1. Do you like bleu cheese? Depends on the bleu cheese. Good quality stuff usually tastes better than junky, poor quality stuff. I had the most delicious bleu cheese with my cobb salad at the Silver Diner in DC, but the bleu cheese in my salad at the Elephant Bar a week later was nasty.
2. Have you ever smoked? No.
3. Do you own a gun? No.
4. Favorite type of food? Korean.
5. Favorite type of music? Techno. Weird, huh?
6. What do you think of hotdogs? They're ok. I don't normally choose them unless I'm REALLY craving it. Kosher ones tastes the best to me.
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Love, Actually.
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee, with another glass of water.
9. Can you do pushups? Yes.
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? A black pearl necklace from the Beijing pearl market.
11. Favorite hobby? Reading, folding paper stars, gardening.
12. Do you have A.D.D.? Sometimes, I think I do. It must be a spectrum thing.
13. Do you wear glasses/contacts? Yes.
14. Middle name? Shuk Ting, my Chinese name. I'm thinking of changing the spelling to Shu Ting (the Mandarin pronunciation), just because I like it better than the Cantonese spelling.
15. Name three thoughts at this exact moment? I need to shower. This table is a little sticky. 60 Minutes is normally good - except during the expose-type episodes.
16. Name three drinks you regularly drink? Water, coffee, tea.
17. Current worry? Job hunting.
18. Current hate right now? Hateful people.
19. Favorite place to be? Home alone, or a comfortable place to read. Preferably with wi-fi.
20. How did you bring in the new year? With Momiji and Animal Crossing.
21. Someplace you'd like to go? London.
22. Name three people who will complete this. Whoever, Whomever, and That Person.
23. Do you own slippers? Yes, but I don't wear them.
24. What color shirt are you wearing? Fuschia, black, yellow, and teal striped. It's much less flashy than it sounds.
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I don't know, I've never slept on satin sheets.
26. Can you whistle? Yes.
27. Where are you now? Home.
28. Would you be a pirate? No.
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't.
30. Favorite girl's name? Constance
31. Favorite boy's name? Jeremy (both of these change so often)
32. What is in your pocket right now? No pockets.
33. Last thing that made you laugh? Mo
34. What vehicle do you drive? Honda Civic. It's 7 years old this year!
35. Worst injury you've ever had? Chronic tennis elbow.
36. Do you love where you live? No.
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 3. Only 1 is in use.
38. How many computers do you have in your house? 3.
39. If you changed your job, what would it be? If I had a job, I wouldn't need to change it.
40. If you were granted three wishes, what would they be? A full-time, long-term teaching gig, to be able to see people I like every day, to be able to NOT see people I don't like at all.

1. What time did you get up this morning? I woke up at 7AM, but didn't actually get up until 9:30AM. =p

2. How do you like your steak? With lots and lots of black pepper and garlic.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Up In The Air

4. What is your favorite TV show? Lost

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? It doesn't matter as long as it's home.

6. What did you have for breakfast? Cereal with soy milk.

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Korean.

8. What foods do you dislike? Coconut, bitter melon.

9. Favorite Place to Eat? At home!

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive? Honda Civic.

12. What are your favorite clothes? Dresses and skirts.

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Borneo.

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? It's a cup!

15. Where would you want to retire? I think I'll always be working on something or other, so not retirement - at least not in the traditional sense.

17. Where were you born? Hong Kong.

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? I would rather play, thanks.

19. Who do you think will not tag you back? No one, since I'm not tagging anyone.

20. Person you expect to tag you back first? Same as #19.

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? No expectations, but if people want to answer, I'll read. =)

22. Bird watcher? I'm pretty much an animal watcher in general. And yes, that includes humans.

23. Are you a morning person or a night person? Both.

24. Do you have any pets? Momiji! The best rabbit in the world!

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? Not about myself, but I learned that three of my friends are pregnant in as many months!

26. What did you want to be when you were little? Writer.

27. What is your best childhood memory? Um, the ones that I actually remember. I have a very poor memory of my childhood.

28. Are you a cat or dog person? Dog.

29. Are you married? No.

30. Always wear your seat belt? Only in a car.

31. Been in a car accident? Yes. Fender benders only though.

32. Any pet peeves? Yes!

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings? I like my pizza to have more than 5 types of cheese. Veg and seafood too.

