Miami, Florida (12/28/05-12/31/05)

This is the really Florida I'm talking about... the sunshine, the warm weather, the beautiful beaches and... also the nice views(people and seaside...)

the sand, the grand
sun and beautful land...
the warm weather,
the skin tanner,
and also the cure for seasonal affective disorder...
the moral booster,
the soul healer, and the body rejuvenator...
what a trip, that I need, that
heals me toe to tip...

photos and all will be posted soon... soon enough...

I'm currently at the Miami International Airport... where all my friends (Tze Chang, Teck Hua, Hong Tuck and Wei Jie are soundly asleep on the carpeted floor at Gate G... while I'm trying to stay awake by typing this piece of not so successful poem... lol...
it's 2.14am now...

my flight is at 6.40am... another 2-3 hours to kill... so that i can check in luggage and really wait for the flight...

that's all for now... detailed stories about my encounters will be posted when i'm not so tired and trying to stay awake... well well well... if i'm too bored and couldn't find anything else to do... i might come back and update the blog sooner than i thought...

so... check back soon...

Orlando, Florida (12/23/06 - 12/28/06)

It's a wonderful trip... although it's a bit colder than what I expected the sunshine state has to offer, but, the rides and the sights at different parks and all are still amazing... photos will be posted soon... when i have more juice (brain juice)...

Leaving now...

I'm packed and ready to go... this is how my room looks when i left... (the right side, (looking into the room from the door) of the inner room, there's a dresser not in the picture)This is the left side of the room...
This is my closet...
And these are the stuffs i'm travelling with... (of course, my laptop is not in the bag yet...)

alright... got to go now... better not be late... don't want to miss my bus-train ride to Pittsburgh... will be reaching Pittsburgh at about 4am... (thanks Tze Chang, Teck Hua, and possibly Hong Tuck for willing to meet me at such hour at the train station... :P)

take care... and check back soon...

Finally...

Finally, I'm done with finals... being one of the last one in ur hall to be done with finals is no fun... well... staring at the empty hall, empty rooms surrounding me, quiet hallways, knowing everybody is having fun somewhere with somebody, while i'm spending my 'quality' time with books and notes and review questions...

so, after 3 days of battling with my Econ notes, and textbooks, and online articles...(i think more than 500+ pages easily), and more than 500 questions too... i woke up early this morning, at about 6.30am, got ready, and went to the exam at 7.40am... it was effing cold, (about -11C, or 10-12 Fahrenheit), and the wind was strong... anyway, reached the almost filled hall with frozen fingers and blocked nose...

started the exam at 8am, did decently well...(managed to get it done like 50 minutes before time), called Quang, just to make sure he was out of his bed, and ready for the airbus ride to the airport...(u will never know what he can do... he never fail to surprise me...), reached my dorm about 9.30am... called home and chatted for a while...

later, started throwing stuffs...(paid bills, receipts,... unwanted notes...), and packed those textbooks, notes and readings into a box... and did my last load of laundry of the year... and then cleared my trash... and i only have 1 thing left before I leave for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania... and then to Orlando and Miami, Florida... it will be a long trip... from tonight, til 4th of Jan 2006... I'll be back in Ann Arbor at 9+am...

so, shld i spare u guys the details about me studying for my Econs..? i think i shld...

Happy holidays, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year too... see you guys next year!!

Take care...

How can you not love Ann Arbor(A2)?

The title says it all...

I really really REALLY starting to feel attached to Ann Arbor(A2)... this intense feeling started last year actually... it's just so different... why?

A picture says more than a thousand words... so, i'll let u decide...

WARNING: if u think that u'll be offended by explicit, and kinda erotic art... (sculptures in this case), please click on this link.
Consider yourself warned...

