one time...in china...

This weekend has shown that I can compete at Bellagio's and my tears can fill any-kind of H20 theme park. It all started from that darned all-nighter Thursday night/Friday morning when I pathetically broke down three times while studying, thinking, "(expletive) I...don't...know...anything...!!!" Of course I went on to take/fail my biochem midterm that day by fighting the tempation to pass out while attempting to coherently put words together during said exam with absolutely no sleep, but that is beside the point. Saturday was highlight by an hour of throwing pillows around the room and screaming at myself due to overconfidence on a phy sci exam, followed by a 2:30 am heart-wrenching phone call to my parents that started like this:

Mom (in a clear, resonating voice): "Hello?"
Me (crying, choking, hyperventilating, hiccuping): "I-I..I mi-missss...I mis hoome!!"
Mom: "What?"
Me: "I-I missss ho-homee!!!"
Mom: "Aww, which daughter is this?"
Me: "The...ol-old-der onee..."

It's really cute and comforting when my mommy tells me that things are looking up, that it's like basketball. Just because you get down 10 points in the 3rd quarter doesn't mean the game is unreachable. It just makes your comeback that much more incredible and memorable.

She suggested to me that I resign form my position at the Daily Bruin, and I said, "I am not a quitter."

Then mom was like: "That's right, Rebecca Lee is not a quitter."
Cue more waterworks.


Then tonight, Pan said, "Oh my god. I have to show you guys the saddest videos ever."
We watched the videos, and cue more waterworks.

Anyway, I don't think I have any more tears in my lacrimal glands but I feel so refreshed because my stress were washed away.

And no, I'm not quitting the Daily Bruin because I really, truly believe that obstacles are put in my life for a reason, and the reason is solely for me to overcome them. If I quit now, I'm never going to find out what how much I will learn from this position, what kind of people I shared bonds with, and how much I can grow from this. Experiences only make you stronger, and this will definitely be one of them. I don't take the easy way out and I never quit when situations get tough because I'm not a quitter. It was that heart-wrenching phone call to the 510 that helped me realize that.

What do you do when you hit a speed bump? I find myself in familiar territory - once again, Rebecca Lee is stressed out about grades. No surprise there.

This year, I made an important decision. Life-altering, but maybe I'm being a little dramatic. By leaving ACA Hip Hop, I thought I was on my way to regaining myself. The perfectionist, never-take-no-for-an-answer, focused, motivated self with a solid, safe 4.8 GPA. Instead, I find myself more lost than ever.

I thought I've grown, moved on, realized the realities of a realistic situation if I was to ever achieve my goals. Dance has always made me happy, but it was supposed to be something to be sacrificed for the sake of ever achieving my ambition. By sacrificing my time with my dance team, my immediate family at this country of a school, I was supposed to focus on why I attended this university in the first place - to go to school.

It was my creative outlet, my life support, the one place I can go when everything else in life goes completely wrong. Now I've lost it. I love my major, but when that alphabet goes awry, I retreat to my asylum because the essence of dance protects me from that pain. It was my crutch, when I don't understand something, I dissect routines in front of a mirror to connect those dots. It's the one thing I know how to do - to take my emotions from life and to thrust it into my movements. To perform my frustrations for my teammates. I dance for myself, and I dance for them. When my legs get tired at 3 a.m. in a freezing, paralyzing parking lot, I push myself to the absolute limit for them. That's where I learned endurance and persistence - that's where I learned that impossible is nothing. Dance kept me busy, but at least it kept me sane.

I need directions and guidance. I'm suffocated by my own ambition, by my own desire to be a perfectionist. Who and where do I look to for inspiration when everything I have is so uninspired?

In 2007, inspiration came from the Golden State Warriors. The starting lineup of Baron, Monta, Jason, Stephen, and Al with Andris, Matt, and Kelenna coming off the bench was unstoppable. Their chemistry resonated like an aromatic hexocarbon. Two years later, this team is a complete disaster. I invested inspiration in this ball club and they repaid me with lackluster play, petty spat-fests, and political feuds. As a fan, I just want to watch some basketball. Some fast-paced, lightning-speed, high-scoring Sports Center-worthy basketball with my squad having the higher number brightly lit on the scoreboard. It was only through the passion of that 2007 lineup that propelled me to excellence as a teenager.

How was I able to have so much aspirations, direction, and focus as a 17-year-old but so frightened and desperate for light and guidance on a dark, abandoned path merely three years later?

The funny thing is, it was the Warriors that got me to apply for the Daily Bruin. They inspired me to try something I've never thought about doing, to harness a different facet of my creativity and modest ability to string a couple of words together. My absolute adoration for the Warriors led me to believe that I belong in the world of sports.

