Stellar Melon

Tenative JC Strat

2009-05-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

Oh, goodness! It's strange going back to Palomar to take the classes that I tried to take 3 years ago, but was in too much of a hurry to wait the extra semester or two to get the prereques so that I could indeed take and pass the classes. But, that's how things go.
Here's the plan. Each course takes a semester. One of my Chem classes will have to be taken during summer, and since my Hawaii trip is making this summer look impossible, it will probably be next summer.

Over the next two years I will probably take: Physics, Physics, Bio, Bio, Chem, Chem, Chem,Chem, Chem, Psyche, Botany, Anatomy, Physiology, Chinese, Chinese, Chinese, Engineering.

Perhaps that was a confusing way to lay this out. Draw a grid with four rows and four columns. Number 1 to 4 across the top indicating the semesters chronologically that I will be at Pmar over the next two years. Cross out one of the "Chem"s. Now write the classes in from left to right and then top to bottom as if writing a letter in English, using the order that I wrote them above. You will be left with columns of classes that I will take in each semester. Then add another Chem at the right hand side of the second row (which should be full of Chems) to indicate that I have to take 1 extra Chem class during summer school. Nice work team! lol if someone draws the grid. I'll be stoked.
Let me note that the goal of this is to apply to an accredited school of Naturopathy, such as Bastyr or NCNM.

My other aspirations include learning to clone trees through hydroponics, and continuing to pursue massage and martial arts, and qi gong as well.

I'm with Travis two!

2009-04-06T16:08:00.000-07:00

What I am doing these days.

2009-03-13T22:55:00.000-07:00

My friend Ryan requested that I post from time to time, and so I will. Today I went disc golfing, which fits the recent trend of me hanging out with B before he sets off for Japan. Other than that, I'm putting quite a bit of time and thought into jujitsu as of late. Having graduated I've been able to go more consistently. I've made some progress and my progress has been recognized by my teacher who recently promoted me to first brown. I plan to work hard for the next year or so and hopefully test for my black belt before he gets stationed abroad. He says that he will be relocated by the army in early to mid 2010.

I've also spent quite a bit of time reorganizing and decluttering my/our living environment. I first took on my room and all that I had accumulated over the past couple decades. It is very nice now. Everything is in a sensible and accessible place (or in the dumpster), the setup makes the room feel spacious, it is a good environment for watching movies or drinking tea, and I am happy with the wall decorations and the 2 plants I have brought in to add some life.
I then took on the pantry. It is great now. I can see everything that I use, instead of having to search through piles. I adjusted the shelf heights to optimize functionality, organized, and even got rid of most of our expired foods.
I moved the tv to the living room and pointed the furniture toward it. I also hooked up my piano speakers to the tv for better sound.
I moved some furniture around in the game room and the guest room to the end that the pool table is free of obstacles and there is plenty of room for treatment/massage. The book shelves look nice in there now, instead of storage, the lack of tv gives the room the feel of a study.
I will finish that project, tidy up my sisters room, which i have been sleeping in, perhaps attack the garage, and maaaaybe the office. I really look forward to doing some stuff in the backyard. My garden is looking pretty good. I'd like to fill in the area behind the bbq to use as a sitting area and perhaps construct a japanese style shrine with a bell.
On the backburner is my plan for 'the big room', which involves filling the lowered area, at least in part, with tatami mats which could be used for practicing jujitsu.
Other things on the list are constructing a solar oven and perhaps elevating my garden.

Faith and I are doing well. She is quite busy with painting and work and has been excelling at both recently. She recently was awarded 4th place at a San Diego Portrait Society show, behind 2 of her teachers and one other man.

Inaguration in DC

2009-01-14T18:32:00.000-08:00

I'm leaving tomorrow to go to DC for 1 week. My mom managed to get tickets for the inauguration for faith and i and for herself, and she has also arranged for a few brunches and parties for us all to go to. It should be fun, and I look forward to doing some site seeing when possible. We'll also be meeting with some relatives residing over in that area of the country. Tonight, I hope to go to Barnes and Noble to get the penguin classics version of the Count of Monte Cristo, which seems to be the best translation, at least of the unabridged versions, and the abridged versions are said to be quite confusing and lacking in some of the most interesting content. I still need to pack, but if possible I will also update my flickr, something I haven't done since before soky was here in... Novemeber was it?

baby let's blog

2008-12-10T03:05:00.000-08:00

bay bee lets blog
baby lets blog

that's a song btw.