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND...
now showing, the 'COLOSSAL SNOW PENIS'
1)Looking down from my hallway...
2)Not really upclose... but it's too humongous to take a pic of it upclose...
3)Another look of it4)One person walking nearby... so that u can compare the relative size...at least 12 feet I would say...5) So, actually, I was walking to the gym this morning... and apparently, another group of 'artists' decided to heed the call for challenge...So, at the other end of the field, actually, it's on the snow-covered tennis court, there's another one, i think slightly shorter(10 feet), but bushier(literally) one...6)yup... it's definitely bushier...
7) And we also appreciate other form of arts...such as hand sign.. (The I HEART U) sign8)Other than having an 'exquisite' taste for arts... we in Ann Arbor, like to change the habitat too... i think... you see, squirrels are supposed to be hibernating during the harsh winter season in a freezer like A2, however, due to the feeding from Ann Arborites, they are so fat that they can withstand cold better than we, earthlings donned on high-tech, thick cotton-polyester-nylon-titanium-watever fabrics... I was on my way back from the gym, i spotted this fellow... oh yar, did i mention that squirrels in Ann Arbor are not afraid of human too?9)Don't believe me??? Look at this photo, u think it is running away from me?? You are wrong... it is only climbing up to a more strategic position to look at me...

10)With an amatuerish digital camera, I can take a picture of it, so close, how far do u think it is away from me...

So... there you go... back to my rhetorical question... How can you not love Ann Arbor???

more snow... more fun...

done with my differential equation exam yesterday(not too bad), done with my stats exam today(bad... got screwed... badly)

but, well, it's over now... and my next exam is on Thursday.... and that's a week away... so, yeeha... let me play for the moment being...

this morning, it started snowing, not too bad... it was snowing so heavily by noon, and the snow just pounded and pounded down from the sky... huge snow flakes, the size of a quarter, and it just kept coming down... for hours... and i think by mid afternoon, we had a good 3-4 inches of snow...

so got back from the exam at about 6.45pm, saw ppl building a giant penis, complete with 2 balls, with snow... yeah... snowman is fun, but just too cute... giant penis is more like it...(it's pretty well sculpted actually... and for a snow penis this size... at least 12 feet tall, i think it took a good hour, or even longer to build...

here's a picture of it:
notice the two balls at the bottom...

here's another pic, with more ppl admiring the art...
so... did nothing much... went out with Quang to get a book, The Affluent Society by John Kenneth Galbraith... from Borders...

and got back, watched CSI:NY (last week's)... and then, called home, talked to dad and mom... and wanted to go to CCRB to work out... but too bad, it's operating a different hours now... and it closed at 11pm...(normally at 2am), well, have to wake up tomorrow morning to sweat then...

will be doing laundry later... at least 2 loads...(more than 2 weeks worth of dirty clothes there)

I didn't know that I've been "talking" so much...

So, I just got back from my Anthropology Final Midterm... so, basically, I'm done with 1 subject for this semester... 3 more to go... yeah baby..

So, once I got back, I performed my usual 'ritual', checking my emails, surfing around, and Recom.org would definitely be among those sites I browse...

and, when I think there's something that need to be answered, I'll definitely post something up there... and I have been doing this for quite a while now... almost 2 years now... and so far, I've posted more than 1200 replies... (some might not be visible to u if u go to this link because U have to be a member of the network, and also the member of some of the special interest groups (SIG).

It's a good place to ask question,(but please don't ask questions where u can find the answer from simply googling around...), and a good place to share knowledge and all...

so, have fun...

well... quite true... :)

You scored as Albus Dumbledore. Strong and powerful you admirably defend your world and your charges against those who would seek to harm them. However sometimes you can fail to do what you must because you care too much to cause suffering. Albus Dumbledore 90% Hermione Granger 85% Harry Potter 80% Remus Lupin 75% Severus Snape 70% Draco Malfoy 65% Ron Weasley 55% Sirius Black 55% Ginny Weasley 40% Lord Voldemort 25% Your Harry Potter Alter Ego Is...? created with QuizFarm.com

haha... i think it's quite accurate... I've a choker of another wizard though, Gandalf from the LOTR..., which i wear it for 'wisdom'... during exams and all... so wish me luck for my upcoming Midterm(tomorrow, actually today), and Finals... (Wednesday, Thursday and the Thursday after)....

Cold... cold... cold...

so, i was outside for three hours... holding a bucket, and asking for money, for funding of our Alternative Spring Break(ASB)... where 12 of us will be going to volunteer for a week at the World Hunger Relief Farm at Elm Mott, Texas...

so, there I was, with several group mates, standing in the blistering cold, it was below freezing point and it was windy... so, we were just standing there, waiting for to pass by and ask them for change and all.... many people avoided us, some ignored us, some donated to us... YEAH... thank you...!!!

so, after 3 hours... (from 5 til 8), we collected quite a good amount... and all of us have numbed toes... lol...

and about the bottles and cans... i collected them for the deposit... 10 cents each... not too bad... will sum up to not bad an amount... (i've collected about 100 so far... that's $10 bucks)...

oh yar... if you don't mind, u can support by donating it to me, or just by simply clicking the links somewhere below the chatterbox...

thanks... and take care...

