Commercial with an annoying song and unnecessarily massive PR campaign: Eggo Waffles / Eggo Lego Waffles / Eggo Waffles Cereal, the whole Eggo Kingdom. I HATE their commercials, but I guess it comes with the whole only watching Cartoon Network thing.

Phrases that need to be obliterated from the American language: A.S.A.P. and Understatement of the Year. "As Soon As Possible" is alright, it's the initializing that bugs the beep out of me, especially when it's used in EVERY EMAIL that you've sent to me every hour that I've promptly responded to every other hour! Time only moves so fast, Matthew Rosenburg of Mormonsville, Utah! As for the second phrase, I read an article in Time that used it three times, one being the title, and considering that was the first time I had ever heard that phrase, it was enough.

A book you should read: I just finished reading Out by Natsuo Kirino, apparently one of the most celebrated authors in Japan. A woman murders her husband, and she and her group of friends from the night shift become entangled in the crime. It's a really captivating murder mystery and thoroughly takes you through Japanese culture and then spits you out; I really had difficulty putting this one down. So much in fact, that for the past few days I have seen the sun rise before going to bed. Of course, I have this problem everytime I pick up a new book, but seriously, great book, read it.

Cute video game time: Pikmin 2 for Gamecube. No I haven't played Pikmin 1, but 2 was on sale at Best Buy and I'm sure 1 is just like 2. You are a spacedude named Olimar, and with your buddy Louie (it's cute how they pronounce their names, LOOey and OLmarh! ^_^;) you travel to a planet (that you found in 1) that's inhabited by these plant-creatures named Pikmin. You build an army of these little guys and kill bugs and collect "treasure" like bottle caps and rubber duckies. I love it. I thought about doing a website reviewing only really cute video games, but it might get ridiculously sappy...

I've been playing a lot of tennis with Ben. It's fun, but I'm starting to realize that I don't like how one-handed tennis is. I feel like the right side of my body is just getting stronger, while my left is kind of just there for support. I also don't like how everything is in "spurts" - you hit the ball, wait, run, hit the ball, wait... I'm sure it's completely different if I were actually good at tennis, but the game's starting to lose it's edge to me. Eeeh I dunno. But I really swimming and running better. I like even-ness.

So this weekend I'll be headed to Chicago with Ben and Nick for Play! A Video Game Symphony, similar to the Final Fantasy concert we went to... last year? The year before? Anyway, there should be music from a ton of video games this time, not just the FF series, including Metal Gear Solid, Zelda, Super Mario Bros, Chrono Cross and Kingdom Hearts! Yaaay super excited! And Nobuo Uematsu, composer of the FF music, will be doing some signing the day before on Friday, so we'll be there for two days. I don't really care about signatures, I don't even really have anything he could sign except for my $5.99 FFVII case, but eh why not, Japanese people. ^_^

Oh, and about my permed hair...

Listening: BT - Emotional Technology
Playing: Pikmin 2
Reading: Haruki Murakami's The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

Posted by Joanna at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

The internet at my house has been cutting in and out, so I haven't been able to get online in a while. I've had a pretty rough past two days; I've learned that I need to quit bending over backwards for people. I thought I was a pretty strong person up until now, but apparently I've been the world's biggest pushover. I've also learned that I can't expect to drag anyone down with me in my misery, because apparently everyone else is stronger.

In other exciting news, I got my hair permed today. I hate that word, permed, because it reminds me of the fro-ish hairstyles of the 80s that my mother sported when I was little. Really small tight curls bundled around the head. But I went ahead and did it, and for the first time in my whole Asian-haired life, I have curly hair. CURLY. About half an hour later I found myself wanting my straight hair back when I realized I couldn't run my beloved brush through the curls, but luckily that passed, and all was not in vain. It's really weird, I'm going to have to learn how to use products like "gel" and "moisturizer" and "frizz-ease"... I might need to enlist Linlee's help for this new experience.