I have tentatively finished my research paper. thank the goodness.

Two more finals to go, and then i'm free at last, though almost certainly only temporarily. I'm looking forward to it all the same.

I feel like I can't write in this thing without mentioning Japan.

Wowzaz

2008-05-22T18:48:00.000-07:00

I just finished uploading the last of my Japan pics.. what an event!

Pictures!

2008-05-22T12:18:00.001-07:00

I just uploaded some more pictures from Japan, but there are still quite a bit left. I'll post again when I finish uploading them, probably pretty soon.

After getting my undergraduate degree..

2008-05-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

there are decisions to be made! I am considering getting a masters in education here at UCSD or getting ESL teaching credential, or both. I like the idea of teaching English as a second language. I've done it informally, and I enjoy it. It is also a job that would allow me to find work in foreign countries, if I so desired.

I read reviews of 'the house of spirits' on amazon, because I'm supposed to read it for my latin american history class. The reviews made me not want to read it. Apparently it's pretty two dimensional. I tend to read the reviews of people that don't like the books. I find them more informative than the 5 star reviews.

Just 5-6 more weeks until summer. How exciting.

things are good

2008-04-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to feel better, stronger, more awake. I still need to get more hours of sleep, but I have been exercising a lot and eating well, and it seems to have positive effects on my overall... condition? (choushi)
There are times that I'm still inclined to use Japanese words or, more accurately, the English counterpart of Japanese words appropriate to the situation. I noticed it in the sentence structure of the essay that I turned in yesterday too. Other than that, life in Japan is a distant memory.
Last night's Jujitsu class was fun. I'm starting to remember kata and the uke tori relationship, but it is a bit strange feeling. I'm used to training with a more practical/sport focus, not working towards the cultivation of greater sensitivity and awareness. I do think that my understanding of throwing techniques is better than when I left for Japan though. I have a better understanding of what it really takes to make throws work, and what is just there for decoration.
It looks like I will continue to have midterms and assignments pretty steadily for the next few weeks. I'm hoping make some time to get away for a weekend or two. I want to visit my grandma in walnut creek, my friends in Santa Cruz before they graduate, and some people and the bank in Los Angeles.

Hot weather

2008-04-28T16:55:00.000-07:00

Everyday I'm surprised at how warm it is when I leave my room. I guess the perks of having the coldest room in the house are finally manifesting. Stay hydrated everyone!

Things that strike me as different than Japan

2008-04-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

At UCSD the passengers of the shuttle thank the driver as they leave the bus. In Japan the bus driver says thank you as each passenger leaves the bus.

When I was in an elevator a girl almost debated whether she and her friend should get in or wait for the next one, though it seemed to me that there was quite a bit of room left. They ended up getting in, but I think that the girl really didn't want to.

ps. our soccer game last night was epic. we were down 5-2 at half and came back to win 8-7. I contributed one goal, which is exciting because I rarely score.

Oh school!

2008-04-11T16:49:00.000-07:00

Just a little longer...

I went to Jujitsu once last week. It was fun, but very far from my home. I'm feeling about sick this week, so I probably won't be going today. I went to soccer on Tuesday too, and the to a small pick-up game on wednesday. Soccer was fun, but I had absolutely no touch on tuesday. When I get my cleats back from bretton, i may improve. Is it the shoes?
we'll see!

Well, I'm home

2008-03-31T13:13:00.000-07:00

I have class in just under 3 hours, which is sorta cool. But, I'm not sure that I'm ready to start studying. I need to rest up a bit. My class schedule is pretty good though, and I think that I will have plenty of time to keep up with my studies.
I also need to think about getting a phone and a mode of transport. I may just buy a helmet and ask Maria if I can use her bike.
Final thoughts on Japan aren't really coming to mind right now.. It was fun and I'll go back. Shout-out to So-ky roommate ichiban! bonus.

hmmmmmmmmmmm... I'll think of something

nikko

2008-03-13T03:22:00.000-07:00

Nikko was really cool. It has in a wooded area. The buildings and sculptures were ornate and colorful. And the shrine part had a room which i think was the best shape of any room i've ever been in. It was great. Dan seems cool. Ramen time.

