Because I Love Animals.

(Story and Image) via PetsDelight.us

As a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Shiba Inu named Sadako. The dog’s owners were all very attached to Sadako and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Sadako and found she was dying of cancer. I told the family there were no miracles left for her, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for Sadako in their home. As we made arrangements, it was suggested that it would be good for the families four-year-old to observe the procedure. They felt he could learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Sadako’s family surrounded her. The four-year-old seemed so calm, petting his friend for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on.

Within a few minutes, Sadako slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Sadako’s transition without any difficulty or confusion.

We sat together for a while after Sadako’s passing, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.

The little boy, who had been listening quietly, piped up, “I know why.”

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me - I’d never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, “Everybody is born so that they can learn how to live a good life - like loving everybody and being nice.” The four-year-old continued, “Animals already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”

Post-Christmas

Well, Happy post-Christmas day! Call me a cynic, but I don't find any joy or warm feelings for Christmas. Maybe because my family's Asian and we don't celebrate anything that revolves around religion. My mother thinks Thanksgiving is more important because it involves a lot of food. Go figure.

So I was watching lots of sappy movies all day, because that's all that was on, and I had nothing to do. Do you know what people do when there's nothing to do? Think. So I thought about Christmas and the meaning of family and sharing the holidays with loved ones. Okay. If Christmas was all about love and whatnot, what's with all the decorations? Christmas spirit? Okay. But presents and buying things you think people want. Halt. If you think about it, half the time, you get presents that you really wish you didn't get, like the shower gel with a bar of soap that gets to join the cabinet full of toiletries from last year? How about the sweaters your mother gets you that you might wear, just once? Oh right. I forgot. The DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS! The day after Christmas seems even more important than the day of. People rush to the malls ALL on the 26th to exchange and return presents. Now, come on people. Whoever got you the gift put a lot of time and thought into buying that present for you now, didn't they? Guess not, if you have to run and return it less than 24 hours after receiving it.

The meaning of Christmas should just be a more extravagant Thanksgiving. I think it's even more of a time to give thanks to your loved ones and being around your family and friends. So, what's with all this unnecessary spending? Oh wait. Christmas is a commercialized holiday now. Christmas means lots of presents and sales and getting things that you WANT! Being a media communications major, all we study is the theoretical aspect of all forms of media and how toxic it is on society. So sorry people, when you think you need something, it's someone taking over some part of your brain to throw money at them.

Maybe it's because I don't get the meaning of Christmas, or the fact that I think that when people want stupid material things and constantly emphasize that they NEED it, I think they're completely brainwashed idiots who can't tell the difference between needing something and wanting something. Or maybe it's because I've never really had a Christmas and will understand the day I 'experience' this 'magical feeling'. Who knows. Maybe it's better to be on the outside.

Either way, your Christmas spirits can't be ruined. It's the day after Christmas now. Look out for the next holiday! Boozing New Years Eve. Yes, it should be called that.

Finished for the semester.

It's been a difficult and seemingly long semester, longer than the previous ones. I don't know, maybe it was because summer classes are in fact, short, and France was just a dream. This semester wreaked the most havoc on my mind and body, and I hope there's something rewarding that comes along. (In the near future).

I finished my last final (Genetics) and handed in my last paper (Film) yesterday. Weird combination right? Blame the MAP (Morse Academic Plan). It's the worse plan for students. Ever. To celebrate Mitchell and I went to MUD in the absence of my lovely friend, Kat who is all the way on the other side of the world, in Shanghai, hopefully having the time of her life. Whew, long sentence. I enjoyed my regular mug of mocha and French Toast. Unfortunately Mitchell was too hungover to enjoy the amazingness that is French Toast. Julia (Hoolie) came to join us for a bit before heading off to her luncheon with her father. Twas a great celebration.