Boy, was I wrong. So wrong, so in over my head. To say I'm discouraged is an understatement. Why am I assuming a position in something I have no interest in pursuing? It doesn't access my creativity the way that dance does, it simply makes my days more tedious. I don't think its respect that's lacking in my work space with my colleages; it's trust. I'm not sure they trust me to make decisions, to utilize my knowledge about sports to do this job correctly, and frankly, I don't trust myself. It's one thing to lack confidence and to scramble to regain it, because eventually I will pick myself up. But it's a whole other story when I've fallen in the middle of the pavement, and instead of getting back up on my feet and brushing the minor dust off my shoulders, I lay there, waiting for something to run me over. Why can't I pick myself up? How do you know when to rebound from tripping over a crack in the pavement and when to cut my losses and run?

So I have finally returned from the exciting new life that is UCLA. New people, new setting, new *ahem* experiences. Basically there is one group of people that I met the second night I was in Westwood. We went out at night and basically came back and chatted and laughed till about 3 in the morning, and as Brandon, Daniel, Joanna, and I walked back to our own dorm, I asked, "Wow, what if a few years later, we all share one apartment. That would be pandemonium." We all stopped dead in our tracks and simultaneously went .... oh my god. Because on the first night that we met, it felt that we all knew each other for years. And believe me, we were crazy. I haven't laughed this hard since...I don't even know. But in retrospect, these people have been my family at UCLA. Sure we've had problems, some of which I'm still working out, but we have now accepted that we're each others closest friends and system of support in college.

Anyway, probably like most "i'm-not-sure-i-want-to-pre-med" students, my suitemate and I had a conversation about it. She asked, if it was not being a doctor, if I could have any profession I want, regardless of how I'd get there or the obstacles I face, what would it be. I thought, and basically went, "You know what? How awesome would it be to be the Warriors newspaper beat writer?" And now, I don't even know anymore. The whole pre-med thing pretty stemmed from familial pressure. Let's just say father believes that I "was destined to be a doctor" since I was a fetus. Which was the exact words he uttered to me when I was...five. So what about becoming a writer? Ok well, during summer orientation, I asked myself, "How awesome would it be to become a sports writer on The Daily Bruin?" I talked to several people, and all I've heard was, "Sure, you can apply, but I'm warning you it's really competitive." I was unphased by it, decided I'd give it a shot, that my writing skills will decide whether I get in or not, and when I got that call from the DB Sports Editor Sam Allen, I was ecstatic. And it really was an accomplishment. But now I'm officially a Daily Bruin sports intern, but I have done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I keep doubting myself, Do I even have what it takes? I really want to be active, and I know I'd have to take matters into my own hands, but my lack of experience might be holding me back. How the hell do I "come up" with stories? I'm just going to say the folding out of my journalism career lies on my experience with the Bruin in the following months. Welcome to 2008, bitches.

Did I mention that I joined a Hip Hop dance team? We went to our first major competition the saturday after Finals week, and took 6th, which was actually better than expected. We were the underdogs, the "unknown team," us against the world. and we killed it because in the end, people remembered us. "OH MY GOD your set was so sick!! The one with the flashlights? You guys killed it!!" And that's what really mattered. I just hope that this is only the beginning. Here's a video of our performance:



The Warriors have definitely been an inspiration to me. They never give up, as seen in last night's game against the Rockets. They pull it together when they need it and they have this swagger that's undeniable. Seriously, wouldn't it be the dream job if your occupation pays you to follow your favorite sports team and write about them? Of course, the only part that bums me out is that I'd have to remain non-partisan in all this. Nonetheless, it's a long way, and who knows, I might change my mind before 2009. Anyway, Warriors. This year saw the trade the horrors of the Dunmurph sisters, the buzzer-beater of Monta Ellis, the Playoff clincher in Portland, the resurrection of the best fans in the league, the Playoff upset, and finally some much deserved praise and attention from the world. Let's continue this.

( Read more... )

And thus I conclude, my one resolution for 2008 is to live life, see where it takes me. Here's a quote from my friend's sorority-girl roommate. She parties way not-in-moderation, but she has a point:

"I've learned one thing, and that's to quit worrying about stupid things. You have four years to be irresponsible here, relax. Work is for people with jobs. You'll never remember class time, but you'll remember the time you wasted hanging out with your friends. So stay out late. Go out with your friends on a Tuesday when you have a paper due Wednesday. Spend money you don't have. Drink 'til sunrise. The work never ends, but college does..." -- Tom Petty

I realized something about myself, that I have a real knack for pushing other people's buttons. And I'm not sure I want to be like that. I really don't want to be someone who makes quick enemies and quickly lose friends. I don't know, this past week has just been an emotional roller coaster.