34. Favorite Flower? Dahlias, daffodils, peach blossoms.

35. Favorite ice cream? Raspberry sorbet.

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Rubio's.

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? None.

38. From whom did you get your last email? From the youth choir director.

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Sephora or Zara.

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? My entire day today, outside of work, was pretty much a flight by the seat of my pants.

41. Like your job? Yes.

42. Broccoli or Cucumber? Arugula!

43. What was your favorite vacation? The ones where I get to see friends and do whatever we like.

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? Mel and Berk!

45. What are you listening to right now? Answering this question. I've been scaling back on multi-tasking. Do less, live more.

46. What is your favorite color? Green.

47. How many tattoos do you have? Zero.

48. How many are you tagging for this quiz? Uh, have you even read my answers?

49. What time did you finish this quiz? How come this question is the second to last? (by the way, it's 10:36 PM)

50. Coffee Drinker? Yes! I'm into French roast right now.

Do you snack while you read? If so, favourite reading snack? Sometimes. My current favorites are grapes, shrimp chips (tastes better than they sound, and are in fact not actually made from shrimp), and popcorn.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read them, or does the idea of writing on your books horrify you? I mark nearly all my math books; everything else is pristine.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog ears? Leaving the book open flat?Post-its.

Fiction, Non-Fiction or both?Pre-age-18, I was basically all fiction. Now, it's both - more non-fiction, surprisingly. Maybe because I've been disappointed by fiction a lot?

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point?When I put a book down, it's usually not because I want to stop reading, whether it's the end of the chapter or not.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?No. Most of the time, I can figure out what it means from context. Just keep reading and the definition will come.

What are you currently reading?
A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami (still, since August)
Discipline without Stress, Punishments, or Rewards by Dr. Marvin Marshall (still, I've been on this book since October)
Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff
The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis
The Talking Earth by Jean Craighead George
Inside Secrets of Finding a Teaching Job by Jack Warner and Clyde Bryan, with Diane Warner
Geometry the Easy Way by Lawrence S. Leff
Earth: Inside and Out by Edmond A. Mathez

Yep, I'm going through an ADHD phase in reading.

What is the last book you bought? Bartender's Basic Guide it was a gift for someone, but I kinda wish I had kept it. Lots of interesting information in that.

Are you the type of person who can only read one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time? See above.

Do you prefer series or stand alone books? I prefer well written books.

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?Hm, The Golden Compass is something I tell people to read - but it really depends on the person.

How do you organize your books (by genre, title, author’s last name, etc.)? Subject, and then size. I would do it in color too, but I don't have enough books yet to make that look good on the shelves.

What was your biggest triumph in 2009?
Attending friends' weddings without being feeling uncomfortable.

What was the smartest decision you made in 2009?
Taking time out for vacations.

What one word best sums up and describes your 2009 experience?
Free-for-all.

What was the greatest lesson you learned in 2009?
Nice people can still be dicks sometimes.

What was the most loving service you performed in 2009?
I would like to say all the things I did for my parents, but that was more out of duty than love. I'm going to say, hanging out with my nephews and making fun memories.

What is your biggest piece of unfinished business in 2009?
The thing that will probably always be unfinished.

What were you most happy about completing in 2009?
Credential!

Who were the three people that had the greatest impact on your life in 2009?
Two different CTs, and cousin S.

What was the biggest risk you took in 2009?
Throwing caution to the wind and just going for whatever I feel like going for at the moment.

What was the biggest surprise in 2009?
How well some friends not only keep me in their thoughts, but in their lives as well. =)

What important relationship improved the most in 2009?
The whole brother-sister thing.

What compliment would you liked to have received in 2009?
I don't know...I received a lot of compliments in 2009. Some of them were insincere, so I guess I wish I had fewer compliments in place of honest ones. But then, can't expect sincere thoughts from insincere people, right?

What compliment would you liked to have given in 2009?
I gave whatever genuine compliment I truly felt to whoever received them from me.

What else do you need to do or say to be complete with 2009?
Actually, nothing. I've said my say to 2009.

What would you like to be your biggest triumph in 2010?
Something surprising that I didn't even think could be a triumph.