However, later that day, I went to the financial aid office to, um, put it simply, beg for more money. All I got was, go online and appeal. You might get more. NEXT! I went to talk to some people afterward and this one girl says, "my father got laid off, they wouldn't even take the letter that says so and give me more money. They say I'm overrewarded." Me being the dumb person I am ask what is this 'overrewarding.' She says she gets too much scholarship/money from NYU. I ask her how much she pays a year she say's, $3000. THREE THOUSAND?! AND SHE'S COMPLAINING? Sorry, that just made me so upset. $3000 she can personally take out on loans and pay back within 1 or 2 years of graduation. $12000 total. Before her father got laid off, she still lived amongst the upper middle class. I don't understand how NYU chooses to give people money based on need. Who needs? I NEED. I have three siblings and one unemployed mother. I think we need more than that girl needs. If they're going to give her $3000, might as well give it to me.

Which brings me to the point, I am more than ecstatic to graduate this coming Spring. I haven't received my grades yet for this semester, and I'm always worried about something, but if all goes well, I will be graduating in May. I told myself I could graduate 1 year earlier. I DID. But, now I have to go job hunting and find a way to not live at home after graduation... That takes some time.

I'm off to do some applications. Til' next time.

For the Season.

To offset my little rampage on women, here's something to smile about. Plus, it's almost Christmas.

via fuckyeahhappy.tmblr.com

Girls Suck.

Given, I myself am a girl, yes. But, after experiencing the 'unsaid' and the things that are 'said,' I've come to a conclusion that girls have a mental and emotional problem. Me included.

I mean, really. If you think about it, it's come to a point where when girls say "I'm fine" absolutely everyone knows there's a problem. Girls want you to inquire, so they feel like you care. Other side, girls want you to ask to prove that you do care. From personal experience, not the road you want to take. Why not be an adult and actually say the problem? I've gotten to the point where beating around the bush takes just too long, that's why people think I'm a cynical mean bitch. Well, I'm not going to apologize for it, it's just faster. When these things happen, if you don't ask a girl what's wrong, then all the problems start. "Why didn't he/she ask?" to "NO ONE LOVES ME," to "I HATE YOU FOREVER."As a high school-er, drama is most definitely intended and most likely to happen. You're around the same people every day and when there's a situation, it spreads like wildfire. Then interpretations happen and voila, everyone knows a different story and everyone's mad. I've gotten to that point before. But now, for me, it's just "I'm fine. Don't ask. Let me deal with my problems." Only people I want advice from, are the ones I tell/ask for help. Usually problems are all in the head. As a girl, I accept this, but don't spread it around. So that's kind of hypocritical. When I'm pissed, I'm pissed. It happens to be that I take my rage out on everyone, but then again, that's how I deal with rage and rage alone. Too bad for the people that are in my way or get involved, but after, I'm better.

It's releasing the problem that helps. If you keep it to yourself, then what happens? Your psychological self concocts some stupid reasoning for what happened. Why not confront the problem? I've learned that being passive aggressive, as my family usually handles things, isn't the best road. I had to learn the hard way, but you learn eventually. Stop being so sensitive. Yeah, it's normal to feel emotions but don't take something so out of control.

My male friends tells me some girls are 'fragile' and you have to 'handle' them a certain way. Oh my lord. Fragile? Girls need to know that inside, you want to be more powerful than anyone else out there, people love (yes love) power. It's just something that's innate. If you act fragile, to get to this power, people only see that you're fragile and nothing else. Women fought for equal rights and now, if you just witness what's going on today, yes women have a place in the workforce, we make money, we can vote, but no one treats women differently. Know why? Cause we still act like we're the same dumb bitches that tend to the house. You want power, get it. Stop being so fragile, and have guys have to 'treat you like a princess' for you to feel loved and wanted. If you have a family, friends, a pet even, you are loved, don't take to other people who barely know you, or you've dated for a year to make you believe that you're worth something.