Dear those who still read this,

2008-03-12T10:46:00.001-07:00

Sorry for not posting as often as I used to. I've been having fun traveling around. Bretton came for the last 10 days or so, and we had a good time seeing Japan and eating way too much food. I'm just now uploading pictures of the places that I've been since coming back from Taiwan. There are pictures from hiroshima, hamamatsu (lots of pansies for nani), niigata, kyoto (including plum blossoms), and maybe some other places. The girl in a few pictures with So-ky is his sister, she was here for a couple weeks starting when I was in Taiwan. I think tomorrow I'm going to go to nikko, then the next day kyoto, then back down to kyushu for a girl i met's art show. I'm debating whether or not to sneak in a trip to hokkaido before ryan and mj arrive.

also, my replacement moves in tomorrow. I'm trying to do a bit of cleaning while i upload pictures. it is really late though, and if i want to go to nikko, maybe i should get some rest. I don't know if I'll be posting much. But I will probably keep posting after I go back home to America. I love America. I bought patriotic Adidas. mmm. i think when i get back there may be a content change. we'll see.

the godfather 3

2008-02-25T06:07:00.001-08:00

is a terrible terrible movie.

Its snowing quite a bit!

2008-02-23T04:58:00.000-08:00

Im in Kyoto and the snow is very pretty. I cant find the apostrophe on this keyboard. I just bought broken social scene tickets for bretton and I. they were about $55 each. Should I buy tickets to see animal collective and or pinback for the same price? feedback welcome! Also melt banana is playing with the locust for 35ish, that sounds like a must see. I like that you can buy the tickets at convenience stores. Lawson is leet.
I went to hiroshima yesterday and went to the a-bomb museum. It was interesting, but the audio guide was too emotional. Also, I wasnt that impressed with the okonomiyaki. Im thinking of going snowboarding in nagano. and also i should start trying to get to shikoku and kyushu, i want to see them both.
raul has been trying to fix my guitar playing form for me. i think it would be best if i started taking lessons when i get home.
i like it down here in kyoto, i dont count the days when im with the yamaokas, i just hang out and have fun.
im supposed to go back to tokyo tomorrow and hang out with soky, his sister, and keiko, but the snow is making trouble for the shinkansens. hopefully it will be cleared up tomorrow.

Back home in tokyo

2008-02-19T00:28:00.000-08:00

Glad to be back. I just got some Indian food with Soky and his sister. I'm just seeing some Tokyo sites with them and hanging out. I got my Japan Rail pass earlier today too, so now I can go anywhere in Japan, basically. I'll take the opportunity to visit some new places, and some familiar ones too. I think it'll be a really really great 6 weeks. A lot to do, and the freedom to do it.

I guess they let me in. here is my spring schedule

2008-02-15T18:01:00.000-08:00

hmm. i guess the weekly schedule isn't an image.
but i have economics of Mexico, contemporary Mexican history, something about history of Latin America, and economics of ocean resources.
i have 2 classes on mon-thur and one class on friday, with no gaps. It's pretty exciting.

