Hello? Is this on?

Blogging. I did that? Seems like another era, another life. But here it all is and I’m reading past posts, cringing (that writing, yeesh), and I suddenly had the urge to compose something again. To let my thoughts take over the typing and away. But do people still blog? It seems to be all “lifestyle” and technology-related blogs, if anything, now. Everyone else is a YouTube star in the making. But I’ve been up to some things in the past 7 years-ish (seriously?!). So, hi. How have you been?

 

The Hiatus

Dearest blog,

I’m sorry for the neglect. But I have thought about you a lot. How much fun we had. The way we were.

But it’s been nearly 3 years..!? 1057 days.

Wow. I thought I was bad before with delays in posting.

I’m alive and well. Life created an unexpected ball of momentum when I returned to Canada after finishing law school. And well, I forgot about you, Blog, but did come back to you now and then to go over old times. But never with enough inspiration to write. I used to love to write. And now, I just want the subway to not not delay on my way home. Sadness, is it not? I might come back, Blog, but if I don’t, I’ll cherish the good and bad and continue to visit.

I doubt there is anyone out there who still drops by this blog, but I can be found here on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/halfcuppachai

REJOICE!

I HAVE JUST FINISHED WRITING MY LAST LAW EXAM.

People…

I AM DONE LAW SCHOOL!!!

(yes, waiting for marks…but that doesn’t count)

Leaving Australia in about 5 days…how quickly it all ends.

Maybe I should re-watch the ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’ movie…?

Maybe it’s a self-defence mechanism. Maybe it’s just logical reasoning. Maybe…probably…it’s just a string of weak excuses.

Then:

“I’ just handed in my last law essay ever!  Treating myself to fabulous dinner, totally justified”

“I just aced my mid-term moot court – new shirt is needed for all future real court stuff!”

“Look I cleaned my room 3 days before I said I would, this scarf brings out my eyes”

“I just had my last law lecture ever!  3 tops for one price? Sounds like a great deal!”

“I need to protect my eyes…so much reading to do in the future; do those sunglasses come in a black frame?”

“I’m spending 2 weeks in California after I leave Australia – I need to buy others gifts, and sure, pick up something for myself to wear while there”

Now:

“OH HOLY %#!@(* – that is NOT my bank statement…!?! I’m a broke, job-less law graduate who’s moving back home in 2 weeks – WHERE THE HELL ARE THE RECEIPTS FOR ALL THIS STUFF!?”

Lesson learned:

eBay is my friend. Well…not the “Buy” listings, the “Sell” ones.

But.

Once I sell…I can use that money for other stuff so I’m not losing using more money, just the money I’ve already…not…had.

Right?

(Don’t worry, I’ve checked  “book therapist appointment” off my To Do list already – it’s after my Shopaholics Anonymous meeting)

Law Student Legalease

FYI, law students = biggest bullshitters around (you can exclude me out of that wayward equation though :D)

Examples:

(1)  “I have an interview with a HUGE firm. They called me like the next day after I sent my resume and I don’t even really want the job”

–Translation: I have never heard of this firm until I Googled them, but they were the 10th hit down the page. They’re located about 3 blocks from an actual intersection that I’ve only just heard of. I don’t even know what type of law they practice.

Reply: That’s AWESOME! Good for you! I’m glad you got that opportunity, sounds…AWESOME. Good luck!

– Transalation: “huge firm” eh? What, are they next to a Starbucks AND a Second Cup?  Sure, why would you want the job, after all the economy these days is booming, people are literally knocking on your door to have you come take the surplus of opportunities that are out there. Nope, no need, reject that huge firm and tell them to go stick it in a Tim Hortons.

(2) “I’m writing a 10,000 word paper on “Chinese walls and corporate malfeasance” on my own time, in between my other classes and work. I’m getting it published in the next Law Review. A professor at Northwestern told me he’ll submit it to their law review and maybe even a journal or two”

– Translation: All my friends graduated and left semester and my course load is easier than downing 5 cups of coffee in an hour so I have too much time on my hands and want to have people ask me why I’m always in the library surrounded by books and journals. I got the contact for the professor at Northwestern from the university website. I really just got a one-liner reply from him (which was possibly an automated reply…).

(3) “I’m enjoying it here so much that I thought I’d stay a couple extra semesters and take more electives and really find out what I want to get into in the future”

– Translation: I failed too many classes because I was either: (a) drunk most of the past few semesters and failed, (b) on the beach most of the semesters and failed, (c) drunk on the beach, (d) walked into the wrong exam at the end of the last semester and had no excuse, so failed.

(4) “Oh yeah, those notes, I have them, sure…. um…ahhhhhh! Damnit, I just realized they’re on my hard drive at home. Damn! Can I email them to you? Sure, I know you need them asap so I’ll do it right when I get home”

– Translation: I do not want to give you my notes. They’re not on my hard drive, I’m looking at them right now. You lazy, beach-going, drunk, stupid leecher. I’ve “lost” your email and will hide from you the rest of the next couple weeks before exams.

Reply: Cool, thanks a lot!

– Translation: SWEEEEEEEETTTT, I am so set for this exam. I’m going to the beach.

