Consumer Journal by Viv

Last day of this conspicuous collection. I can't believe it's already the end of February.

Printing $0.30
Parking [FREE]
bad coffee $1.06

I really wanted a decaf because caffeine makes my heart beat way too fast and I get really hyper and annoying [this I will admit]. But they only had Guatemalan or Fair Trade. Either way, the coffee was stale, luke warm, and just plain disappointing.

Total $1.36

I forgot to record this yesterday. I joined AIGA for $75 student membership. And $90 for the Porfolio event in April. I've been putting it off for quite some time. It's not because of the money, but I just never bumped it up to one of my top priorities. Now, it's at the top, way top. I don't feel different yet. I'm hoping that spending all that money for an AIGA membership will pay off. I think it will, down that long and arduous road, it will pay off one day.

Total $166.36

Sweet.
Thanks for reading.

Posted by muix0017 at 4:31 AM | Permalink

I missed the DHA Internship application deadline today. I thought it was the 26th, but it was the 27th. Shit. I guess these things happen. I'm just not on top of things at all.

But, one freaking awesome thing did happen, which is worth more than the $500 of the internship scholarship. Through my mentor, I met with a Minneapolis freelance designer who is interested in work with the community and for the "feel-good" sector. I sat and talked with her for over an hour about her work and her goals and her experiences in the professional and freelance world of graphic design. It was awesome. Enough said.

Muddy Waters on Lyndale
Medium light roast coffee because I thought that's what people always get when they go to coffee shops. It was an interesting place, kinda dirty, but it had it's flair and odd touches. I smell like coffee now, it never really smells that good on my clothing, but the aroma sure smelled good while I was there.

I'm having dinner with Elisa later tonight at Quang's so I'll be spending more there. My folks also want me to pick-up some dinner for them too.

Total: $2
[FREE PARKING!]

Then I was early for work, so I stopped by Shuang Hur again for some veggies.

Veggies $11.82

I had dinner with Elisa at Quangs.

Dinner $40.94

Total $54.76

Posted by muix0017 at 6:36 PM | Permalink

Parking $3.75
again.

Printing $3

Gasoline $30

Today's discussion was an interesting one. Granted, it was the first one of a long chain of discussions in the future, but I think it went pretty well. I like to learn about what my classmates are thinking. Afterall, I barely know any of them because we've only shared classes together. It's fun to hear what their stance is on ethical questions or moral decisions. I thought the references to the Holocaust and Mein Kampf were relevent and interesting. I think it's important not to use analogies too much when tying to make connections with ethical questions. When am I ever going to have the "chance" to sacrifice a fat man in order to save a train-load of kids? Never. So how can that analogy be applied to a graphic designer's work and decisions?

I'm so tired.

Total: $36.75

Posted by muix0017 at 2:12 PM | Permalink

It's early, but if anything, I'll add later.

I'm behind. So it's time to cram things in for today. A bunch of HW and some good music.

Listening to: Drake Bell 05 In the end
Wish I was listening to: Madeline Peyroux
Wants to be: Caught up
Hopes to be: in Frisco
One day: I don't freaking know.

Total: $0

---------------a few hours later

Before I arrived at work, I decided to stop by Shuang Hur on Nicollet Ave for some groceries. So I got some gailan, baby bok choy, chives, and shallots. I have begun to eat healthier [more fruits and veggies] but sometimes, fresh produce is a costly diet. I think it is more difficult to be a vegetarian than it is to have a mixed meat and veggie diet. Veggies don't fill you up as long or as well as meat does. I've been finding quite a lot of ways to cook veggies these days. The variety is good. Also, I've reduced my intake of salts in my foods and diet. At first, everything was very bland. Things didn't taste as "flavorful". But I got used to it. Now, even the slightest addition of salt and I feel like my blood pressure is rising. I can't wait to cook my veggies and eat them tomorrow. I don't want them to go bad in the fridge.

