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Sunday, December 27th, 2009
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tsukikage85
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Saturday, December 26th, 2009
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tsukikage85
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Friday, December 25th, 2009
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tsukikage85
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Thursday, December 24th, 2009
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tsukikage85
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zuisa
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Christmas is not an official holiday here. Everyone has to go to work, I still have class at 8:00AM (my listening comprehension teacher basically threatened to kill us all if we skipped for Christmas), but Chinese young people absolutely love Christmas. There's Christmas music playing in various places, giant inflatable Santa Clauses in many buildings, and Christmas trees. Today there are fancily wrapped apples for sale everywhere, because the Chinese word for Christmas Eve is 平安夜 (Ping'An Ye), and the word for apple is 苹果 (Pingguo) and since the two pings sound the same, everyone buys "平安果“ － Christmas Eve Apples.
Furthermore, the Chinese internet loves Christmas. Observe:
This is RenRen, China's answer to Facebook. I giggled a lot when I saw the Santa Hat imposed over my picture today. My 8 minutes ago status update you might notice there says that I wish everyone a happy Christmas Eve.
This is the homepage to Baidu, China's most popular website. It's basically Google (which is also popular here) but is far more kickass in that you can download pretty much every song ever.
Tudou is one of China's Youtube knock-offs - I personally much prefer Youku, but apparently Youku is uninterested that it's Christmas. Haha.
This is Zuosa, Chinese Twitter. I only use Zuosa because it let me link my account to my Twitter account, so while I still have no idea what anyone else is saying on Twitter, I can update mine. But, really... you can say a whole hell of a lot more in 140 Chinese characters than you can posting in English.
My tree!! And some of our cards. My roommate and I are well-loved, our TV top is full of cards too!! There are lights on this tree... not sure why they photographed so poorly!!
I also had no place to hang the other lights I got, so I just strung them around my headboard. I think it's festive!!
I'm not yet quite sure what Chinese people do on Christmas Day itself, as our teachers all kept saying "oh, only young people celebrate Christmas in China", but I'll be sure to let you all know!!
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Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
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tsukikage85
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I like how she changed up the lyrics a little bit each time to keep it fresh.
Bought the song on iTunes, but somehow the song alone isn't as awesome.
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tsukikage85
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Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
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tsukikage85
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The good news:
Today when I punched in for work I got a message that I was now eligible for my benefits. I don't think that's quite right - I think what it means is that I will be in 31 days and now's the time to put in the paperwork. Anyways, I got a big packet of benefit information, and have to figure out all my insurance stuff. It's kind of overwhelming...
The bad news:
Got into a head-on bike collision on the way home from work today. Both of us were okay (although the fingertips on my right hand hurt for a good five minutes afterwards - they're still tingling), but I damaged my bike. Not sure of the full extent of the damage right now, but I know the front wheel won't rotate, and it looks like it's an issue with the breaking mechanism. Which meant I had to walk my bike home lifting up the front wheel the entire time. At least the back wheel was fine - it would have been even worse if I had had to carry the bike the whole way. Marcia's on winter break, so I'm going to ask if she can take me to the bike shop to get an estimate on it tomorrow.
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tsukikage85
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Monday, December 21st, 2009
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tsukikage85
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My mom sent me hand-me-downs.
From Allie.
My 7.5-year-younger sister.
FML.
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tsukikage85
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tsukikage85
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"It's so simple. The Borg hurt you, and now you're going to hurt them back."
"In my century, we don't succumb to revenge. We have a more evolved sensibility."
"Bullshit!"
It's nice to see holes poked into the show's Utopian bubble. I'd like to quote the whole scene, really, but I'm too lazy.
[EDIT:
"So much for the Enterprise-E."
"We barely knew her."
"You think they'll build another one?"
"Plenty of letters left in the alphabet."
Hah! Waitin' for the Enterprise-W.]
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tsukikage85
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| Subject: | quote |
| Time: | 12:29 am. |
| Mood: |  hot. | | Music: | Star Trek: First Contact. |
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"Captain, I believe I am feeling anxiety. It is an intriguing sensation. A most distracting--"
"Data, I'm sure it's a fascinating experience, but perhaps you should deactivate your emotion chip for now."
"Good idea, sir. Done."
"Data, there are times that I envy you."
- Picard and Data, from Star Trek: First Contact
Ugh, my room's too hot. I have nothing but my sports bra on on top, too. If only I could think of it as summer, I'd be able to even enjoy this, but my "living life" psychology seems to be immune to placebo effects. I wonder how much money I'd be wasting to open the windows...
