A new year, a new term…hopefully no oncoming apocalypse?

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So, as my second term in University begins, I guess this will be one of my last blog posts for a while! I remember last term when I desperately wanted to blog, but could not find time. I now understand I will probably have to sacrifice some things while concentrating on my studies. Those of you who knew me know what I was going through and it was effort enough to get to school without bursting into tears… great prospects for term 2.

Anyway, the new year has come and gone and I have made some resolutions. Hopefully I will keep them. Despite the possibility of that being low, it is still nice to have something to aim for! So here they are:

1) Take up reading again
Last term, another thing I sacrificed was reading. I love reading–always have, always will. I want to fit reading back into my life. Not forcefully of course, but I want myself to not feel so guilty when I sacrifice some time towards reading. Time will tell if I actually find it possible to find time for it though! Still have not lived through my timetable, so I do not know how hectic this school term will get!

2) Stop cussing like a sailor
Okay, I do not swear that much, but I can do better. I always hate it when I hear people talking and it seems like swear words has become a part of their everyday vocabulary. Is there really no other words you can find to describe whatever you are talking about?? So since it pisses me off so much, I think I should tone down my swearing as well. Maybe just noticing when I cuss will suffice for this resolution because I feel like I do not do it that often. 🙂

3) New Experiences
I usually am very skeptical when it comes to trying new things. I want myself to give things a chance before I say no. I know this is a vague resolution so I will have to work on how I will keep this in check!

4) Healthy Shiatzu
Link to what I mean when I say Shiatzu (please refer to no. 2) Haha! It is just that some of my friends asked me what that even means…
Anyway, I want to be a bit more healthy. But then again, this is probably one of my resolutions every year and look where it has gotten me… I just came back from all-you-can-eat at Fish on Rice. Followed by a not-very-healthy dose of frozen yogurt with loads of toppings.

One of my proudest achievements this winter vacation has been watching a lot of new movies. And by new movies, I mean movies that I have never watched before because they were all made before I was born. Watching them has been fascinating and I found it amazing what directors and producers managed to create with the limited technology and materials they had! Of course, my favourite film out of all the ones I watched had to be Star Wars. I also watched all the Indiana Jones movies. Okay, fine I watched a bunch of Harrison Ford movies okay? Yeah. But I am glad my obsession has lead me to discover so much more! This is like discovering and watching Breakfast at Tiffany’s all over again! Except I actually had time to find and watch more movies instead of just marvelling at one.
The more old movies I watched, the more I honestly feel like I was born in the wrong time. Of course, I should count my lucky stars as I live in a generation that did/does not have to worry about wars…well in a country that did not have to anyway. And there is also all this wonderful technology around me. But when I get absorbed in the movies, it all just blurs and makes me wish I can go back. I will not lie, I really do not have a huge appreciation for our modern entertainment…but do not get me wrong, there’s still plenty of talent. Just that it feels like talent back then was more raw and original? Yeah, something like that.You know there’s something going on in society when books like this exist
Anyway, it has been an enlightening break and I hope everyone is off to a great start this year! I really hope I can squeeze in blogging because I really do love it! But for now, I guess it is good-bye! Wish me luck on my new term!

-Karen

Contingent Contemplation: Re-watching Star Wars

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Ever feel like you were born too late?

Yes, I am talking about me not being able to feel all the hype that surrounded Star Wars way back then. Okay, maybe it was not too long ago, and there were more recent Star Wars films released, but what I am emphasizing on is the ones from the 1980s. I have watched these with my parents when I was younger, but re-watching them again this winter break made it clear to me: They are gold. Seriously, I am addicted and really sad that I cannot be there to get excited about its original release. Looking around, there is still lots of pieces of the Star Wars legacy that exist around me, but it is not the same. I really wish I could have been there.

So, moving on from what I cannot change, watching Star Wars again made me fall in love with Han Solo. With all movies, I usually fall in love with some actor or character and it happens that this time it is Han Solo. I thought I would like Luke more because he was one of the only characters I remembered from watching Star Wars all those years ago. However, Solo is just such a charming character (not to mention a badass) and I loved his relationship with Princess Leia. Again, too bad I cannot find many Han Solo fans around my age anywhere close by because I would definitely be rambling about him all day. Just like I do with a million other actors, such as Shia LaBeouf to name one. And of course, that is my segue into a slightly related topic. I also re-watched Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull just so I can see Harrison Ford. I have never paid much attention to him as my eyes are usually on Shia LaBeouf, but this time I kept my eyes glued on Harrison Ford. Amazingly (or not), I still see a lot of his Han Solo days in him and that delighted me lots. However, I still wish I could be a adoring fan girl who was obsessing over a 30 year old Harrison Ford. Being 18, I feel more appropriate obsessing over Han Solo instead of the current Harrison Ford.