What advice would you like to give yourself in 2010?
Life is good. Things could be worse.

What is the major effort you are planning to improve your financial results in 2010?
Be a little riskier with investments. I'm young, I can handle it. It's a decent time to be risky too, for the long term that is.

What would you be most happy about completing in 2010?
My resolutions.

What major indulgence are you willing to experience in 2010?
Food! Good food. Real food. Less fast food. More authentic ethnic food. None of that HFCS, thankyouverymuch.

What would you most like to change about yourself in 2010?
Hm, my body. Still, even after getting more comfortable in my own skin.

What are you looking forward to learning in 2010?
Taiko! And Spanish.

What do you think your biggest risk will be in 2010?
It's not a big risk unless it's a surprise.

What about your work, are you most committed to changing and improving in 2010?
Continuing to discover ways to undermine the "top dogs." Authority among current educators aren't the most worthwhile people to respect and admire, let alone follow.

What is one as yet undeveloped talent you are willing to explore in 2010?
Fluteboxing.

What brings you the most joy and how are you going to do or have more of that in 2010?
Traveling with/to see friends. A D.C. trip is in the works as I type this. =)

Who or what, other than yourself, are you most committed to loving and serving in 2010?
My family and friends. I don't really have any candidates other than these people.

What one word would you like to have as your theme in 2010?
Active.

What is your idea of a perfect day at your home?
Leisurely meals, bunny time, tinkering with various household projects, spending time with friends, possibly something sport related.

What don’t you leave home without?
Coffee.

What are some your favorite local shopping places?
Pretty much any bookstore. Zara, H&M, and Uniqlo when I can get them. Ross and Marshalls.

What’s on your wish list?
A full-time teaching position at a decent school. Decent in terms of the staff and administration, I mean.

What’s your favorite bargain find or product?
Currently, a bar-tending book I got at Borders for $2. Very informational.

What souvenir did you bring back from your last trip?
Lots of photos. A Japanese style door curtain. Cedar wood pieces for the closet.

Who would you like to sit down to drinks with?
Good friends who make good conversation.

What is your biggest interior design nightmare?
Things that create more problems than it solves.

Who is your favorite artist?
M.C. Escher.

Where do you find inspiration?
Style Bubble, Half-Girl, Notes by Naive, Yes and Yes.

Do you collect anything?
Books. And glass animals, indirectly. Apparently, people think I like glass animals.

What’s your favorite feature in your home?
The many large windows.

Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Yes. Many.

What is your most treasured belonging?
My rabbit. My car. A box of random things that would be worthless to anyone else.

What is your greatest indulgence?
Movie marathons.

What is your idea of living hell?
A lifetime of busy nothings.

What are some of your favorites websites & blogs to visit?
See: where I find inspiration.

Ok, so this is nearly three weeks late, but no apologies for that right? Better late than never.


Where did you begin 2009?

At a friend’s house, which she had just bought, helping with breaking it in with its first new year by stuffing a pinata with ketchup packets, rice crackers, and kinder egg toys, then busting it open by kicking it around on said friend’s drive-way because we didn’t have a suitable place to hang the thing.


What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Took some MA units. Adopted a rabbit. Didn't feel guilty about doing nice things for myself. Stopped doubting myself. Liked my body a little. Stood up to the face of authority and said, "You. Are. Wrong. Period." Consistently did nice things for people around me. Thought dating wouldn't be such a bad experience after all. Road tripped to WA. Graduated and got my teaching credentials.


What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory and why?

March 21, the day my student teaching supervisor said I was being withdrawn from my placement.

June 3, the day I returned to my beloved city for a solid four weeks of fun, food, friends, and family - a vacation I was desperately in need of.

July 27, the day Momiji came into my life.

December 11, the day I got four solid thumbs up (two from my CT and two from my supervisor), qualifying me for a California 2042 Multiple Subject Preliminary Teaching Credential with English Language Authorization and Supplementary Authorization in Mathematics.


Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
2009 resolutions that I kept ("kept" meaning I did these things 90%-100% of the time): Do 90 minutes of cardio each day. Pass the RICA. Visit Janet in San Diego. Revisit 2009 resolutions each month and make monthly goals. Explore local and nonlocal places. Update TCLB regularly. Journal daily. Join a tennis club. Go to Hong Kong. Keep track of my personal finances. Kept to a tight budget. Buy things only when on sale. Garden. Adopt a pet. Take junior college classes. Apply and begin a masters program. Keep things clean and organized.

2010 resolutions: Eat vegetarian/all natural/organic twice a week. Get a full-time teaching job. Go on a date. Move out of parent's house. Complete the 365 self-portrait project. Exercise.


Did anyone close to you give birth?
Hannah Banana was born this year!


Did anyone close to you die?
No.


What countries did you visit?
Well, I explored more of the US. And China.


What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Smaller boobs. Solar panel installation. A full-time teaching job that pays. An apartment. A Kindle.


What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting comfortable in my own skin.


What was your biggest failure?
Being withdrawn from student teaching. Having wasted so much time, energy, money before learning to speak up and stand out. Which, I guess, isn't really a failure in the end.


Did you suffer illness or injury?
The most serious sinus infection I have ever had in my life. I couldn't hear for about 24 hours because fluid filled up my inner ears.


What was the best thing you bought?
Airplane tickets. The most comfortable red flats in the world. A little space heater. A tennis ball on a string attached to a weighted base. Cute clothes.


Whose behaviour merited celebration?
All my friends and family.


Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
CSUS administration. Sac City Unified District people. Many others in teaching and education. The public psyche in general.


Where did most of your money go?
CSUS tuition, fees, supplies. Traveling and gas. Health insurance.


What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Fall 2009 student teaching. Vacationing. Rabbits. Seeing old friends.


What song will always remind you of 2009?
Don't Stop Believing from Glee.


Compared to this time last year, are you:

Happier or sadder?
Happier. Surprisingly.

Thinner or fatter?
Thinner. Also surprisingly. I exercised more, but I also ate more.

Richer or poorer?
Poorer in money. Richer in nearly everything else.


What do you wish you’d done more of?
Socializing with people my age.


What do you wish you’d done less of?
Complaining.


How will you be spending Christmas?
I woke up early to get to church for last minute practice, and then the performance of the Christmas Cantata. Then went out to lunch with my parents. Then came home to watch movies and organize job hunting stuff. Then my parents and I went to a friend's house for Christmas dinner.

I was a little "people-d out" by 12/25. I did hang out with lots of people that night, but I didn't say much. Curled up in a corner and read Time Magazines for the most part.


Did you fall in love in 2009?
Love at first sight with my rabbit. =) Otherwise, no.


What was your favourite TV programme?
Glee.


Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Yes.


What was the best book you read?
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami.


What was your greatest musical discovery?
Miho Fukuhara. Clazziquai.


What did you want and get?
A firmer backbone.


What did you want and not get?
Justice.


What was your favourite film of this year?
Favorite film that came out in 2009: Coco Chanel. Up in the Air.
Favorite film that I watched in 2009 regardless of when it was made: Wall-E

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26. It was pretty much a normal day. Except with cake and ice cream.


What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
One-up - no, several-ups - to my old CT.


How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
International eclectic. Less polos and jeans. More patterns and bold colors.


What kept you sane?
Allowing myself to be myself with no guilt or shame.


Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Joshua Jackson. Weird, right? I was never a fan of Dawson's Creek. However, Fringe is pretty good.


What political issue stirred you the most?
Anything in public education.


Who did you miss?
Far-flung friends, as always.


Who was the best new person you met?
The 28 fifth and sixth graders I taught in the fall. My cousin-in-law, Alice. Dr. Loeza is pretty cool too.


Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
The "real world" is more like high school than college.


Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"I offer my prayers and wait for a new day
. To the end of the sea that shines vividly."
-Life is Like a Boat, Rie Fu

Dear flist,
this is where you confirm that I am not a sad loner by filling out the following meme:

- Who are you?
- Are we friends?
- When and how did we meet?
- Would you kiss me?
- Give me a nickname and explain why?
- Describe me in one word!
- What was your first impression of me?
- Do you still think the same?
- What reminds you of me?
- If you could give me anything what would it be?
- How well do you know me?
- Are you going to put this on your journal and see what I say about you?
- Would you ever meet up with me?