Veggies $ 16.2

I think this amount of veggies will last me until Thursday or Friday. It also depends on who's going to share my meals this week and how hungry I get.

Current mood: feeling behind
Listening to: silence
Wants to: be caught up
But really wants to: eat cereal!

Posted by muix0017 at 8:23 PM | Permalink

There was a get together tonight. I was very excited for it because I haven't seen these people in a long time and we were going to meet up at FujiYa on Lake St. They have a nice DJ and a good-looking band of sushi chefs. Of course, Happy Hour started at 8PM which is why we went. Sushi is expensive, but tastes so good!

I got there a little later because of work + commute. It was PACKED. There were eight of us, but we had to split up. The other half of our group had to wait an additional hour for a seat. It was ridiculous. I didn't even get to talk to the others. Plus, the group that I sat with were lame. Conversation? Lame. Humor? Lame. Liveliness? Lame. Lame. Lame Lame. The best thing was the food. One Spicy Tuna Roll and two orders of Hamachi. The Happy Hour selections are only for nigiri style, but oh, they cut that hamachi, sashimi style. It was scrumptous.

Parking: $3 (I paid an extra $1 b/c I didn't think we'd leave that early.)
Sushi: $14.8 (including $2 tip)

Total: $17.8

LAME-out.

Posted by muix0017 at 11:50 PM | Permalink

So tonight, I went to Walmart for the first time in years. The story is, Dad decided to buy three more canaries for my Mom, who, I think, doesn't really want them. Dad buys them but never cleans or feeds them. So it ends up being extra stress, money, time, and energy for Mom. But whatever, they're married, they get to do whatever they want.

Mom sent me to Walmart for bird food and sand paper. Walmart has [tried] to change. There are sections where it's really neat, tidy, and new. With wood flooring and racks. Then again, in certain parts where dish soap and laundry detergent are sold, it's a mess. After all these years, there's still spilled soap along those aisles. You'd think they'd have cleaned it by now. Come to think of it, I must've spilled that so many years ago...?

I also decided to pick up some other stuff. Earrings, 6pack kitchen cloth, contact lens solutions, and a stupid CD. It was so spontaneous, I regret it. It was a dumb purchase, I'm not even gonna write it here for fear of embarassment and ridicule from you, reader.

Walmart: $56.54

Posted by muix0017 at 11:47 PM | Permalink

Hi, it's Friday. I have to work later tonight and probably won't spend any money at all. For now, I'm just gonna do some homework and try to "catch-up" whatever that means.

Total: $0

Posted by muix0017 at 11:42 AM | Permalink

I think I've been quite off-topic for the past few weeks. Instead of focusing on consumption issues/experiences/activities, I think I've been keeping just a regular journal of my daily life. Which can be boring for you to read, but nonetheless, somewhat entertaining I hope?

Also, I've been writing and addressing my blog to an entity that may or may not exist at all. You, you, you. Who are you? Are you in my class? Do you teach a class? Do I know you? Have we met?

If not, then, nice to meet you. I'm Vivian and I'm behind in all of my schoolwork. There, I fessed up, now it's your turn. And if you are a student too–most likely in my class–then you and I are probably in the same boat.

I consciously didn't want to spend any more money today, other than for parking which was

$3.75

It was difficult. REAL difficult. Because I kept thinking, I could afford this, I need to eat anyway, I'm starving, I'm really hungry. But class is almost over. But I have a lot of extra change in my pocket. Maybe the vending machine? No, it's just junk food. I'm on a strict diet. No I'm not, who am I kidding?

And thoughts such as these.

But I ended up NOT spending any more money for the rest of the day. Which made me feel good. Simply that, good. But I think this whole blogging/recording of my spendings and consumptions affects my spending habits. I just recorded a few days worth of heavy spending and I felt guilty and ashamed for being so spendy. Without this journal, I probably would've spend some money on junk food today between classes.