(p/s: in the process of bucketing, i learned that homeless ppl really have a hardtime asking for money, the cold, and the ignores... i'll definitely donate my change next time i see them... u guys shld too...)

Taking a break for awhile...

well well, after cramming tons of readings into a weekend... all anthropology reading(worst still)... well, not that i don't like it, but reading about how ppl started making a living, then, reading about cities states and chiefdoms, then about kinship and marriages, then about gender, then about, religion and finally world system is not all that fun... although it can be kinda interesting to see how in some societies, there's a 'third' gender... and how different marriages and different role man and woman in different societies play... and all... i can go on and on forever, but i think u guys need a break...

so, i was surfing and found this interesting page... about drawings inspired by SPAM lines...

here u go, and enjoy... some are pretty lame, but some are wonderful...
http://spamusement.com/

More pics...

so, after yesterday's night crazy photo taking session, i went back to my room, and then, later went down again to take a few more pics with Putt...

like this picture....
and that picture,
and also this picture
and this picture

i was so tired that i decided to lay on the snow on the ground...

got back to my room at about 2am... and started doing my homework...for stats, which i didn't hand in today, because i couldn't solve 2 of the questions... so, no point handing in because it won't really improve my grades... slept at about 3am...

woke up at 6.30am...work...felt like shit... had 3 cups of tea... each with two teabags...
i needed the caffeine...
then, went to class, in the afternoon, needed more caffeine and sugar... so, i opt for Mountain Dew, and sometimes Coca-cola...
That's why my fridge has nothing but sugar and caffeine... those red packets on the left are amazing Mrs Fields cookies... high sugar content...

and overtime, i think about two weeks... these are what i've collected

today's weather wasn't too bad... outside was nice and all..., like this:(looking out from my the window in my room...)this is beautiful... right outside the side door of my dorm...

and this, is pic of the dorms on hill area, except Couzens, and Markley... well, the leftmost is Alice Lloyd, the dorm i'm in...

alright... enough of crap... but those pics are nice...

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

I'm supposedly studying for my anthro, and also do my stats homework...

but... it's snowing heavily outside, and it's beautiful... so, i decided to go out and take a walk, and snap some pics... and here they are...

oops... i'm in deeeeep shit.... i mean snow... deep snow...

now... someone is in deep shit when he/she recovers his bike tmr...


apparently, i'm not the only crazy one, wandering in the night (about 1am) in a snow storm...

nice?? i know it is... thanks for ur reassurance though... i appreciate it... lol

yet another nice photo... wonder who's the photographer??

i was only outside for like 20 minutes... and it was snowing so heavily that i was covered with a thin layer of snow... my hair, my gloves... and my jacket... (it's wet now...)

alright... videos? i'll get them up here once i figured out how i can do it... or else, i'll put it up on my yet-to-be-built personal webpage at my university-provided webspace...

my camera lens was exposed to some moisture in the process of taking these photos... i dried it with a cotton bud, and it seemed to be OK... well, i don't give a ..... if it's not, but, it's a Canon, it should be working fine... (I'm looking at another camera currently... will get it if there's sweet deal before Christmas or before New Year day...

alright...need to get back to my books, and maybe my homework, will try to pull an all nighter tonight, and see how it goes...

peace for now...

Procrastination is the best solution...

was wasting time doing all sorts of nonsense...

like the other day, i thought it was fun to arrange my collection of state quarters... i have 28 of different states(some multiples)... not sure of the total minted so far...
and, i was bored, so looked out of my window and started snapping photos...
Spooky?? haha... this was taken with long exposure and shaky hands... well, who can hold their hands perfectly still for 2 seconds? i can't...

and this was taken with 1/4 second exposure time...

and this is my so-called 'new' hair style... well, just because of my wearing the cap/beanie long hours everyday, my hair is kinda 'restricted' from erecting like a cactus...
what do u think? not too bad? and sorry for that slyish smile...

alright... back to work now...