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Sunday, December 20th, 2009
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happy_daiz
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I can't believe I'm the first person on my flist to do this. I'm early for once!
( Read more... )
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tsukikage85
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Saturday, December 19th, 2009
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tsukikage85
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Found this 11.5 minute movie on YouTube. Apparently it was the winner of Best Narrative Short at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival and nominated for an Oscar. I enjoyed it, but then again it somewhat catered to my weird-ass tastes.
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tsukikage85
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TGIF!
[EDIT: Alright, the end of this video was cool:
]
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tsukikage85
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zuisa
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I don't write about China enough. I mean to, but my life here pretty day-to-day and full of me doing things that aren't in any way remarkable or exotic, and so sometimes I forget that life in China, and particularly Harbin, is so very different from life in the US.
And so, in an attempt to make myself write more about China and at the same time deflect responsibility off my myself, I am coming to you guys!!
What do you want to know about life in China?
Ask anything! Big things, small things, whatever! People here ask me well-intentioned but vaguely offensive questions about life in America all the time, so don't worry too much if you don't think your question is not "PC" or whatever. I will be happy to dedicate an entire entry to everyone's questions about China, and so I write more, you read more, and everyone wins!!!
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Friday, December 18th, 2009
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tsukikage85
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tsukikage85
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I guess Twitter's down right now?
The other day I was really in the mood for tortilla chips and salsa, so I bought some at Walgreens, but when I came home I discovered we had an open bag of tortilla chips so I had those instead. So now I opened the Tostitos chips I had bought, and am distressed with how unimpressive they are. Primarily, they're super thin and just kind of crumble at the slightest pressure, which makes for an oddly frustrating experience. So yeah, not buying Tostitos' tortilla chips again. :(
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Thursday, December 17th, 2009
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tsukikage85
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tsukikage85
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It's nearly two in the morning, I'm laying in bed with the lights off trying to sleep, and my mind is obsessing over the truth that my grandpa could very easily die in the next five years, or earlier. That's gut-wrenching enough, but add to that that it's very possible he could go without warning; without me having a chance to say all the things I want to. If I can't become an adult before he passes away, I at least want to promise him that I will, and anshin saseru him about tings like that. Or maybe he already is anshin, but for my own sake... I feel like I want some sort of blessing from him? Or I want him to assure me that he's anshin, so I don't have to feel bad about that?
It's been.. Two years? Maybe one. I know it was winter, anyway... Siince I had my last really serious flare-ups of my necrophobia. But especially since grandpa had his mini-stroke this week, my anxieties surrounding my grandpa, and even my parents, eventually being dead and removed from my world has flared up for the first time in I think much longer. I almost acknowledge and accept my own death more than I do any of theirs. I know nearly everyone has to face that pain and void, but right now... I can't possibly fathom how they do. Instead I just remain in a sort of denial or temporary ignorance of it. (Truth be told, I thnk this is part of how I get by when my necrophobia isn't flared up - I manage to go through life with nothing but a superficial acknowledgment of my own eventual death.)
When I was talking to Grandpa while he was in the hospital the other day, I casually asked him if it was scary for him. He said he wasn't scared of death at all; it would just be over. (I think Dad used to be rather scared, but now he's essentially in the same place; I wonder if that's a sign that I'll eventually get there too...) So obviously, I've lightly broached the topic of him dying, but I have no idea how to bring up the things I want to tell him before he goes. It's just so... morbid. And even if he tells me he's not scared, it still seems insensitive. But as I said, although I can do nothing to escape from my anxiety over his eventual death, maybe if I can get those things off my chest, I can at least relieve my anxiety about that, as well as any regret I might have when he does go.
Roy (Roger's dad), Oma, and Opa are a whole 'nother issue. I really need to call Roy this weekend, methinks. I haven't talked to him in... Maybe two years as well. ><; But Oma and Opa... Yeah. I almost feel like that's a lost cause. :( In a way I'm grateful that I haven't seen them in so long, since the loss will probably be far less painful, but I think the guilt will be so, so much worse.
On the plus side, I think typing this out has calmed my mind down enough to let me go to sleep. Yay!
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Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
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tsukikage85
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Happy holiday promotion!
We're delighted to tell you about our holiday coupons, which will help you share the love with your LiveJournal friends! If you have a Paid or Permanent account, you can send up to 10 LiveJournal Basic/Plus users a $10 coupon for an annual paid subscription now through January 15th, 2011. Recipients can upgrade for $9.95 (instead of $19.95) for one year by enrolling in our automatic payment plan or make a manual payment of $15 (instead of $25). Please note that these coupons are not transferable and cannot be used to renew existing paid accounts. If you're a Paid/Permanent user, you can send out your holiday coupons now!