(note: I'm leaving all the texting questions blank, because I don't like the way texting is structured in US cell phone providers)

Who was the last person to text you?

This time last year, what was your relationship status?
- Single and glad for it.

Does someone like you right now?
- I hope so.

What does the 15th message in your inbox say?
- Some random person on Twitter followed me. I don't know them in real life.

Have you ever gone up to a car thinking it was yours, and almost got in?
- How could I "almost get in" when I don't have the keys? But yes, I have mistaken someone else's car for mine before. Many times.

How many radio stations do you listen to?
- 2. NPR/PRI and the traffic one.

When was the last time you were in a car with someone besides family?
- Dude, I can't even remember the last time I was in a car with anyone, period. That is so sad on so many levels.

What are your plans for the weekend?
- Paper writing, running P.E. games at the harvest carnival, selling carnival food, teaching Sunday school, sleeping. Debating on whether or not to get an oil change, I can wait another week though.

Is your current hair color mostly your natural hair color?
- It is ALL natural.

What would your name be without the first three letters?
-Nie. Hm, that's not too bad, actually.

Do you want to see somebody right now?
- Of course.

Who sits next to you in math class?
- The kid who likes to bounce up and down in his seat, then sometimes fall off the chair if he's too enthusiastic. The kid who likes to take passive mind vacations. The kid who likes to mutter things but I can never seem to catch him in the act.

Where was the last place you fell asleep other than your bed?
- Behind the wheel. That is bad too.

Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
- Janet!

Think to the last person you kissed, have you ever kissed them in a car?
- I'm sure I've kissed my mom on the cheek while she was in the car when she was dropping me off in elementary school. I haven't kissed my mom since I was twelve though.

Have you ever slept in the same bed as your friends?
- Yes. At slumber parties, the floor was our bed.

What are you listening to?
- NBC Nightly News. Brian is in Kabul.

Do you think you can last in a relationship for 3 months?
- I'll let you know at our 3 month anniversary.

Do you think someone is thinking about you right now?
- Probably.

Who was the last male you talked to?
- My CT.

Is the last person of the opposite sex you texted single?


Name one person you wish you could fix things with, and why haven’t you?
- None. The people I haven't fixed things with, I don't really want to. So it's fine by me that I haven't fixed things with them.

Having sex ruins relationships, right?
- If you think sex ruined the relationship, then it wasn't a relationship in the first place.

What does your last text message say?


You're single right?
- And happy. But it wouldn't hurt for me to be a little more social.

How have you felt today?
- Tired but calm.

Are you nice to people you dislike?
- I'm civil if they are.

What are you doing tomorrow?
- Ant hunting, driving, going on a field trip with my students, teaching, coming home and relaxing.

Was this summer a good one?
- Yes.

Do you honestly miss someone?
- I miss a lot of people at different times.

Would you rather get a new puppy or a new car?
- Puppy. I'm satisfied with my car.

Would it be hard seeing someone else kiss the person you like?
- No, to me, it'll probably be very easy to see. As in it being the first and only thing I see for a while.

You receive $50 without any reason, what do you spend it on?
- Probably groceries or gas. Those seem to be the only two things I've bought in the past two months.

Have you had any beer this week?
- No. Beer is gross.

Would you be someone's girlfriend/boyfriend right now if they asked?
- Hmmmmmm.

Do you believe your first love can be the only love in your life?
- I love many things.

Would you ever dye your hair black?
- Too late, already have.

Have you ever received a call that made you cry?
- No.

How many times have you cried this week?
- Zero.

Do you like your school?
- I love GE so far. CSUS is ok, although I can live without it too.

Do you love coffee?
- YUS.

After taking a shower, do you change in the bathroom or in your bedroom?
- Bath.

Has anyone ever made a piece of clothing for you? What was it?
- Yes. My mom used to sew all my clothes, up through the age of five, or thereabouts.

What is the last handmade thing you crafted?
- Lunch. It will soon be dinner.

Did you collect anything while growing up? What was it?
- Stamps, stuffed animals, books, rocks, beads. Wow, I do like to hoard.

If you rented an apartment, would you rather be on the top or bottom floor.
- Top.

Take a guess on how many books you have.
- Hm, 100.

What's going on with you and the person you last kissed?
- You mean my mom? We have an understanding.