Ni Hao

2008-02-09T13:37:00.000-08:00

So, wanna hear about my trip? 'A brief overview'. I arrived in Taipei on the 4th. My hostel their was dirty and the cigarette ash was bothersome. I got a thirty minute head, neck, shoulder, arm massage from a blind man and then went to bed. I woke up at night with a terrible headache, i think the root of the problem was listening to Sydney White too loudly on the airplane. I went to convinience stores to try to find medicine, but ended up settling for various kinds of candy. I did get back to sleep though!
The next day I went to a temple, walked around, ate lunch at a restaurant that happened to be playing 'What a Girl Wants', and then in an attempt to go back to Taipei main station I took a long bus ride to some city outside of Taipei, then another one back in, and finally hopped on the subway and got back to Taipei station. There, I tried to get the student rail pass, but I think that you can only get it at the airport, oh well. I bought my ticket for the next day, walked around the underground mall for a bit, walked around on the nearby streets eating local foods and also checking out their 'cold stone'. I then went to longshan temple/night market and walked around, and ate some more. Then back to the gross room for sleeping.
Early the next morning I left for Hualien. It was new year's eve, and when i got there the fireworks had already started, and i think that they are probably still going now, they never seemed to end. I guess, since everyone travels during the new year celebration time, there are no hotel rooms in most poplular spots, and even when their are available spots they are pretty expensive. That's what everyone tells me at least. So, the woman working at the information center invited me to stay at her house and I paid the same price as the night before, but for a clean room! I even used the shower!
The next day (the 7th), I took a bus trip from the hua lien station to the taroko gorge national park. It was pretty, the walls, or mountains?, were incredibly steep. On the way out to our first stop, we got into a bus accident! It was funny, in a way, but not too exciting. The tour was ok. On it, I met a group of Malaysians that are about my age. 2 spoke English well, and they were nice, I think I may actually see them again in Malaysia and or Enc. We ate at a sort of buffet do it yourself boil food then eat it place. Then I went back to the house I was staying out.
On the 8th I left hualien for taitung. When I got to taitung station I was supposed to take a bus to get to the actual city, but I just missed it. I was too stubborn to take a taxi (for some reason?) so I waited. But I didn't really know what I was doing. I've learned not to take advice from Taiwanese people that don't speak any English or Japanese. Sometimes it seems like we are on the same page.. but it is not the case. I eventually decided that I didn't really want to go to Taitung afterall and I went to the station and asked for a ticket to Tainan, the guy at the counter said Tainan? as if it was a bad choice or impossible, so i said, "Yuli?". This was the name of a town I had passed earlier that day. So I went there. Turned out to be a very small town. And while i was walking around it I was searched for a bathroom to use, a place to stay, and internet access. I found a Lan Cafe, but it was full. So, I kept walking. I saw these bridges that are famous enough to be on signs at the station, so i walked toward them. Then I akwardly walked toward some kinds playing with fireworks. Their dad called to me, 'hello' or whatver. He knew a little English from living in Austrailia, but he was fluent in Japanese from living and studying in Tokyo. So we talked, and he took me to look for a hotel. Everywhere was expensive or full, so we went back to his house for really good tea, corn grown on his land, and then a rice with various ingredients dinner. They eventually found a place for me to stay, but since the place didn't really have any rooms left, they set me up on a mat on the floor of the cafeteria. It was free, so it was great.
On the ninth, the man picked me up early, we drank so taiwanese coffee at his house, then went to get my ticket to Tainan. Since we had 40 minutes between buying the ticket and the departure, he quickly drove me to the nearby national park and we saw a small information center and then a waterfall, and then drove back to the station. So then I rode trains for 5 some odd hours, most of it without a seat :(, and arrived in Tainan around 3:15. There I called someone the wife knew from work, or something, and he came and picked me up.. on his scooter. It was great fun. We went to some festive street, and a old dutch fortress, then to eat. Unable to find a cheap hotel, I crashed here at this Internet Cafe for only about $8. I think I slept pretty decently. That is, I did get some sleep. So, I may do it again, we'll see.
Today is the 10th. I have to real plan. but that's no different than any other day.

Taiwan

2008-02-08T02:35:00.000-08:00

is crazy. can't wait to tell you all about it!

Great night!

2008-01-31T06:00:00.000-08:00

Yatto finals are over. To celebrate I went out for food and fun with a couple of classmates. It was fun and we ended up at a restaurant that had a picture on the wall of their L.A. location on Wilshire Blvd.!! That's the place Jeff bought kim chi cause the kitchen was closed and they couldn't make us any real food for an hour. How exciting. I can't believe I didn't have my camera, but at least I took a picture with my phone.