To get off-topic:

I really want to get out of Minnesota. For one, it's the weather. For two, it's personal; things I really can describe because I can't pinpoint my desire to leave. My whole family is here. My newborn niece, how could I leave and miss her growing years? And how the heck am I going to earn enough money to support myself in a different state? I have a lot of research to do and the road ahead is patchy, bumpy, filled with invisible potholes, loops, loose gravel, and so much more. Scary. But if I continue to stay here, I'm going to rot, mold, fuzz-up, shrink away, melt, and spoil from boredom. Even scarier.

Posted by muix0017 at 5:17 PM | Permalink

Parking $5.50
New items $1.88
Shang Hur $39.82
—gailan, pork neck bones, lotus root, chives, noodles.
Dinner $36.93 (She gave me $14, so I paid $22.93)

Total $84.13

It's too damn cold in this state. Lunar eclipse was awesome. Well worth the frost bite and frozen strands of hair. It's too bad you missed it because the moon missed you.

Posted by muix0017 at 10:51 PM | Permalink

white porcelain mug
$3.19

15ct Xacto blades
$6.38

driving juice
$28.30

parking
$3.75

Total $41.62
______________________________
So, I went to Target yesterday, to do some preliminary shopping in prep for the $2 shopping spree. I really didn't want to buy junk, and there are seriously, things in the store that I really wanted. But these are things that I couldn't justify buying on a regular visit to the store. Take this white, simple porcelain mug for example. I really like cups. I think they're beautiful. I think they make the drink taste a while freaking lot better. If the cup is pretty, then the drink must be delicious. I totally buy into that.

And it's sad. It's horrible. What about the Indian Jones movie and the Last Crusade? (Which, by the way, is an f* awesome movie. I can't wait until the 89 year old Harrison Ford comes out with the new on this summer? Holy cow, it better be freaking awesome as the last three). Anyway, so the Cup of Christ, in the movie, (I really don't know much about this religion so I'm basing this off of a movie, probably not very accurate, but anyhow, how accurate is the Bible? I'm not trying to contest something I don't understand, I'm just expressing my views), this cup was the crappiest of all and held life because Ford had "Chosen wisely." Am I not also choosing wisely? Because I pick the most beautiful cup of all (strictly in my opinion and standards of ornamental beauty), does it mean that I'm shallow and have chosen "unwisely?" I'm so confused. My eyes hurt.

I also got blades and gasoline. I hate commuting sometimes. My wrists hurt.

Goodbye.

Posted by muix0017 at 10:38 PM | Permalink

Holy f*

I just stayed up all night. I went to bed at 5 AM for a nap. Then I left at 7:15 AM to take my gramma downtown for her exam. In some wierd way, it felt good to be able to navigate my way downtown. When I was younger, I thought to myself, "Man, I'll never know my way around the Twin Cities. I can't even tell North from South!" I'm sure some of you feel the same way sometimes. Or, at least, you did when you were younger.

So there are about 15 chairs in the windowless waiting room as I waited for my grandma while she was meeting with the doctor. I figured it would take at least one hour, so I decided to sleep. The chairs were all regular chairs with skinny wooden arm rests. They were the kind of chairs that are impossible to line in a row and stretch out across them for a nap. Highly unsuitable for such action.

But, there was this one particular chair which was EXTRA wide. I mean, it looked like all the other ones in color and shape and overall general form. But this one was definitely wider. So, I curled up in a ball and fit myself directly between the thin wooden armrests. I dozed more than I actually slept, of course. But nonetheless, it was rest after a long evening/morning of GD4 work.

What was funny was that more patients began to enter and sit around me. I could feel eyes all over me. And then a nurse came and kept calling "Jen? Jennie?" Jeannie? JEN??" I bet everyone was thinking, "Ohp! it's that girl over there, she's sleeping. She'll probably miss her appointment, sucks to be her." Of course, I'm not Jeannie, or Jen, or Jennie.