Is there anyone you really want to see right now?
- It seems like this question is being asked multiple times in different ways.

Do you forget to flip the page of your calendar at the start of each month?
- No.

How many people could fit comfortably to sleep in the room you're in?
- This is a run-on sentence. Got a problem with this grammar girl? Well too bad, I've been correcting essays all day.

What's the last thing you searched for on Google?
- Galileo Galilei.

How would you react if your mom got a lip piercing?
- Eh, it's her lip.

If you had to own a rodent as a pet, what would you pick?
- I've had a hamster, and rabbits are technically rodents too. Other than those, I would like a guinea pig.

If I looked on your bedroom floor right now, what would I find?
- Carpet. Maybe a stray dead ant from my war with them.

If I went through your purse what would I find?
- My favorite Muji pens and pencils, my wallet, some articles I'm reading, my light rail pass, a mini flashlight, keys, phone, camera, and lesson plan book.

What has been the one experience that has changed your life the most and why?
I would have to say my China year. Although living at home is starting to be a life-changing experience as well. Also, that phase III failure ranks up there too.

China was awesome and terrible at the same time. I learned that I enjoy being in the classroom, that I'm talented at teaching, and that I want to learn more about teaching and education. Hence, my career choice. I outgrew quite a few of my childhood social ineptitudes, discovered a confidence in myself I had never had previously, and solidified my beliefs, especially in terms of religion.

While living at home, I've learned patience for old people, grew even more comfortable in my own skin (which started in the above experience), and opened my horizons about domestic bliss - whether single or (potentially) with a sigoth.

Phase III. I learned to speak up, assert myself and my needs, and grew a pair of determined ones. 'Nuff said about that. It's still a tender subject, even seven months later and well into a successful phase III take 2.

Life is still changing for me, which is a good thing from my point of view. So I'm sure this will end up changing sooner or later.

What are the most important qualities you look for in friends?
A sense of humor, easy for me to get along with, easy to talk to, and generally is a comfortable presence. Hard workers, honesty, transparency/straightforwardness, a sense of adventure, and little to no whining are also nice friend-makers.

What is the first thing you do in the morning?
1) Clean Mo's cage and feed&water him.
2) Load everything I need for the day in my car, checking them off a list - either on paper, or just mental
3) Eat breakfast. I must have breakfast. Things do not go well otherwise.
4) Clean at least one corner of the house. This helps me to organize my mind for the day.

Where would you most like to travel to next?
Wow, where do I NOT want to travel to would be the shorter list. I DO want to go to: Copenhagen, London, Peru, Korea, Cambodia, Australia, Moscow. Those are at the top of the list

If you could be anyone of any age/gender for a day, who would it be and what would you do as them?
Alexis Chung. I would just go about her day like she does. Her life is just so completely different and opposite of mine that I would do it just for the learning experience.

What's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?
People who are happy in the face of unhappy situations.

How you get inspiration for your blog posts? Do you think of topics in advance and write them down?
Daily life, teaching, educational news, friends, family, Momiji.

How has writing this blog changed your life?
I spend a lot more time online with blogs.

What made you start blogging? What inspires you to keep it up?
It seemed so fun! I like to write, and blogging is a form of publishing where I can control the content completely.

Other blogs, especially fashion and photography ones. The fact that owning a little piece of cyberspace is a good idea in terms of my future work.

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?

I'm not sure I've actually looked at myself in the mirror today yet. The mirror was there when I was brushing my teeth and washing my face, but I wasn't fully present on this side of consciousness yet. But for the sake of the question, I'll go look now.

.....

Hm, Saturday bed-head surprises me with its creativity.

2. How much cash do you have on you?

It's not a very smart thing to have cash stuck to your body is it? There's about $80 in my wallet, however.

3. What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR?

Floor.

4. Favorite planet?

The undiscovered ones.

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?

My boss.

6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?

"Tomorrow" by Mikuni Shimokawa

7. What shirt are you wearing?

Black tissue weight henley with ruched cap sleeves. It's still so freaking hot!

8. Do you label yourself?

Yes and here they are: I'm a girl, a teacher, a student, a daughter, a sister, a friend, an aunt. I'm athletic and clumsy, intellectual and forgetful, practical, logical, and sometimes not a very good decision maker, among other things.

9. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing?

I'm not wearing shoes right now. And I don't really stick to just one brand of shoe either. Just like with clothes, I have to try it before I'll buy the shoes, so just because its from a brand that has worked for me before doesn't mean I'll buy it again.

10. Bright or Dark Room?

Middle.

11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?

I don't know him, I just stole the meme.

12. What does your watch look like?

My watch looks like my cell phone. Because it is.

13. What were you doing at midnight last night?

Sleeping.

14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?

That there are still rooms available in the _________'s discounted group rate for a teacher friend's wedding.

15. Where is your nearest 7-11?

Less than a mile from my house.

16. What's a word that you say a lot?

Sad day.

17. Who told you he/she loved you last?

My parents, I suppose, but they didn't really say it verbally. My rabbit also cannot communicate verbally but I know he loves me because he jumps up to greet me and sometimes he runs around me in circles. =)

18. Last furry thing you touched?

Momiji!

19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?

Caffeine. I would say between 6-8 doses.

20. How many rolls of film do you need developed?

Dude, unless you are lo-mo, who develops film anymore?

21. Favorite age you have been so far?

26 - I'm pretty lucky that my life has turned out to be better and better as I get older.

22. Your worst enemy?

Open Court.

23. What is your current desktop picture?



24. What was the last thing you said to someone?

"I don't think my sense are good enough to detect the 'fishy' smell of fish, unless it's a fish that's been sitting out and rotting for way too long."

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?

The money. Because I can manage to fly in other ways, so this way I'll have both.

26. Do you like someone?

Yes.

27. The last song you listened to?

"Dance" by Clazziquai

28. What time of day were you born?

1:30 PM

29. What’s your favorite number?

2

30. Where did you live in 1987?

Hong Kong for the first half of that year. Stockton for the second half.

31. Are you jealous of anyone?

Yes.

32. Is anyone jealous of you?

I think so, but in the good "I admire you way," not the "I want to kill you way." And I only know this because we're friends and she told me, which was really flattering.

33. Where were you when 9/11 happened?

At home.

34. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?

Go to the authorities and get my money or my product.

35. Do you consider yourself kind?

Yes. But I've also been told that I'm blunt. I suppose your level of kindness depends on the sensitivity of the other person. Although shouldn't there be some sort of absolute value in kindness?

36. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?

Lower back, probably one of those colored ones. It's a tattoo, might as well make it flamboyant. Although I probably wouldn't last through the whole process. I don't like pain and my skin is highly sensitive.

37. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be?

Spanish. This would be so helpful with teaching.

38. Would you move for the person you loved?

Depends, but probably yes. I'm also lucky that I can find a job in nearly any place on the planet with my skill set.

39. Are you touchy feely?

No.

40. What’s your life motto?

(See my desktop photo)

41. Name three things that you have on you at all times?

Glasses, underwear, chapstick. I'm guessing being in the shower and such doesn't count.

42. What’s your favourite town/city?

HK

43. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?

Tortillas and salami from Food 4 Less.

44. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?

Yesterday!

45. Can you change the oil on a car?

Theoretically, yes. But my dad makes me take it to the dealer to keep the warranty viable.

46. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?

That he moved away. This was in the fifth grade, I think.

47. How far back do you know about your ancestry?

I know my great-grandmother on my dad's dad side was called "Ah Bak" for her white skin ("bak" in cantonese is white, like "bai" is white in mandarin). She also took care of the entire family while her husband was in Mexico doing import/exports, and she also knew how to handle a rifle and once shot a raccoon from off the roof of the house. The raccoon was stealing food.

48. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy?

A purple and black one piece Nine West social dress from Marshalls (only $17! originally $75!) and wedge heels from H&M for a wedding. I've been to two weddings this year in this outfit, and I've got two more weddings to attend. This has turned out to officially be my 2009 wedding attendee outfit.

49. Does anything hurt on your body right now?

No, thankfully. I have noticed that it takes me longer to warm up pre-workout now than just two years ago when I started working out regularly. Warm-ups and cool-downs make for a more efficient and injury-less exercise session!

50. Have you been burned by love?

No. But it doesn't take as much as love to get burned in this world.