So I don't know what's going on with my life. I have a to-do list everyday (yes, even in the summer) of things to accomplish: get cavities filled, work on a website, find a job... I've made to-do lists ever since the end of sophomore year of college, and everyday I get the satisfaction of crossing things off. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that I've been relying on these for short-term and immediate gratification; for the past two years half of the things on my to-do list were simply going to class. How's that for aiming high? And I think I started these lists when I stopped having any direction in my life - I wasn't doing what I wanted to do, I was devoting more time to video games that also offer short-term satisfaction, I stopped keeping up with friends. I didn't have any long-term goals to aim for anymore. I've been trying to counter this lack of direction lately, probably overdoing it by wanting to accomplish everything - graduate soon with a good degree, open up shops, save the world... and in turn I've stressed myself out. But realisticly am I even on the right track? Am I going to graduate soon? I'm not even comfortable with returning to Kent anymore, or expending the energy to last four more years for a bachelors. I see everyone around me graduating on time (or even early!) in great fields, and I look at myself and only see someone who has consistently made wrong decisions. Ben keeps telling me to slow down, but the slower I go, I'm afraid that instead of the standstill that I'm at that I'll just start moving backwards, start undoing everything that's gotten me here in the first place.

People say, what's the rush? Well the rush is that if I don't rush, any ounce of motivation that might have been in my body will just float away. Everything will stop. I won't be moving forward anymore, I won't be progressing. I'll be left behind. I'm trying to reach the finish line before the track itself disappears. That's the rush.

edit: Just saw this on defective yeti: I think the secret to happiness is to care a lot about people who care about you, and to not care too much about anything else.

He's right on. And I've followed that religiously until this jerk from Amazon came along, but thanks to the yeti to bring me back to my senses. And Ben. Pictures and a better post to come soon, if I have internet.

Posted by Joanna at 11:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hello from Louisville! Finals are over, thank GOODNESS. I think this was the most brutal finals week yet for me, really heavy on the general curriculum classes. Hopefully in the future it will just be projects and presentations, I can wing those better than multiple-choice tests. But I think I managed to get all A's and one B+, so I can sit back and relaaaaax.

From this point on, my blog is going to focus on some different things. Namely, food. :) I want to highlight delicious things that I'm eating, and I want to challenge myself to make some good meals this summer now that I finally have a kitchen again. Although I have a feeling a lot of these will come from restaurants and food joints... but what you put in your body is important! I'm also going to try to review some books and music, I've picked up some good ones lately that I'd like to share. And, surprise - my mother received a sewing machine, and is giving it to me, so I'm going to try my hardest to learn how to sew! This one will ultimately be the biggest failure of the three (when do my website goals ever come to fruition?) - the last thing I ever sewed was a heart-shaped cloth from two pieces, and I couldn't even accomplish that. But that will all change this summer.

...Let's be realistic. It's not like I have an infinite amount of time this summer to do all these things. I'll be taking two summer classes, and from what I've heard, they're the most tedious and obnoxious for VCD. And since these are summer intensive courses, I'm sure these feelings will be multiplied. Apparently I'll also be holding a job down (or two) while this is all happening. And playing the latest video games. And making a new website. And cooking fancy meals. And losing a ton of weight. :inhales: Wish me luck folks, one of these days you'll hear a pfffft; that'll be the sound of me deflating. I'll be trying my hardest, I want to be productive for once.

But on a lighter note! I have officially gained the right of passage into adulthood. I hit the big twenty-one this past Thursday, now making it even easier for me to throw my money away on alcohol. Jackie was always gracious enough to pick up stuff on the weekends, now I can delete her number off of my phone and do the deed myself. (Just kidding Jackie.) Wnen the clock hit midnight on Wednesday, I was planning on celebrating in true college form by going bar hopping, but seriously, that ain't my scene. I don't care to be around drunken bastards trying to hit on drunken girls, and why pay so much money for beer when it's always on sale at the grocery store? Plus my idea of a great night is kicking back a few with The Prince in Katamari Damacy. But since I had to do something about this turning-21-thing or else forever hold my peace, Jackie took me to the Wine Cellar and I completed my first legal alcohol purchase, along with a very tasty Crunchwrap Supreme (only $1.99!!) at Taco Bell. Aaand that's about it.