If all goes wrong, we whine and cry and talk in baby voices. What does that do? Does that make you feel more womanly? Does your "man" like that? People like you for who you are, not what they make you to be. Since when do you have to prove to someone you're more feminine and socially accepted to feel happy in your life? Happiness is key. Even though I rage a lot and people cry a lot, I know that it's just that moment. My life isn't over even when I say it is then. Tomorrow's another day. Happiness comes back. If you wallow in your sadness or rage forever how does that help you? Everyone is luckier than they think they are, they just fail to recognize it. Girls wallow. Girls hold grudges. Girls depend on other people to compliment and reassure them that they are what they think they are. Be independent. Stop fishing for compliments and finding people to make you feel better about yourself. If you are who you are, people will either accept or deny you. That's it. Black and white.

Girls, women, female human beings. Let me preach to you a little more. If you stop worrying about what everyone thinks and take your issues and solve them in appropriate time, you will live a happy life. Appreciate what you have and disband yourself from people and things that make you think otherwise. It just leads to unnecessary stupid thoughts and creations of invalid arguments. Get a hold of yourself. Live to be you. Live for you. Happiness is key.

Storytime.

Below is something I found from my old xanga (the blogger before blogspot and tumblr). It's quite amusing. Read for kicks.

Here's a prime example of "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus"
offered by an English professor from the University of Phoenix:**

The professor told his class one day: "Today we will experiment with a
new form called the tandem story. The process is simple. Each person will
pair off with the person sitting to his or her immediate right. As homework
tonight, one of you will write the first paragraph of a short story.

You will e-mail your partner that paragraph and send another copy to
me. The partner will read the first paragraph and then add another paragraph to the story and send it back, so sending another copy to me. The first person will then add a third paragraph, and so on back-and-forth. Remember to re-read what has been written each time in order to keep the story coherent.

There is to be absolutely NO talking outside of the e-mails and
anything you wish to say must be written in the e-mail. The story is over when both agree a conclusion has been reached."

The following was actually turned in by two of his English students:
Rebecca
and Gary.

THE STORY:
(first paragraph by Rebecca)
At first, Laurie couldn't decide which kind of tea she wanted. The
chamomile, which used to be her favorite for lazy evenings at home, now
reminded her too much of Carl, who once said, in happier times, that he
liked chamomile. But she felt she must now, at all costs, keep her mind
off Carl. His possessiveness was suffocating, and if she thought about him
too much her asthma started acting up again. So chamomile was out of the
question.

(second paragraph by Gary)
Meanwhile, Advance Sergeant Carl Harris, leader of the attack squadron
now in orbit over Skylon 4, had more important things to think about than
the neuroses of an air-headed asthmatic bimbo named Laurie with whom he had spent one sweaty night over a year ago. "A.S. Harris to Geostation 17,"
he said into his transgalactic communicator. "Polar orbit established. No
sign of resistance so far..." But before he could sign off a bluish particle
beam flashed out of nowhere and blasted a hole through his ship's cargo
bay.The jolt from the direct hit sent him flying out of his seat and across the
cockpit.

(Rebecca)
He bumped his head and died almost immediately, but not before he felt
one last pang of regret for psychically brutalizing the one woman who had
ever had feelings for him. Soon afterwards, Earth stopped its pointless
hostilities towards the peaceful farmers of Skylon 4. "Congress Passes
Law Permanently Abolishing War and Space Travel," Laurie read in her
newspaper one morning. The news simultaneously excited her and bored her. She stared out the window, dreaming of her youth, when the days had passed unhurriedly and carefree, with no newspaper to read, no television to distract her from her sense of innocent wonder at all the beautiful things around her. "Why must one lose one's innocence to become a woman?" she pondered wistfully.

(Gary )
Little did she know, but she had less than 10 seconds to live.
Thousands of miles above the city, the Anu'udrian mothership launched the first of its lithium fusion missiles. The dim-witted wimpy peaceniks who pushed the Unilateral Aerospace disarmament Treaty through the congress had left Earth a defenseless target for the hostile alien empires who were determined to destroy the human race. Within two hours after the passage of the treaty the Anu'udrian ships were on course for Earth, carrying enough firepower to pulverize the entire planet. With no one to stop them, they swiftly initiated their diabolical plan. The lithium fusion missile entered the
atmosphere unimpeded. The President, in his top-secret mobile submarine
headquarters on the ocean floor off the coast of Guam, felt the inconceivably massive explosion, which vaporized poor, stupid Laurie.