The Countdown continues...

so.. i'll try to keep this short... really short... so, where and when shld i start?

ok Friday... met with my UROP sponsor faculty, and other students who i'm working with separately together...(go figure)... and then, worked.. and then, supposedly start with my Anthro paper, but ended up watching 4 episodes of CSI and CSI NY... and then, went to bed... pretty early... at about 12 something...

woke up next morning, at about 10+... started writing on my paper... and did that for most of the afternoon, not bad... did 4 pages before dinner time.. went red hawk, for beijing duck quesadillas with Quang... he loved it so much... so, next time want good food, look for me... got back at abt 9pm... continued on my paper...downed 2 more pages before it's time to go my fren's, Jen's birthday party... went there, had some beer...(quite some beer... quite a lot of beer... lost count, definitely more than 10, Quang projected 13, I estimated 14 or more...) played beer pong, chilled out abit... and left the party at almost 2... got a sandwich, then, went for a walk looking for something, but most stores were closed... walked for pretty long, and got back to my room at 2.45am... was really thrashed, smashed, wasted, watever u want to call it because I could hardly remember the details... was told that i was a good drunk... just goofy, nothing else...

woke up next morning at 8+, called home, decided against working out because of hungover, went back to bed, til 10+ decided to sleep til noon... and went for brunch, got back, still feeling 'it'... continued with my paper at 3pm... finished my reading, and got back to my paper, and went out for ASB dinner cum meeting at 5.30pm, and then, continued by ASB all-sites kick off, and lasted til 9pm... continued with paper, and, finally, did 9 pages... went to bed at abt 1.30am...

Monday, work, class, lunch, review paper, class, met up with GSI again (waited an hour and was late for the next class), late for class, meeting, got back tired, slept, woke up, did some math, went to bed at 2+am

Today,... nothing much... got some shirts at some big-ass sale... not too bad... really cold, near zero degree Fahrenheit... - 15C this morning, high of the day was -7...

oh yar... the countdown continues... countdown to finals, countdown to my trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvannia, and Orlando, Miami, Florida... and also countdown to my 21st birthday...

The Countdown has started!!!

Alright... actually, i'm well again the day after I was sicked... but, was kinda occupied with something else, so, didn't update the blog as I promised... sorry about it...

So, the week wasn't too bad... other than falling sick and all, it wasn't too bad... got back my midterms and all, OK about it... not too happy, and not too sad either...

Started working on my paper, my Anthro paper... and got the outline done... and met with my GSI this afternoon, and got her input on it too... thanks...

did abstract for my UROP... and the rough draft is done...

practically, a pretty productive week i shall say...

another thing, I registered for my classes next semester... although many of the classes are full, i've plan B if those classes I'm waitlisted don't go through...

it won't be such a nice semester if I were to follow my plan B (no 4-days week...), and it will be full with Econs... Econs 402(intermediate macroeconomics), Econs 406 (Econometrics), Econ 435(Financial Economics) (most probably choosing 2 of the 3), maybe Astro 210 (Magellan Universe), and Math 424 ... and of course UROP!!! that will translate into 18/17 credits or 14/13 credits... I wonder why I'm doing this, but I'm feeling it... maybe my KIASUness is getting the better of me... but a man got to do what a man feels like doing... lol

So, what countdown am I talking about? (hint: counting down from 100...) it is a huge thing here, and also in many other cultures, and it gives one person special rights... got it? No? Yes?
Well, it's a countdown to my 21st birthday... 100 days to go... yeah!!! just 100 days... slightly more than 3 months... but, minus the weekends(i don't know why i'm able to do that, not like i'm in a prison and counting my days), minus the holidays(against, i don't know why), minus the exams and study week (...this is more a valid reason, because when u study, u don't really bother thinking about the free time, if there's any)...

and i don't think i want to talk more about anything... need to control my blog diarrhea... (i hit the print button accidentally this afternoon, and wasted 22 pages of my printing...)

and, i've been receiving my packages (thanks to my Black Friday, and Tech Monday) shopping lately... got my post-it(R) notes, blank dvds, sandals... yet to get my headphones and jeans...
pining for them though...

weather had been crazy... well, snow... sunshine... rain... strong gust...

busy with MJE(Michigan Journal of Economics) too... and that's about it...

take care... good night and good luck!!!