I went home to finish my project and went to print it at Office Max in Coon Rapids.

f* cost me : $48.36
to print

Then I went to Target with my Mom (she paid for most of the things). I got bread, milk, orange juice, cereal. I have been buying the same things over and over. I have the receipt. Like the things I just listed. It makes it seem as if I ONLY eat those things. I live off of dairy products, breads and cereals and big-leaf Chinese veggies. It makes me feel good.

Target $52.25

Then I bought a CD at Best Buy with my Dad. Madeline Peyroux. I've wanted it for a long time but couldn't seem to justify spending $15 on a CD. But Dad had a coupon of $5 so the CD cost me

$10.64

which is still expensive. I don't know why. I feel that $10 on an album is better than $15. But if an album was $7, then it'd be a bargain. I buy CDs for two reasons: I like looking at album art/design. Second, the sound is better. I guess there's a third. I don't really know how to download music from the web. I know, you're saying, "It's super easy, and you probably won't get caught doing it." Yeah, but still. If I were a musician or artist, I'd want people to BUY my music. But what is a song worth? Just as much as a painting? A tangible, touchable thing? It's just a song, it goes into my ears and soaks into my brain and veins but what is it really? Postmodern. That's it. Oh, and corporate. Postmodern corporatism.

Total: $111.25

Posted by muix0017 at 10:40 PM | Permalink

Today is another Sunday. How long have I been blogging? I bet the hardcore bloggers actually like doing this. Not that I don't like it. It's a nice and fast way to write down my thoughts without getting a hand cramp.

I am really really behind on GD4 work today. I am thinking about pulling an all-nighter tonight and just charge through. I haven't pulled one in a long while. I think it's time.

So, I'm staying at home today. Dinner with family from 9—11:30 PM. So I won't be spending any money.

Posted by muix0017 at 10:36 PM | Permalink

About a week ago, I went to Target with my little brother at 9:20 PM and we bought a lot of things. We mainly needed foods like breakfast foods, juice, milk, snacks. The store closes at 10 PM so we were in quite a rush. Come to think of it, we shopped very quickly and bought some of the foods on a very spontaneous decision. Bread? Yes. Coffee? Yes. Water Crackers? Yes. T-Shirt? Yes. But there were somethings that took a double take and a split second longer to decide. Olive Oil? Well, we have some at home...But this stuff is nice...Yes. No. Wait. No, I don't need it. I don't remember what else.

Anyway, the very next day after our shopping spree of over $100, my mother entered my room and gave me $80 in cash as a reimbursement for buying groceries and bathroom amenities. This may seem very strange to you. Why would my mother reimburse me for the things that my brother and I buy at Target?

It's a cultural thing. I like to justify a lot of different things with culture. We are a family. I grew up in this family, giving, taking, providing, consuming, things with and from my family. Whatever we do, it's each others business. Even if I needed to go fill up the gas tank, or go pick a leaf off a birch tree, I'd call my mother or father and tell them, "Hey Mom, I'm gonna go across the street and pick this leaf of this guy's tree, I'll be right back."

Yes, I feel spoiled, lucky/fortunate, dumb, and wise all at the same time. Maybe you're thinking, "What can this girl possibly learn from being reimbursed for buying groceries or laundry detergent? Paying/consuming for things is a part of growing up and learning certain responsibilities." But I digress from your criticisms and step back to culture: I'd do anything for my family. If I need to give up my dreams, my ambitions, so be it. I grew up with this upbringing and I embrace it.

Perhaps I haven't been clear enough. I'll be more specific so don't get me wrong. Sometimes, I return from Target or Cub Foods after spending $200+ on groceries, soap, toilet paper, cups, napkins, lotions, clothes & underwear and socks for everyone in the family, and my parents won't give me a dime for any of it. Everyone in the family will use it or eat it or wear it. And all of this is totally OK. Besides, my Mom rarely has time to spend at Target. My Dad never goes to Target. So, it's up to me and my little bro to shop for house stuffs.