Okay, Thursday wasn't as big of a disappointment (honestly though I was satisfied). Jackie, Ashley, Amy T, two Nicoles and I went to Hibachi Japan to get some yummy food and sushi to celebrate. Jackie bought me a cosmo which honestly could have held me over all night (yech) and I bought a whopping $40 worth of food. All worth it, I promise, considering I've been living solely off of spaghetti and canned food for the past month or so. Then Jackie took me to a few bars, and surprisingly I had a lot of fun. Free drinks would be a very good reason. We went early, so most of the bars were empty, and that's the way I wanted it. I kind of wish smoking was banned in the bars like in Columbus, but at least we left before the places got too crowded. And that was my birthday!

Well I've been in Louisville for a full day now, and I must reiterate how much I am at ease here. Maybe it's because Ben's in town, it's summer, and I love my parents, but whatever, I love it here. But I'll have to ween myself off of Louisvlle sometime or another, sigh. My parents threw a joint birthday party for me with Auntie Jennifer; we normally go to Shogun every year but apparently she was craving hot pot, and I have nooo problem with that (lamb and octopus and quail eggs, oh my!). Monday I go to Mr. Lawless's last orchestra concert ever, he's retiring this year and I have to say goodbye to one of the most influential teachers in my life. Tuesday the new Super Mario Bros. DS game comes out, and in two weeks Ben, Nick and I will be headed to Chicago for Play! Symphony. I am set for an awesome month :)

Right now we are trying to figure out a way to hook up the internet to my laptop, but as of now I'm updating on my dad's computer. So hopefully once that is figured out, I can post some pictures from my birthday, and can update more often. But as for now, school's out, go out and have some fun!

edit: Here are some pictures from my birthday, enjoy :)

Cosmopolitians... way too strong for me :(

He called me the "paparazzi"

Mmm, California Rolls and Spider Rolls

Me and my wonderful (ex :tear:) roommate!

Listening: The Streets - The Hardest Way to Make An Easy Living
Playing: We Love Katamari
Reading: Natsuo Kirino's Out

Posted by Joanna at 1:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

When I get an opportunity to be creative, I jump on it! Even if hours later I find myself regreting it and manage to get only about five hours of sleep. (I realize some people consider that a lot, but I demand 8+ hours of beauty rest!) Anyway, the end results:

Bookmarks for little kids! Jackie teaches a third-grade class every Wednesday, and seeing as last Wednesday was going to be the last time for this year, she wanted to make them something special for them to keep. She is usually swamped with work, and I am usually playing video games and poker. Sooo she asked if I wanted to make these bookmarks, and I replied with a way-too-enthusiastic YES, even though she was probably just joking. The two on the right are for the kids in the class, the quote says, "No dreamer is ever too small; no dream is ever too big." The two on the left are for Ben and Ashley, and I realize the dinosaurs are supercool and I should have done that for all the boys, but man are dinosaur scales and limbs tedious, so I guess Ben is the only lucky one. If anyone wants a bookmark, ask me now while I still have access to a lot of construction paper! Haha.

Classes are aaaaall over with! Unfortunately, that means this coming week is finals week. Unfortunately, this also means I have to study, which I haven't really done all semester except for the nights before midterms. Bleh, actually let's talk about something else.

So I have this idea. It's completely unoriginal, and I'm sure it's been done, but I have this idea. I've been reading Pink Is The New Blog for a while now, where this guy named Trent dishes the latest celebrity gossip everyday. What started out as some small personal blog is now wildly popular, and he's gotten TV spots, magazine articles, and has met a ton of celebrities. There is a website called Old Grandma Hardcore about this guy and his 80-year-old grandmother who are avid gamers. What also started out as a personal blog has gotten mentions in magazines and TV shows, and they regularly receive lots of free swag from game companies. In a related story, Ben and Nick have gotten the opportunity to go to E3 this year through Nick's friend John. Now John is this guy who goes to school with Nick at NKU, who also maintains the site XE360. It's a website that he started up a while ago, and now he gets opportunities like going to E3 (which I would love to go to) and get backstage passes to this concert that we're all going to in Chicago. So I sez to myself, I want these opportunities too. I should start up my own website of something. I should start my own video game website!