(Rebecca)
This is absurd. I refuse to continue this mockery of literature. My
writing partner is a violent, chauvinistic semi-literate adolescent.

(Gary)
Yeah? Well, my writing partner is a self-centered tedious neurotic
whose attempts at writing are the literary equivalent of Valium. "Oh, shall I
have chamomile tea? Or shall I have some other sort of FUCKING TEA??? Oh no, what am I to do? I'm such an air headed bimbo who reads too many Danielle Steele novels!"

(Rebecca)
Asshole.

(Gary)
Bitch

(Rebecca)
FUCK YOU - YOU NEANDERTHAL!

(Gary)
Go drink some tea - whore.

(TEACHER)
A+ - I really liked this one.

Endurance.

After a long night of viewing movies and reading articles, I woke up late today, again. But, this time, I had a plan. The previous night, I read an article about Polish food linked from Serious Eats: New York to The Girl Who Ate Everything. The restaurant is called Lomzynianka it's located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, in what seems to be the Polish community of Brooklyn. I don't know anything about Polish food and didn't know who would want to make this trek with me in the middle of finals (I was craving pierogies) but I thought of my dear Polish friend, Faustyna. She happily agreed to take on this adventure with me so we met up (in the cold bitterness that is winter), in front of Strand Bookstore. The restaurant is easy to find, one block way from the G train off of Nassau Ave.

We sat down and I gladly gave her all the decisions in what we would order, except pierogies. That was my idea. So, in total, we ordered mushroom and barley soup, Pyzy, which is ground meat, it tasted like beef, boiled inside a gnocchi-like dough, fried potato pierogies, and blueberry and cheese blintzes with a cranberry juice for me and a black currant juice for her. Our appetizer of mushroom and barley soup definitely hit the spot, just because it's absolutely freezing. It was served with a basket of bread and complementary slaw that I believe comes with any meal. After came our pierogies and Pyzy. The pierogies were fried perfectly - crispy on the inside and soft mashed potato-y goodness on the inside. Pyzy was a new dish for me to experience. I loved the dough, it was definitely made like gnocchi but there's just a lot more surrounding the meat in the dish - it looks like a potato. I love potatoes. Everything is not heavily salted as the dishes had flavor in themselves, but they always have salt handy for those like me who likes a bit more salt on her dishes. The main course took quite some time, a few couples came in and out as we enjoyed this course of our meal. Delicious. The blintzes however, were the best part of the meal. Not too sweet and perfectly fried. It came with a side of sour cream and even though I don't like sour cream, it complemented the dessert just oh-so-well. To say the least, Faustyna and I endured a 3 hour food coma.

Polish food is the simplest of foods. All the ingredients are simple, the way the food is cooked is also, so very simple (usually boiled or fried) and the results are most exquisite. If I lived in Greenpoint, I'd visit every day until I tried everything available on the menu and again. My experience in Polish food isn't too great, but this restaurant in comparison to what I had at Little Poland on 2nd Avenue, yielded much better results. I heavily approve, as does Polish Faustyna.

I'm currently working on my last paper that's only 5-7 pages focusing on a part of the film industry. I chose distribution. This is easy to write, I just don't have the patience to. I came to Starbucks hoping to get some work done. I did. But now I'm procrastinating. I don't trust anyone here so I can't leave all my things to get some much needed coffee.

It's terribly cold today.

via pegobry.tumblr.com

Good morning, New York.

Oh. Hi. It's early morning and I have give or take 1 and a half to two pages left. I'll write them tomorrow. I went blog/tumbling and found this.

via pegotry.tumblr.com

That is a wall of books. That is a HUGE wall of books. I want that huge wall. What do they do? How do they get books? I'm so freaked out and in awe right now. That's so impressive.