I'm getting redundant. You get it.

That's my story for the day, now I'm gonna do homework and go to work at around 4PM. I probably won't spend any money today.

[a few hours later...]

I lied, I spent $25.52 on pizza tonight. It was tasty.

Posted by muix0017 at 11:33 AM | Permalink

I seem to be at a conflict with myself everyday. It's getting on my nerves. I don't have MPD but I just seem to be questioning everything that I do and self-evaluating myself. This is what I think the problem is.

I want to do too many things at the same time.

So, problem stated. Now what's the solution? Well, instead of running around in circles, let's talk about lecture/seminar yesterday in Professor Jasper's class. To be honest, Prof Jasper is the first, and only, prof I have ever had, who actually has an opinion about things. What I mean is, many professor provide an unbiased, untainted stance on the subject they teach, albeit the classes prior to Jasper's class are mostly studio courses with minimal discussion opportunities. I don't even think that it's the structure of the course itself. Jasper doesn't seem to be afraid of saying, "This is my work, this is what I do, and here is where I stand."

Let me back up for a sec. On the FTF 2000, I think the manifesto is quite vague, highly optimistic, plain, and most of all, elitist. I am willing to bet that a majority of the class agrees with the FTF. We, as students with this gung-ho approach to life and spontaneity, agree that we shouldn't be creating and designing things soley for consumer satisfaction. Although, the thought of the designing an object or a product that will be purchased by the mass consumer culture does appeal to us for reasons of fame an fortune. My point is that, as entry-level designers, we don't have a say to what we do.

You're saying, Yes yes! You have a choice! You can choose what you do and stand up for what you believe in! Blah blah blah. Do I really have a choice? If I'm employed at a design firm—any design firm—and I am on the team to design an entire campaign that targets workers from another country to work the crappiest jobs in the U.S. for minimum wage, would I do it? Of course not. I have my own ethical and moral values and I have a choice.

But if this project would pay for rent, insurance, food, clothing, and leisure spending money, I'd probably just do the work. Isn't that sad? Isn't that unsatisfying? Isn't that unfortunate? Isn't that just what every entry-level, just out of college adult would think? Screw morals, fuck ethics and just do it for the money? Would you rape the opportunity for the cost of morals and ethics? Would you do it?

I sense that I may lose my identity as a graphic designer/communicator in the future. And if I ever do, I am truly sorry. Sometimes, I blame that elitist manifesto written and signed by the "signatories" of well-established visual communicators of the century. They are not rebels. They have created their own rut of well-designed products and "beautiful" visual communication devices that they feel the need to drag the rest of us emerging graphic designers into their mess. They are the design-mongers, dealing and handling, writing and expressing design as if they were the creators of this profession. Who are they to say, "Stand up for what you believe in and act now!" Who are they? Who are they REALLY? And why are they telling me what to do?

I never saw it coming, but I am about the enter the most significant part of my professional life. It's fast, like the LA highway system. It's tender, like a baby's skull. It's sexy like the Victoria's Secret Winter Collection 2007. It's cool, like Pokémon cards back in the day. It's fun like a white sandy shore. It's scary, like post-modernism. It's nothing blasé! If we are only given one chance in our career-driven life, one chance to choose, to make a choice, we have to make it now. Because I have an inkling that we will never have a choice later on. Let's make our choices! We are the next generation of graphic designers, let's show them what WE are made of!

Posted by muix0017 at 12:30 PM | Permalink

I'm guessing that at least half the class will title their blog for today, Happy Valentine's Day! The only think I fully appreciated for today was Kelsey's double chocolate brownies. The aphrodisiac of a lifetime! (the brownies, I mean). About a month ago, I made a whole pan of Ghirardelli walnut brownies, and ate the whole freaking thing in nine days.