I was super excited to go to the Warriors draft party, and ok, we drafted a no-name player from the Italian league, but people were pissed. But me and mom were like, ok, whatever. We went home. But on tv, we found out that Jason Richardson, the heart and soul of our team, just got traded. After 6 years of sweat and blood into a losing franchise, only to have a taste of the postseason, he was shipped off to yet another rebuilding franchise. All the non sports fans out there reading this have absolutely no idea what this feels like, to have one of your favorite players and the face of the franchise leave and betrayed by Mullin who promised not to trade J-rich. No idea. People may say I'm insane for being so emotionally invested in this team, and this player, to be specific, but that's what a die-hard fan is. Bandwagoners have no idea Warrio Nation felt like they had a stake driven in their chest. I admit that I had the luxury of not going through those 13 years of desolution. No, I started following them since the 05-06 season. They were mediocre, but still a miserable franchise. I followed them when my parents started showing interest in the Dubs. But eventually our interest turned our family into this basketball-crazed family and we are all die-hards. Anyway, I just want to say that J-rich will forever remain a Warrior in the minds of Warrior faithful.



Other than that, I've got alot of personal drama going on. I think too much. I sometiems think so much that my thoughts betray me and let emotions get the best of me. You know how in Othello, with Iago chirping in his ear, he conjures up this scheme that Desdemona is cheating on him when she's not and he ends up getting so caught up in his own assumptions that he eventually murders her? I'm like that. minus the murder part. Q said, "so, in theory, you're a psycho." Maybe so.

Anyway, this is hilarious.



BOOM got them dos!

First things first. My beloved Warriors have been eliminated by the almost-all-white Utah Jazz. (This certainly does not help that the Jazz fans were heard calling out racial slurs to the Dubs) I'm at peace, and it wasn't like we'd get past the Spurs anyway (call it self-defense mechanism, whatever, it's true). Let the Jazz get swept. Anyway, my point is this - how are fans so obsessively attached to their favorite sports teams? I mean it's not like we know the players or anything. My family started following the Warriors since last year when they still weren't that great, but I started following them almost obsessively since a little before winter break with their blowout win against Detroit, and even more so after their blowout loss against Sacramento when J-rich got injured. Since then, I've pretty much watched every single game, cut a 2-1/2 hour block just for them, sacrificed my Anatomy or Physics grade, just for the Warriors. We did exactly the same even during their 6-game losing streak when they'd get blown out by 30 points by mediocre teams. I get pissed off when Mav fans or Jazz fans insult them.

Why I love the GSW:

- Their camaraderie. This was something I never achieved with my golf team, these guys were best friends on and off the court, and they all basically have a man-crush on Baron Davis. They keep gushing about their chemistry, which really shows during the game. I love it when newspapers mention in the bottom corner under "Notes" the team's friendship: like when they were in Indiana they all gathered at Al Harrington's house to watch the Superbowl or when they all went out to see "300" together, or you know their chant/war cheer before the games taht ends with "Aaaawwwwhhhh BOOOOOM!"

- They're good-looking. My personal favorite is Jason Richardson and Monta Ellis (and Al's a cutie). But all in all, they're prettier than the Jazz. 'nuff said.



- They exceeded expectations. which was simply MAKING the playoffs, nobody talked about getting past the first round. In fact, we all joked that we should be the 8th seed so we could upset the Mavs, but we didn't really think it'd happen, considering the Mavs almost won the championship last year.

- They play NELLIEBALL. The fast paced style of game that with smaller players who can run n' gun and absolutely dazzle the crowd. They've got the style, the swagger, and the attitude to make basketball fun to watch.

- They play with so much heart. sure sometimes a little too much, but you should have seen the two emotionless guys we had before the trade. So what if there are techs now and then? The Bay Area loves to see the passion.

- They play at the Oracle. which has quickly become my second home over the month of march, during that ridiculous playoff push. I remember that one time I went in there like 4 times in a week. Friday, Clippers game. Monday Celebrating my first acceptance letter from Bowdoin - Mavs game. Tuesday, Season Ticket Holder party. Friday - Twolves game. And obviously, they've got one of the most raucous crowds in the NBA. which is probably why I might have permanantly damaged my vocal chords.

- Gold is the best color, EVER. draw the the comparison between Golden State's obnoxiously bright yellow to the tranquil baby blue of the Jazz. Yeah.

- BD is BOSS. check it out.



My icon, basically. Matt Barnes' and Pietrus' reactions are hilarious. And that one rabid fan, I reacted exactly the same way.

Even Mistah Fab did a song about them.

http://www.divshare.com/download/635397-01b



I love this team.