Anyone want one?
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Thursday, December 17th, 2009
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zuisa
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'Tis the season to... make a million memes to let everyone know just how much you appreciate them and love them. :D
Here's the plan: You comment with your username, and people will comment ANONYMOUSLY with things they love and cherish about you. I say anonymously because it makes the atmosphere lighter and more mysterious, kind of like a Secret Santa only with love and holiday cheer! People will wonder who these caring people are and appreciate the fact that they exist, not only the fact that they may be best friends with them.
Then find people you care about and have something nice to say to - even if you don't know them! - and leave them something that will make their heart feel a little warmer at night. This way, the love will go around and around and the magical spirit of the season can be cherished and appreciated by all.
Don't forget to pass the goodwill on to others and increase the flow of positive, caring energy!
Here's the link to me!!!
Click click!
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Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
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tsukikage85
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Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
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tsukikage85
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Monday, December 14th, 2009
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zuisa
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I am, as I write this, watching last week's episode of So You Think You Can Dance (I cannot believe this week is already the finale!!!1!) and I have some thoughts. I will write some now, and then probably add as I watch the episode, because that seems like it could be good fun.
It's so nice to watch a show where the host and judges all seem to genuinely like the contestants and want them to succeed. And even Mary Murphy, with all her screaming, manages to give honest, detailed, appropriate technical feedback. I feel like on American Idol Simon is almost actively rooting for them to fail, and Ryan Seacrest is such a tool his opinions don't seem to matter anyway. So there's that.
Ok, this is the two-weeks-ago episode, but how AWESOMELY AWESOME was Jakob and Ellenore's contemporary piece by Sonya? I was so happy that the judges loved it as much as I did. Another favorite from this season was Jakob and Ashleigh's hip-hop. Clearly, I just love Jakob. He is freakishly talented. Freakishly. And I started the season thinking Ashleigh was a little obnoxious and not as talented as the rest of them, but now I really like her. It's weird.
I decided that you all need to see these performances too. I don't think I can embed Youku videos (or, if I can, I just don't know what button does it) but here are links to the two aforementioned dances that you basically need to watch. GO. CLICK THE BUTTONS, YOU WON'T BE SORRY.
1. Ashleigh & Jakob - Watcha Say
2. Ellenore & Jakob - Tore My Heart
So... more thoughts.
-The Ellenore/Legacy dance with the table? EPIC.
-Poor Russell - a replacement dancer again? He's a fantastic, fantastic dancer, and I would have loved to see him dance with Ashleigh!! This show also has made me appreciate hip-hop, when my hip-hop class here at Heilongjiang University is.... less than stellar. The teacher can't consistently keep the right rhythm when counting to 8 in the warmups. But, I paid ¥30 for the entire semester and there is no other dance class. So I'll take when I can get!!
-Kathryn is just delightful. Her ballroom with Ryan was super awesome. Ryan... I don't really care for, and I can't quite say why. He's good, obviously, but I like all the other guys better.
-Russell in a Santa Claus outfit! Awesome. Russell is awesome.
-I can never decide if I think Mollee is endearing or annoying. I suppose it's a fine line, isn't it? But hooray, Broadway routine! They always make me happy. And it's from Annie! Couldn't make me happier.
-Not feeling this Legacy/Ellenore hip-hop. But I think it's more the choreography than them, because they are good dancers... especially Ellenore. I usually love Tabitha and Napoleon routines, so this is sad.
-Okay, it was really sweet that Ryan asked people to vote for Ashleigh instead of him. A couple points for Ryan.
-Aaaand Russell gets cooler and cooler. Yay Bollywood routine!!! But, again, sad that there's no Ashleigh.
So... yeah. I love this show, and I'm so glad that I decided to watch it this season!! I know who gets cut from this episode, and... eh, I like everyone. So I don't know how I feel about it. The problem is that, of the people left, I love everyone!!! But I think my favorites might be...oh, all of them. Except Ryan. Although he did get points for sending his votes to Ashleigh.
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tsukikage85
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Sunday, December 13th, 2009
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tsukikage85
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Oops. I just accidentally watched the last episode of Michiko to Hacchin before the penultimate one, and didn't realize it until the VERY end. That would explain why I felt something was missing... The question now is, do I want to bother to watch the penultimate episode? It seems like an awful lot of trouble for a series I didn't care for that much.
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skiing_mouse's Friends Page
amused.
sore.
embarrassed.
tired.
thoughtful.
hungry.
okay.
disappointed.
distressed.