(5) “That course? Yeah…it’s good. Yeah, pretty good. The prof is great. How did I do in it? Well, he doesn’t mark that easily, the question for the paper was sort of unfair – meant for Master’s students really. He’s a good prof though. Really. But…maybe you want to wait until next semester until someone else is teaching it though. But really, great prof”

– Translation: DONOTTAKETHATCOURSEWHATEVRYOUDO. YOU WILL FAIL. WE ALL FAILED. THOSE WHO DID NOT FAIL PAID HIM OFF OR IT’S A MISTAKE AND THEY WILL FAIL BECAUSE HE’S JUST TOYING WITH THEM. But, he is a good prof.

21 Days…

…and I’m free.

Right now I’m suffocating with the exams and papers that are all being flung at me. Their last chance to torture teach and they are taking full advantage of it.

Besides treading water here I’ve totally caught up with LOST. And if you don’t watch Lost…then I wonder WHY, but at the same time I think it’s better off that you save your sanity.  Every time I’ve watched an episode this seasons I’ve cursed more than I have in the span of a year. It’s just too crazy.

Have you ever come to a point where you feel lost without a certain item? Like when you were a kid and dragged around a frayed and over-washed blanket everywhere you went?

My laptop is now my security blanket. I am lost and confused and achy without it. This is sad. I left it at a friend’s house before we went out to eat one night, then ended up going to someone else’s house to go over some notes. I was without my laptop for about 4 hours and it left me absolutely panicky . What if I needed search through my notes? Or listen to a song? Or look at some pictures?? WHAT IF I NEEDED TO GOOGLE SOMETHING!?!

I’ve also concluded that I attract all the wrong people. All of them. The crazies, the weirdos, the brainless, the noisy and the ones who I like but can’t marry.  If I’ve left out some category, then it’ll probably be at my doorstep soon enough.

Worries as of Tues, Feb 24th.

Being brown, I’m not spared from the idea that I ought to root for “Slumdog Millionaire” to win at the Oscars.  But, it’s just one of those movies you can’t help but love. It’s the underdog – no glitzy promos, no over-paid or unnecessarily famous actors (Anil Kapoor doesn’t count – the man’s a legend, ha) and it’s just outside the run of the mill rags-to-riches type of story. Who doesn’t love the underdog? People who like to kick puppies, that’s who.  So, I loved it the movie as did pretty much everyone else I’ve talked to about it. But above all, I’ve grown an indecent love for the soundtrack. You have to. Really. I mean AR Rahman being a favourite composer of mine or not, every track is perfect.

And that’s that. They picked up 8 Oscars (Best Picture, Director, Soundtrack, Original Song…I lost track after that).

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What’s your opinion on protests? Do they work? What’s the point? I remember in my first year of university there was going to be a protest…about something (can you sense my deep involvement?) and I was being harassed by an overzealous classmate that I had to attend. I mean, did I support the evil puppy-kickers of the world (that analogy is stuck with me now, deal with it)? Of course I didn’t! So, thus, verily, in conclusion, I must attend the protest.

Dude, it was November. In Canada. It is cold. And possibly I was a little more pessimistic than I needed to be at that age and time, but I just didn’t see the point. A group of people with signs wasn’t going change anything. John Mayer said it – “Is there anyone who remembers changing their mind from the paint on a sign?”.   Governments would continue to do what they want, where they want. It wouldn’t stop a war no matter how pointless, it wouldn’t decrease tuition fees or freeze it forever  nor would it stop people from wearing Crocs.

Or would it? Maybe a protest is more an outlet for people. A way to show what they believe in regardless of how the outcome will be. Sure, it may not give the outcome that you want, but I guess that chance to show your beliefs and passions doesn’t come around often. Yep, protests and and free ice cream day at Baskin Robbins – only places where you can show how radical a believer you are.

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I would like to show more pictures of my place and the surrounding area, but my butterfingers dropped my camera a couple months ago while taking pictures and now it makes a heartbreaking noise while struggling to turn on, but I haven’t had the time to get it fixed. I’m worried I’ll have to live off of bread crumbs for a month in order to buy a new one if it can’t get fixed.

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Other worries…

My 9 10-year old sister asked me what an “emo” is.  Her friend Jessica tells her that “it’s someone who cuts their wrists and pops their veins just because they want to, but they don’t die”.

I thought I had at least a couple more years before I’d have to deal with questions like this. Shouldn’t she still be playing with Barbies and dreaming of rainbows and cookies!?!

Somehow I explained what it was and she believed me…I think.

Screw it, she’s being homeschooled once I get home.

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It’s “week 6” in our term. Meaning 6 more weeks until end of classes + 2 week exam period. OMG.

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I’m strangley addicted to the Twilight series of books. No, I didn’t turn into a junior high student overnight and really the writing isn’t that amazing and the story gets predictable – so why have I spent all this money on 3 books so far…!? Because the guy at the bookstore around the corner is really cute…but now thinks I have the literary sense of a 2-year old. Damn.

Fun in the Sun

So my blog updates are as rare as…I don’t know, they’re rare. Last semester of law school people, I’m lucky I’m able still able to make coherent sentences when I talk to people, let alone write them all smart-like.