It's called the "wall of knowledge." No, it's not real, but it is a concept for the Stockholm library. Quite impressive. I think I'll just take this concept into my future mansion-house thing. It'll probably be made out of books.

A Change Is Gonna Come.

Well it hasn't been a long time coming, but I always hope a change will come. Currently listening to Otis Redding's version of Sam Cooke's classic. It makes me want to cry for him. My life isn't and I hope, will never get to such hardships. I'm just taking a much needed break from my persuasion/politics paper. A few pages to go!

The past week has just been hectic for everyone at any school. It was either finals week, or the week heading up to finals week which is always some kind of crazy. Only two weeks to go! I'm currently surrounded by books trying to give my brain a break but here I am, blogging. Big no no. Oh well. I guess more writing can inspire something? Well I hope so. I'm getting somewhere in my paper. Success! Anyhow I can't say much about this past week as it seems I don't remember it. And no, not because I drank myself to the point of oblivion but because I was delirious and running on pure caffeine. Let's put it this way. When I drink coffee now, I want to go to sleep. Therefore, I am on this tea craze to relax my body and hopefully caffeine will start working again in approximately 5 hours. My body is weird.

So, I applied to a few internships last week, but I haven't applied to any big names that I wanted to yet which I should have done first. That comes tomorrow...sometime tomorrow I hope. My dream is to work at Food Network or be cast on Glee. Who knows, what could happen? Haha. Big dreams. Anyway, while applying, I came across this volunteer opportunity for "Broadway in South Africa." I happen to like Broadway and since it is Christmas time I felt the need to be giving and ta-dah! Handed to me on a silver platter. So, it's a charity event at the Minskoff Theatre between 44th and 45th St (where Lion King is) beginning at 7pm and it's $30 for open bar, food, and entertainment! I encourage you come, I may be serving you drinks. No, I kid. Anyhow, here is their website (click here!) and of course since it's Broadway, the arts are most definitely involved. Spreading the love. It's a nice time away from finals and stress to mingle and enjoy Broadway things. I shouldn't be volunteering at this seeing as I have a lot of work to do, but I'm making time. Stress will come Tuesday. I feel it.

While I'm on the topic of avoiding work, this past weekend I took off from my paper for a bit to go greet some friends who, finally, are turning 21! Unfortunately, I will not fall in this category until I graduate, but oh well. What can I do? I got to see some old friends who came all the way from their school in other states to see this girl which I thought was really nice (I don't know if anyone would do that for me), then headed to my neighbor's birthday party, who seemed already quite intoxicated. Whoops! Anyway, I made good time, I was home by 1, or was it 2... No matter, I wrote like a fiend Saturday night. Sunday was brunch day. I didn't get to brunch on Saturday as I hoped, so Sunday was my time for Eggs Benedict (my favorite brunch food. Mud's french toast doesn't count, I can get it everyday). Unfortunately my high school friends who stayed the night somehow woke up at the crack of dawn for breakfast, so we headed to lunch. We went to a pretty decent Asian restaurant, I'm going to go back for Scallion Pancakes. It was delicious! And their...I don't know how to say it in English, but it's a soup pork bun..thing, was made fresh. Success! Although, Joe's Shanghai was still better. It was terrible weather today, I'm SO HAPPY it was above freezing point, I didn't want to deal with snow. I dislike snow. Yes, I'm in the Northeast, but I just think about my pops. He has to work in the outside weather. So global warming or not, no snow is better than snow.

I can't believe this week is the last week of school.. and finals next week? I'm FREAKING OUT. I don't know what to do about jobs or anything. In an Asian family if you don't get out of college with a well paying job, you are a failure. Or at least that's what my parents tell me. So, no pressure right? I've been researching places to stay in Paris as well as jobs and well I was going to apply but it's a bit early. I imagine the French classifieds, or any classifieds for that matter, are for immediate jobs. I need to make my French CV. Things to do over winter break!