I vaguely remember watching most of the Star Wars movies in my past but not enough to remember what it was really about, so it all seem a bit new to me. I did watch Star Wars in the way it is supposed to be seen (according to most people– and I definitely agree): IV, V, VI then I, II, III. Before starting my marathon, I honestly believed I would like the prequel a lot more because I was more used to modern films. However, after watching the fourth to the sixth ones, I was beginning to wonder if the prequel can live up to it. It did not in my opinion and I was slightly disappointed. Despite them being made with way less technology and had to make do with what they had back in the 1980s, George Lucas did a pretty good job at depicting an exciting galactic adventure in episodes IV-VI. At the same time, it was interesting to see the prequel, understand the circumstances for what followed and see how George Lucas directed films closer to my time. Now I want to read the books to get even more in depth…but, I am still not done reading Game of Thrones and my second term in university is about to start. Woes of a student.

While I was Boxing Day shopping today, I was on the lookout for Star Wars merchandise, namely Star Wars posters with Han Solo and Princess Leia. Of course, I failed miserably and only managed to find some posters with either the entire ensemble of all the Star Wars characters (which was pretty cool, but I did not feel like getting it) or ones that focused on Yoda (who is also really cool, but again, not what I was looking for). I also wanted this:

But the chances of me randomly finding that in a Vancouver shopping mall was definitely really low, so I gave up the search before it started. Okay, that is a lie because I went to custom t-shirt places just to check, but my suspicions came true. I also found moleskine Star Wars notebooks, but that was kind of boring. I guess if I wanted any good Star Wars merchandise, I would have to go online. Which I promptly did when I went home and found these:

Lightsaber chopsticks! I am asian so we eat with chopsticks everyday anyway! WANT WANT WANT!

Ugh I cannot believe I am getting into Star Wars now. I feel so behind…Oh well, at least I found something to do over my holiday. 🙂

-Karen

Tis the season: Part 3 (No! It’s ending! 3 things I’ll miss…)

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What I’ll miss most:

1) The all day Christmas radio station

I have been getting really sick of the regular songs I hear on the radio that are popular these days…so the Christmas radio station was a refreshing change! Plus, you just feel festive and happy listening to chiming bells and upbeat Christmas jingles! I definitely will be missing that.

2) Decorations everywhere

The streets I walk will once again be reverted back to plain trees without beautiful, multicoloured lights. The malls will take down their decorations of colourful garlands and baubles, as well as that huge Christmas tree every mall has. ='(

Random hanging Christmas decoration at Metrotown

3) having something to look forward to

I think Christmas is the next best thing after waiting for my birthday. Especially for presents! It is not so much as what is in the presents, but the act of opening them! That is why I usually wrap my sister’s gifts separately instead of stuffing them in one box and then wrapping the one box! She and I share the same view on opening presents.

On the other hand…did boxing day shopping today. That is definitely something I look forward to after Christmas, but it is in no way comparable to Christmas itself. But still, better than nothing! Totally wiped from walking so much and visiting so many packed and really warm stores!

-Karen

Tis the season to be jolly!: Part 2 (Legit Christmas dinner)

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So my friends decided that we needed to have a ‘legit’ Christmas dinner as we have not had one throughout the years. Yesterday was when it happened! To begin, my part in the preparations were really small, so many thanks to those who went a day early to prepare! And thank you Edna for letting us do it at your house! Everything was delicious and overall and it was really fun!

Neil carving the turkey 🙂

Legit dinner right there

The main part of the dinner consisted of all the regular Christmas food: Turkey, peas, corn, mashed potatoes…you know, traditional Christmas stuff. I do not think I have had such a ‘legit’ Christmas dinner for either a very long time, or never at all! Being asian, Christmas dinner always consisted of somehow incorporating rice or some other asian touch to the dinner! 😛 After dinner came dessert– and this is where I wished I saved more room in my stomach. There was three times as much desserts as there were for the main course! Butter tarts, pumpkin tarts, cupcakes, cookies, cheesecake, apple pie..the list goes on! But I was so full by the time dessert was out that I could only sample a bit of the overall selection!

Dessert!

After dinner we all headed out the the living room to watch Christmas movies and play some games. We had a gingerbread making contest! It was super fun and to make it more challenging, we had a 20 minute time limit. We were also only allowed to use one hand per person. Of course, these were pre-made gingerbread and we just had to assemble and decorate it. Connie and I reunited thebomb.com and David and William joined us. Although we did not win, it was still fun to build a gingerbread house (well, train really)! I haven’t built one in ages! I think the last time I did was almost six years ago!

You know I got serious when I tie up my hair and am not sitting down, being my usual lazy self.

Our gingerbread train!

After gingerbread house making, a majority of us decided to watch SAW. I could never stand gory films so I volunteered to leave the living room. 😛 Josh and I went to Edna’s room and we played our Game of Thrones card game. Eventually we heard our friends screaming and exclaiming as they watched people die on screen…and then some other friends started to trickle into the room as well. Yeah, talk about having a Christmasy atmosphere. Josh and I decided to block out the scary sounds and reactions and we turned up Christmas music on Josh’s MacBook. Safe and sound in Edna’s room ❤

It felt like the party ended too soon, but by the time we left, it was around 2:30 at night! I was not at all tired…until I got back home and the fatigue kicked in. It was awesome to get to see everyone again. After university started, it felt like all I was doing was no-lifing school! But, it finally felt like the old times when I could just go out whenever I wanted without having to worry about an upcoming midterm or project! In other words, it felt wonderful! Hope everyone else’s winter holiday is going swell as well! 🙂

Until my next post,

Karen