As it is my last semester here in Australia, I figured that now is the time to live it up, or as close to that concept as possible. I just moved to an amazingly amazing beachfront apartment with….wait for it… VDG (no it’s not a disease, see here and/or here for references). Shocked? So was I. But she’s grown on me…sort of like moss, slow and slightly irritating, but harmless and adds colour. The new place is right near the centre of a busy tourist area as well so there are plenty of shops and restaurants to wander around (and spend money I don’t reeeallly have, in).

I’ve been here 2 weeks and I heart it ever so much.  To the point that the idea of staying another semester to do a LLM creeped into my head.  But then I opened up my MSN Messenger and read an offline message my 10-year old sister left for me which ended off with “I love you soooo much more than you’ll ever know. 3 months is just too long to see you!“. And then my heart crumbled…then and melted at the same time, odd. Either way, I snapped back to reality and rechecked my confirmed ticket home for May 1, 2009 (ironical as that was the exact day that I landed here in Australia – didn’t plan it that way though).

Living with a roommate is a first though, and I thought I did everything I could have to make sure I was being good. I clean up everything right away, don’t make noise, give her space when she’s on the phone. But apparently I’ve managed to do something within a week that has ticked off VDG a little. And when asked, she won’t tell me –

Me: you’ve been kinda quiet last couple days, is it something I’ve done?

VDG: I don’t want to hurt our friendship over little things.

Me: But if it’s bothering you, I’d like to know so I don’t do it anymore, I mean we’re living there for the next 3 months.

VDG: I don’t want to change you just because we’re living together for 3 months. It’s something you should realize it on your own.

WTF?!? WOMEN.

I know, I know.

But, seriously though, WTF?

I’ve racked my brains for hours trying to figure it out, but aside from breathing in the same airspace, I have no idea. Any suggestion welcome.

Aside from that, what’s new? Hmm…I went home for the holidays. It was a good trip overall (much colder than ever). Met with friends, had the usual spat with mom (“You’re not married.” “why aren’t you married”  “you should join a gym for the month you’re here”  “are you married yet?”) but being the last ‘trip’ home I realized there’s no more escape from that.  *sigh* what to do?

New Year’s resolution to post-more-frequently-to-blog is in effect (as you can see)! As is the water thing. And don’t write me off as a person who should be on your block list, but I’ve grow a strange affinity to Japanese red bean buns.

Oooh which brings to mind – I’m thinking, like really thinking about going to Japan in May before I go home O_O. Crazy? Seeing as I how I’m financially…stiff… it’s still in the daydream stage of planning. But it’s a trip I’ve wanted to do for a long time (i.e. prior to the red bean bun fascination…but seriously, they’re good). Only thing is I don’t want to do it alone, although I know I could. So what to do there?

Sorry for being a terrible blogger friend…I sporadically read updates, but new internet at new apartment is irritating so I’ve had to became a pauper at saving bandwith wherever I can so I can use Vonage to call home.

I’ll post pics of the new place soon, but here’s one to start off…the view from my balcony:

Happy New Year and all that jazz…

I’ve been MIA for awhile not because of busy-ness, but just lack of motivation to write anything (alternatively, read: lazy). Hopefully I’m like that one person people tend to know who they don’t hear from for months and when they appear out of nowhere and you talk to them (or read their blog…) it’s like no time has passed.  Either that, or people have given up on my blog and me.

I spent about 5 days in California (not warm and sunny despite the deceiving palm trees would suggest) and got some much needed chilling time with my favourite cousins who I miss terribly. I’ve been back home in Toronto for a about a week and half now. Either it’s gotten colder here or I’ve turned into a weakling who can’t stand the cold. But I’m cold. All the time. WTF?

I guess end of the year is when you reflect on the days that have fleeted by in a blur and then make your resolutions for the upcoming year. Which I think most people forget by the time they crawl home from their New Year’s Eve parties.  But intention counts for something, right?

But my resolutions for 2009 are:

• finish law school (APRIL 27TH!)
• update my blog more (despite how mundane life can be)
• keep closet organized for more than a week
• drink more water
• catch up with old friends (other than a yearly Facebook message)

(I stole the last two from Ruby – what else are friends for than to have you leech of their good ideas?)

I’m off to ring in the new year with some old frineds and new (as the   song goes…Auld Lang Syne).

Wishing you all a very happy new year with much happiness, good health and love for 2009.

Make it a good one.

The Food Chain

While on the phone with my almost 10-year old sister…

Sister: We’re learning about the food chain! Can you help me with my homework?

Me: Sure

Sister: Ok, I’ve already done some of it, but what kinds of animals eat mice?

Me: A CAT! (I am so good at this…screw law school)

Sister: No seriously!

Me: I am serious! You know, like in Tom and Jerry, Tom the cat was always trying to catch Jerry the mouse to eat him.

Sister: Huh? What’s Tom and Jerry?

Me: The cartoon!

Sister: ….

Me: Good God I’m old…

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Warning on my sushi take-out menu:

“Warning – some of our sushi may have come into contact with seafood…”

Umm…?