See I told you, completely unoriginal. This is probably the most oversaturated website theme out there, but I feel like a good number of them are still somewhat successful. I was thinking I should do a website about something else, maybe food, maybe arts and crafts (haha, well that was thought up while making the bookmarks; did you know there is an arts and crafts major??); but I feel like a good portion of my life has been dedicated to gaming as of late, so it's probably my best bet. However, I don't consider myself to be anything near an authority about video games, and while I think I'm pretty savvy about games, I am no where near as immersed in video game culture as I should be if I run this site. But I have noticed that girls are still in the minority when it comes to gaming, and I'd say that a majority of THOSE girls (including me) only play games like Katamari and Kingdom Hearts and some RPGs. I don't know, I could be wrong, but I haven't met many girls who actually play first person shooters.

So I wanted to make a video game review website that catered to these girls, just reviewing cutesy games and whatnot (I will be baised if I want to!), some classics, and maybe really good games (that, you know, don't require lots of bloodshed, but then again I'm a wimp). I've had a few days for this idea to stew around in my mind, and it's sort of fizzled out a bit, but I'm going to attempt it once finals are over. I'm hoping to get a group of girls to contribute, so far I think Ashley and Anna are willing to help a bit. I know Ben and Nick want to help too. This website idea might be completely different come one month from now, we'll see. Who knows, it really might end up being about food! But I wonder what benefits I'd get from that, free pasta? A Food Network t-shirt? Do they even sell those? Maybe a website about drinks? I digress. Board games?

Making those bookmarks put me in something of a charitable mood, I'm not really sure why. When Jackie came back from school and said that all her kids loved the bookmarks, I then wanted to make bookmarks for every child in America! Seriously guys, I don't know where all this Joanna ambition suddenly came from. Opening this food place, starting up a website, brightening the lives of all children... I've also added to the list: becoming an environmental activist, and saving the women of China. Why the women of China? Well simply from the fact that being a woman in China is a terrible thing. First of all, you're a disappointment to your parents because they wanted a son, and then when you're a mother yourself, you can't have more than one son, or one more child if you have a daughter or a handicapped child first. There are so many horror stories of women being forced to have abortions just days before their due dates. These women have no voice in the Chinese government, but with my super powers, and my awesome Chinese-speaking skills, I will save these women!

:sigh: I feel so insignificant. But it's a goal, you gotta give me that.

Well as for children, I've been reading about Child's Play for a few years now, which is this charity set up by the guys at Penny-Arcade. It's this toy/game drive usually around Christmas time, but they accept donations year round. I haven't contributed in the past two years, mainly because it never really crossed my mind to, but I just noticed that one of the hospitals they sponsor is Kosair's Children's Hospital in Louisville! So I plan on donating a ton of stuff this holiday season, and I think everyone else should too. It's entirely the wrong season to be starting this, but hey any PR helps. I think I'll give my first paycheck this summer to them too. Yay! (Someone needs to remind me of that, btw.)

Okay, well if I'm going to do this website, I need to FULLY immerse myself into this gaming culture. Ben might dump me while this happens, and I might lose all my friends. But if I can get free video games, then I don't care! (I totally kid.) Anyway, this is all fascinating. I have too much ambition. Someone kill me before I have a heart attack.

Listening: Gnarles Barkley - St. Elsewhere (this cd is hot!)
Playing: Kingdom Hearts II (I beat Chrono Trigger yay!)
Watching: Algorithm March

Posted by Joanna at 3:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

So I totally swiped this off of Eli's LJ. Best.way.to.promote.new.search.engine.evar! It's powered by Google, and everytime you use this search engine (well first 10 searches in a day) you have the chance to win prizes! So far winning prizes include Visa gift cards (for like $10 to even $150), PSPs, iPod Nanos, movie tickets... so everyone click on this link and join!

I'll keep another one of these links to the right column so you all can join whenever you want. If you have IE or Firefox, you can change it so that you have the Blingo toolbar or a Firefox quick search. Yay simplicity and winning! Good luck! :)

Listening: RJD2 - Gettin' Jukie Wid It
Playing: Chrono Trigger
Watching: Good Eats on Food Network!

Posted by Joanna at 1:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)