Don't judge me, I love chocolate. Who doesn't? I never eat candy, I hate Skittles, Starbursts, SweetTarts, Jolly Ranchers. Any candy that is fruity, I hate. I feel more strongly with my tastes in sweets than I do about my country and the election that is going on. Excuse? I think not. You can't taste politics, you can't taste the rainbow. But cocoa beans? circle YES

I talked with Elisa and Danielle today in class and something about the conversations struck me in an odd way. I won't go into much detail about their personal lives, but it surrounded the topic of it being Valentine's Day. When I get engaged or married, am I obligated to buy/plan something for my sweetheart on this day? Can't I just seduce him all the other 364 days of the year and take a break on Valentine's Day? Today is SO overrated. Agree with me here.

I went to work today, cooked at home and then crashed.

Parking $3.75

Posted by muix0017 at 9:12 PM | Permalink

As you can see, I have not been doing well with my blog entries lately. A part of me says that I should go back, edit and write out long[er] passages. At the same time, I wrote what I wrote on those days because I just didn't feel like writing a whole lot.

I know, I know. From an professional standpoint, this can be an irresponsible thought. What if I had a job? I can't just call-in and say "I don't feel like working today, so don't count on me being there." Sorry. There's no real reason why I didn't write more. There are, however, excuses.

Ah, now the topic of excuses. I have been on an excuse rant for quite a long time. (Which could be the reason why my entries have been so scarce in content.) But I'm not talking about reasons, right? I'm talking about full-blown excuses. These excuses are more to myself than towards others. I'd say 98% of my excuses are a means of procrastination. And I am seriously behind in all of my work for the entire semester.

I have goals too. There are at least two dozen, no joke, twenty-four things on my list to complete that are outside of academics. You might be thinking, it's no big deal, heck I've got way more than that on my to-do list! But, even though the things on my list are small things, (i.e. organize photos from my camera, put my post-it notes back in the drawer, etc.) I still don't get them done. It's like the game of LIFE or Monopoly. I just want to move one space forward and I still can't. And, worst of all, it's all my fault. Pessimist? Procrastinator? All of the above, please.

I know, it's not supposed to be easy. I had a discussion with my folks once, about this. It was a few years ago and I was on a similar rant like this one, about how difficult it was to complete ALL the things I wanted to do and make plans for the future. My Dad said, "You're in school, how hard could it be?!" You gotta be kidding me, Dad. I was speechless. Come to think of it, I don't think I even gave him a response because I was in so much awe. My Mom chimed in, "No, I think being in school is way more difficult than having a full-time job. With school, homework, part-time work, family time, social time, and making plans for college, or post-graduate work...it can get pretty difficult. With a full-time job, you just work and go home, pay bill/tabs, and work and go home. Being in school is difficult." Thanks Mom.

In no way am I trying to say that having a full-time job is easy. But I suppose that's another story for another day, if I don't make up an excuse before getting to it.

So, in the end, I am sorry that I didn't write more. It's a mix of reasons and excuses but I just wanted to let you know that I am still here and working real hard to earn grades, money, satisfaction, and approval.

On another note, I had dinner with Jenny Lui tonight at Quang Restaurant on Nicollet Ave. I met Jenny Lui about two and a half years ago, when I first entered the GD program at the U of M. She was just about to graduate and she persuaded me to join the Chinese American Student Association to be their webmaster, (which was a bad idea all around). I remember gawking at her design work for GD2 and GD3 and thinking to myself, "I will never succeed in this program." But here I am, almost done. Weird.

Jenny is the first person I've talked to who was able to relate to 99% of the stuff I was interested in, or had already experienced at the U. She also had many of the professors whom I had in the program. We were able to talk freely of our opinions of the various teaching styles of our past and current professors and how we thought the class was handled. There is a different, maybe higher, level of openness among students after we graduate, or are nearing the end of the academic tunnel. In a sense, I don't feel afraid anymore. I don't fear critique as much as before, I don't loath the time spent on reading GD materials. I am beginning to embrace others thoughts, others constructive opinions. By constructive, I mean, not degrading or rubbish-like words. All in all, it's the beginning of a very fine end. One to which deserves even more attention to detail.