So I've updated, it was a good enough break. So back to work! Ciao!

via irunwithwolves.tumblr.com

I really want this clock. It's pointless, but it's so damn cool.

One Week Later..

Read the first paragraph and skip the next 2.

Alors Bonjour! Mais vraiment, bonsoir!
So, it's been quite a while since my last post. I've been trying to get on board with the hectic-ness that is "end-of-the-semester" hell week. Mine unfortunately, has been extended to 3 hell weeks. Starting with the previous one. I've prepared myself for what to come in some way, but it's quite impossible for me to piece my thoughts together as a whole. This relates to my politics paper that will lead to my senior thesis. I'm researching the effects of advertising on women. So: Advertising drives women to consume by the use of unrealistic beauty in advertisements, reinforced by the attitudes of women and their competitiveness against other women. This is what I got after 4 and a half pages of crap and a long hour on peer reviews and teacher help. I think this is what I'm going to try to write about. Good bye 4 and a half pages and 10 hours of research. Start again.

I'm also filming a project for my film studies class. We're supposed to use what we learned and apply it to a film we're going to make. Easy enough, except I have no time to wander and take pictures. Vinny and I decided to make time in the worst of times, today. Today, or rather yesterday, Dec. 5 with the first snow of the season in New York City. It started as rain, turned to sleet, and finally became snow. Vinny, his boy (who willingly came), and I walked from his work on 76th and 2nd and hunted down scenes for our film. We finished quite late and was caught in the in-between period of sleet and snow. Fail. Everyone's shoes was soaked, the boys didn't have an umbrella, and well, it was just damn cold. Rockefeller of course was crowded, but we had to go by that. Just lots of stuff. So we ended at Times Square 42nd and Broadway. Quite a trek actually. Took a few hours to film and take pictures and we're not even done. That's due this Thursday alongside shot list, an abstract, and a reflection. Fun. When does paper fall in here?

Stats is due Tuesday. About 15 problems. Fail.

Above was all about homework. I just needed a reminder that I have a lot of crap to do, and shouldn't be blogging. But blogging for me comes to me a lot easier than writing a paper does. Anyways, it's also a reminder that there is no time to enjoy what I've had the pleasure of enjoying. I got to watch a film with Mitchell, Fantastic Mr. Fox directed by Wes Anderson, which was "cussing" good. Ah, brilliant. I loved it. Apparently there's a children's book of it. I've never seen or read it in my youth. Now hunting. Went to Frank on 5th and 2nd with Kat which was bleh. Not really a word to describe it. Overpriced and terrible service. Our waitress acted like an asshole and on crack. Whatever. Don't have anything nice to say about it. Don't go there. Anyway the lovely Kat is in Colorado right now, skiing. I want her life.

Finished my internship this week. Unfortunately I missed my last day due to my paper writing. But oh well. Need to search for a new one.. Ooh. Not feeling too good anymore.

Went to see a high school friend at her birthday party at Katra. I didn't plan on staying long. I wanted to write my paper. I ended up staying with some other friends until 3. Drank quite a bit but in no ways drunk. At times I wish I could have a lower tolerance so I don't drink my wallet. You know what I mean? Given I only got to buy 2 drinks for myself. People are generous.

Tomorrow is quite an exciting day. I'm going to Blue Water Grill for brunch with a friend from my freshman dorm hall! She invited and well, Stern is paying, and I am there! That could possibly be reviewed tomorrow in my time of procrastination.

So things to do before the semester ends:

• Politics/Persuasion Paper
• Film Project, Abstract, Reflection, Shot list
• Stats Homework Weeks 10, 12, 13
  
• Film Final
• Genetics Final
• Stats Final

Fin. I finish, with the rest of NYU on 12/22. That sucks. Not much time before Christmas. Oh well. This also means 4 months left of school... I don't know who will be attending my graduation. Or where it will be. Yankee Stadium? Madison Square? HMMMM. =)

Oh, also something interesting for the holidays. Save some money this year okay? It's an article in the Wall Street Journal - Try Christmas Saving, Not Christmas Shopping