Wrapping things up

2008-01-29T07:09:00.000-08:00

With my last finals on Thursday, my study abroad experience is coming to an end. Part of me wishes I had decided to go somewhere else, but it has been worthwhile none the less. Now I'm cleaning up my room, and packing 3 bags. I think I'll try to go to Taiwan with only my backpack, and maybe my death from above 1979 hand bag. So, I've packed my backpack full of clothes for traveling. I'm also packing two suitcases, one of things that I don't need to use for the remainder of my time here, and one of things that I may need to use. Hopefully I can start sending things home with my friends before I actually come back, in case I have more than two suitcases worth of things. And I do. I bought a guitar for example.
I'm becoming more and more irritated with Japanese society and the way Japanese people act and think. I write about it fairly frequently in my notebooks. Though there are exceptions, Japanese versions of work, friends, marriage, family, academics, and maybe more, are all very inadequate from an American viewpoint. I'm really lucky to have been placed with Raul's family. They are fun, and atypical.

I'm studying for tomorrow's Japanese test

2008-01-28T05:02:00.000-08:00

and thinking that it is quite possibly the last time that I will have such an experience. I'm thinking about what I want to do, and all I know is that the degree I'm working towards won't be of any specific value in my future endeavors. Or at least that's my hope(though it may be of value as a generic Bachelor's Degree). So here are some recent ideas to add to the already long list: get a teaching credential, go to film school. I like the looks of this one. I also like the idea of using the internet as a way of communicating my ideas or distributing things (like movies, music, books, or whatever) that I make. I fear that I may be over-utilizing parenthesis, and I'm sorry.

I still haven't completely given up on Uncle Tio's, but I wonder about the enormous of amount of red tape that surely would make any business in Japan abnormally and unnecessarily cumbersome.

I'm looking forward to my finals being finished on Thursday. It's funny how much students dislike finals time, they seem to happen so frequently.
I still haven't really come to terms with my coming home early. I think that it is a good decision, but it somehow brings more uncertainty to my future. Or, it makes me re-evaluate my priorities, maybe. I think, though, that I have one reason for coming home that trumps all others, but somehow I rarely consider it when reflecting on my decision. In any case, at least I'll be able to get adequate sleep when I get back.

What else.. I'm leaving for Taiwan in 1 week, and I still don't know much about the country. I've ordered a guide book, and will read it vigorously when it arrives. I have booked my first 2 nights in Taipei. There are other places I'd like to go, but I'm waiting to look through the guide book before making too many plans.

Back to my future/career, I ultimately just want to be creative, and there is something compelling about the idea of having my creative works recognized and appreciated, but I'm not sure how important that part is. Maybe I'll just start making, and displaying what I make online so at least some people can see it. What I don't like about the idea of a prestigious film school, is all the politics and fronting that I imagine goes on in that business (and others).
When I listen to my favorite music, or see art that really strikes me, I often think that what really attracts me to it is both the maker's creativity and vulnerableness. I think that I am less worried about things like the way that others perceive me than the average man woman or child, but still often think that if I were to display any work publicly, I would at least to some extent have an audience's reaction in mind. I think that becoming completely vulnerable and honest is a worthy goal.
Now, I wonder if I need to find an occupation that best utilizes creativity, or settle for one that leaves me with the freedom to pursue all kinds of creative endeavors outside of work. Or... other options that I'm sure exist but don't feel inclined to think about or list at present.

Really, everyone go buy and or listen to Andrew Bird. He's great. If that wasn't a reminder it was spoiler, and I'm sorry, but that is just one of the unavoidable consequences of reverse chronology.

I think that I and others are unable to completely give up desires for wealth not only because of what our culture has taught us, but also largely because of a psychological dependence on comfort.

I think that once I'm home, I'll make a small book of pictures and writings from and about my travels/life in Japan. If anyone has any particular pictures or content that you strongly believe should be included, please let me know.

I think I'll finish studying for my test now. It feels very momentous, as it may be the last of it's kind. But at the same time, it is also somewhat pointless for the same reasons. I hope to do well, but don't imagine I'll remember even 10% of what I've studied today for any length of time. But that is academics for you...

Andrew Bird

2008-01-28T04:59:00.000-08:00

I really like the two albums of his that I've heard. They are great. You should all hunt them down, or pick them up, and give them a try. 'Armchair Apocrypha' and 'The Mysterious Production Of Eggs' are the names.