Dinner $46.62

Posted by muix0017 at 11:21 PM | Permalink

Horizon Organic Chocolate Milk
Organic Chocolate Wafers
$4.26

Parking $3.75

Then I'm also gonna go to Target later this evening and spend a crap load of money on food. I need to buy milk, hair conditioner, ingredients for baking a black russian cake, etc.

Ok, back again:

Target $139.25

Posted by muix0017 at 9:20 PM | Permalink

Quang Dinner $46.83

Posted by muix0017 at 9:17 PM | Permalink

Gasoline $33

I cleaned a large portion of the house today. Just a way to put off homework. Success.

Posted by muix0017 at 8:43 PM | Permalink

There is nothing to write about.

Total: $0

Posted by muix0017 at 8:29 PM | Permalink

Spur of the moment and spontaneous was my decision to go to Sushi Tango last night. Of course, the Happy Hour specials do not impugn my reason for going, but more importantly, it's the company of a friend that offers the best explaination. The food was utterly delicious and the sobriety of the evening made all the difference. Flavor is best when undiluted with uneccessary booze.

Sushi Tango $107.06

Today, I'm reading for Jasper's class with a dictionary at hand. I've found that I cannot understand the crux of each paragraph, sometimes sentences, without looking up words like "ostensibly" "impugn" (such as used above), and "paucity". I am still so full from sushi last night, that I cannot concentrate without music. So, I've turned on some classical French music. This expansive range of music spans orchestral, choral, opera, and piano classics. One of which from one of my personal favorite: Claude Debussy. I also admire Chopin.

I will leave for work at 3:30PM and I anticipate no more spending for the rest of the day.

Posted by muix0017 at 12:56 PM | Permalink

Gung Hei Fat Choi! Happy New Years! I need to be real careful today and not mess anything up. It's a superstition that I've stuck to since I was a kid. If, on the first day of the year, I do something "bad" [like drop and break a glass, or tear something, etc.] then it could determine the outlook of my upcoming year. I will drive carefully today.

Parking $3.75

I don't have much to write yet, since it's only 2:30PM, but I suspect the day to be another normal day. Class, drive home, cook dinner, read, sleep. But tonight, we will be going to my gramma and grampa's place to wish them a Happy New Years. It's tradition. Deeply rooted into my culture as a Chinese-American. Maybe I'll go to Barnes & Noble again to browse through their books. They seem to have quite the collection.

Posted by muix0017 at 2:30 PM | Permalink

Today is the last day of 2007 for us Chinese people. So, we ate a my paternal grandmother's house for a feast. My cousins came, and my niece. The only reason why I will not move out to Cali after graduation is because of my niece Olivia. If I move away, I won't see her as often. She will grow and learn to walk and talk, eat solid foods and read books without me, if I decide to leave.

Crossroads are such a difficult place to be in. I could go on to grad school, or find a job after graduation, or study abroad, or just travel abroad, or work abroad. I could just move away and find a job completely out of the graphic design realm, or stay in MN and be close to home and my family. The pros and cons list idea has never worked with me. I never know what to do. This is one of the most difficult decision to make. My decision will decide what will happen after graduation, and that place is a big grey area for me. Like a bitmap.

Total: $0

Posted by muix0017 at 11:05 PM | Permalink

The Brand Gap book: $21.99
Hamlet book: 50¢
Some Pig! book: $5.98
=============
Books Total: $30.32
Gasoline: $31.65
Parking: $3.75
=============
Total: $65.72

I wonder, where do I get all of this money? I'm such a smoocher for Mom and Dad's money. Well, I mean I work and everything, but gosh I really hate adding all of this stuff up.

