste. ^__^)

There was lot of blood. When I did the routine mouth-rinse, there were occasionally little blood chunks. Is that normal?? Are they chunks of my gums?! o_O

They discovered I have 2 small cavities in both my upper-back molars. ROYAL DANG. Now I have to go back next Friday to get them out. I hope it’s covered. *heh* Thank goodness I didn’t have anything more crazy like them root canals. Just the sound of it makes it seem like something of a horror movie. “I’m going to twist root canals into each of your teeth until I feel them penetrate your jaw bone.” My sister had one and she paid over a grand to get it fixed. Yikes.

Oh and they took X-rays of my teeth! I didn’t know technology was this advanced that they could take an X-ray image and show me it by the end of an appointment... I feel so out of it. =oP

Next week is my very necessary optometrist appointment. Haven’t gone to one of them since I got my first glasses (7 years ago), which are the ones I’m wearing now, which are also the ones wear and need to squint to see certain things. We’ll see how that goes... maybe they’ll discover I have a root canal.

bloody shoes

I didn't cut my toe nails for a while and therefore, one of them broke during my vball game today. It didn't hurt. In fact, I didn't even know about it until I took off my shoes. Bloody socks, bloody shoes, bloody toe. It wasn't as bad as it looked... o_O

Anyway, here are some tips for washing out blood:
- rinse off the bloody item (which I will now refer to as "BI") ASAP
- if possible, let the BI sit in water for a few minutes
- only use cold water; hot water will set the stain!
- rub the BI's fabric with itself for fast removal
- handwashing works better than machine washing

So let this be a lesson for you all; cut your toe nails regularly. *ha ha*

future

Some people have asked me what I plan to do after I graduate my Health/Healthcare Management program in York. Ideally, I plan to go directly into U of T’s Health Services Organization and Management graduate program for my Masters in Science.

To get in, I need at least a B+ standing in the last two years of study, two confidential letters of reference, and a statement of interest in health services research and a description of the specific areas of research I would like to pursue.

It doesn’t seem too difficult to do... but I could be terribly wrong. o_O

If I can’t get in, then I’ll try to get a job; something low on the hierarchy to get my foot in the door. Eventually, I plan to do my Masters as a part-time student while I work.

I’m confident that this is what God wants me to do... if I turn out to be wrong, than I’m sure He’ll close some doors of opportunity.

------------------------------

RANDOM:

Last week I tried a new flavour of Pocky! Black sesame. There’s this new chocolate powdered one I plan to get soon. YAY!

I’m itching to go snowboarding. Keith, Will and I plan to go to Horseshoe this Sunday after service if the weather is good. Anyone else want in? $29+tax for 8-hrs lift tickets from Costco!

Finalized new years resolution is to get abs.

Don’t know what to do for the summer... -_-“ Softball? No softball? If yes softball, than where? Plan to go on missions, but where? ~sigh~ so much to pray about...

Where’s the missing pot?!

Christians vs Christians

It’s ironic that hypocrites are usually the ones who dislike hypocrites.

Allow me to explain. I have a theory that states that only those to claim there is an absolute right and wrong can be hypocrites. With absolutes, there is no room for in-between judgments that say a certain action is okay sometimes and not others. In the case of sin, it’s never okay; sin is sin no matter in what context. And who are the ones who preach about sin and what’s right and wrong? Christians.

The whole notion of not “practicing what you preach” and hypocrisy is something, I feel, only Christians (along w/ other beliefs that hold absolute divinity) can do. We say what’s “wrong” is always wrong, while everyone else usually feels there are exceptions thus what’s “wrong” doesn’t always mean it’s wrong in explicit situations.

For example, stealing:

Christians – stealing is a sin; God wouldn’t put you in a situation where your only choice was to steal. Therefore stealing is always wrong.

Non-Christians – stealing is morally wrong, but it’s different if someone is stealing bread for their starving family. Therefore stealing is usually wrong.

What gets me the most is when Christians call other Christians hypocrites. I will be the first to admit that I did it and am in the midst of changing. But really, who are we to say “so-and-so is a hypocrite, how can they call themselves Christians?”

“He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” - John 8:7.

Are you really that arrogant to say you’ve never sinned or went against your word?

We preach:
"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." - Colossians 3:13
-> but we still hold grudges and cannot forgive

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” - Philippians 2:3
-> but we’re still selfish and arrogant

I had originally planned to keep going with this, but the more I look up and refute... the lower I feel. I’m sure you get the point. Looks like the only true representation of Christianity is Jesus... now if every non-believer could look past the Christians and see God in all His glory, I bet there would be a much bigger Christian population.