I've been listening to Gavin DeGraw lately:

...when you came to my defense.
With a knife
in the shape of your mouth,
in the form of your body,
with the wrath of a God.

Also, remember to add Halifax, Nova Scotia to the list of places I'd like to visit.

Posted by muix0017 at 6:35 PM | Permalink

Today we went to my maternal grandmother's for then end-of-the-year dinner. This Thursday is Chinese New Years 2008, The Year of the Rat, and as a tradition, we have dinner at each grandparent's home to end the year.

My grandmother, Popo, is an exceptional chef. Food cooked in a its possiblities: braised, fried, boiled, broiled, steamed, stir-fried, etc. The best part is, Popo cooks with love. It is an all-week prep, all-day cook kind of event. It is bigger, better, more delicious, and more important than any other holiday put together for a Chinese-American such as myself. This week, I don't care for Thanksgiving feasts or Christmas dinners and pastries. Chinese New Year is the star and the start of a fresh beginning.

But over the years, I feel that this tradition has lost much of its magic. Take this year, for example: my cousins didn't come, my dad was in the hospital with my paternal grandmother, Mama. There were never any exceptions; you HAd to be there. It's the end of the year feast, a closure to the year. I wonder how Popo feels when tradition is broken and exceptions are made. Is she sad? Is it bad luck? Is it OK?

Someone once told me: Things always turn out OK in the end.

Panera® with Mom: $20. 63
Free People® shirt: $10
Zco. Jeans®: $19.99
Burton® socks: $3

Total: $53.62

Posted by muix0017 at 5:26 PM | Permalink

I cut my hair today. Just a trim all around. I think I'm addicted to it. But you won't be able to tell that I cut my hair because I am always afraid that I'll just keep cutting and cutting. Pretty soon, I'll just have stubby bangs and an asymmetrical haircut.

I also did some miscellaneous chores, dishes, laundry, cleaned my room, etc. And thus I procrastinated my homework all day. It's one of those lazy Sundays when I drink a lot of indulgent hot cocoa and eat Ghirardelli Walnut Brownies all day.

I didn't watch the Super Bowl, but after the game, I'll probably just look up the score online and read the hightlights of the game, just so I can say, "Yeah, great game, Tom Brady...him yeah, yeah!" Right, whatever.

There are so many things I want to do. Like watch football, everybody watches football. And yoga, everybody practices yoga. I also want to see The Godfather I and II. Pulp Fiction, The Fight Club, Sin City. Then again, there are so many things I want to do, ONLY because everyone else has done it or seen it, etc. It's all either peer pressure, or just the feeling that I don't want to be the uninformed; left out. So, how many things do I do that are actually things that I WANT to do, not because I HAVE to do? Maybe you are telling me that I can, essentially, do whatever I want to do, but doesn't it ever cross your mind? Do you buy that because your friend recently bought one too? Are you watching that TV show, not because you enjoy it, but because your roommate says that "it's the BEST show EVER!"? So, do you ever do anything for yourself? Or are we all just selfless like that?

Posted by muix0017 at 3:34 AM | Permalink

Honestly, I did the same exact thing as I did yesterday. My grandmother is in the hospital for the weekend and so I am working in place of my dad, who is spending the weekend with my grandmother at the hospital as the second translator and interpreted for the doctors. I really don't feel like writing a lot. I didn't spend any money anyways. I didn't watch TV either. But I played the new Michael Bublé [Call Me Irresponsible] album at work all day long. I still prefer Sinatra.

p.s. the pile of trash and junk is growing like an infestation of a pile of trash and junk in my room.

Posted by muix0017 at 11:28 PM | Permalink

I worked all day today
9:30AM—9:30PM
I went home and crashed
10PM—Midnight
on the couch
Midnight—2AM
Then I went to bed.

Posted by muix0017 at 3:13 AM | Permalink