I find the sudden surge of the Warrior's popularity and the "Hey-I'm-a-Warrior-fan-(and-I-don't-know-who-Mike-Dunleavy-is!)" quite annoying. Nobody except Patrique gets into these exciting talks with me about them. It's not that I'm the only fan at school, but before all this sudden Dub-greatness, nobody ever really openly declared their love for the W's. I get pretty excited talking about them, and there's nobody to talk to, even amidst people who "proudly" sport their Warrior gear.

Example, (I wear my "We Believe" gold/yellow t-shirt from Friday's game)
Them: Nice shirt. Go Warriors! (with the fist in the air)
Me: Thanks! Did you see the game?
Them: No....(embarassed look)
Me: (walk away in disgust)

I wonder if they even understand the Nellie-Cuban-Avery love-hate triangle. Ok, it's not like "omg, I'm the only Warrior fan" but where was everyone when we were 9 games out in February and Nellie threw in his towel saying we won't make the playoffs and why wasn't everyone pissed off after the Washington game?

Whatever, I need to graduate.

Anyway, it breaks my heart to reject Bowdoin. Seriously, I felt like I'd fit in at that school, and everyone there is incredibly friendly. I met so many awesome people and it's sad that I probably won't ever see them again. But the atmosphere at Bowdoin is amazing, and you just feel so independent and comfortable. Everything it represents awes me. Alas, I am not built for the East Coast weather, (them not offering any financial aid doesn't help much), and the almost 8 hour travel time sucks equally. So I guess I'm UCLA bound (Baron Davis went there, so did Matt Barnes). I'm worried about the people, that they're not as friendly as the ones at Bowdoin. Like even when I visited, I saw it right away. Bowdoin really makes you feel like an individual and they really care about you, but it feels like I'd disappear and be anonymous at UCLA.

On the other hand, my life revolves around the Warriors right now (it has been since like, winter break). We're up 3-1 on Dallas, the number one seed with the best record in the NBA, and Boom Dizzle couldn't play any better.



I love this team.

(I'm not the only one)







self-explanatory.

Apparently, Kurt Vonnegut passed away last night.

So it's 5 am, and I didn't purposely stay up for an English essay. I might as well not have gone to sleep, but no I woke up at 4 this morning because there's about an hour to my 6:30 flight to Chicago then to Portland, ME.

It's been a rather lazy spring break, went shopping a couple times, worked out a couple times, and watched Little Manhattan yesterday and made crepes with Quynh. ugh, I really want to go to NYC.

Damn, I'm missing the Dubs' most important games during my college escapade. I'll come back when my eyes aren't blood-shot and when I'm a little more coherent.

Remember this?



Anyway...SPRING BREAK!!!

Haven't touched surveys in a while. Here goes.

My uncle once: visited me in a golf camp in Monterey
Never in my life: have I truly won/lost, whichever way, a game of "Ten Fingers"
When I was five: I had to practice piano insanely
High School is: ugh. trivial.
I once met: Jason Richardson (Warrior)
There's this girl I know: whom I secretly (not really) dislike, but have to pretend to be her friend for the remainder of the school year
Last night: I almost cried myself to sleep considering the Warriors' predicament
Next time I go to church: is when I get married.
When I turn my head left, I see: a mess of things. random pieces of paper, medicine bottle, keys.
When I turn my head right, I see: my calculator, the wall
How many days until my birthday?: 2 months + one week
If I were a character written by Shakespeare I'd be: Horatio
By this time next year: I'll be in college, probably just as confused as I am with this Calculus book
A better name for me would be: um, the rents tried to name me Carmen
I have a hard time understanding: This calculus problem.
If I ever go back to school I'll: prick myself to draw blood for an anatomy/physiology lab
You know I like you if: tell you embaressing stories about myself.
If I won an award, the first person I'd thank is: Quynh
Take my advice, : it won't matter in a couple of years.
My ideal breakfast is: French toast. with butter and maple syrup and and powdered sugar and fruits. plus strawberry crepe. and hot chocolate.
If you visit my hometown: you'll find the text book definition of "suburbia"
Why won't anyone: take a chill pill (Wowwww, that was from, 7th grade?)
If you spend the night at my house: you'll embaress yourself in front of my parents, eat Chinese food, we'll watch a sappy chick flick and talk the night away while disturbing my insomniac sister
I'd stop my wedding if: I have the guts to
I'd rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: eat it.
My favorite blonde is: Laurexi! Other than that, Andris Biedrins. Lol, or Scarlett Johansson.
Paper clips are more useful than: I hate the Los Angeles Clippers, whom warrior fans call the Paperclips
If I do anything well, it is: being extremely passionate in different things, during different stages of my life
And by the way: oh my god, a bunch college decisions technically come out tomorrow
The last time I was high: I was high on life. You know, adrenaline pumping, working out, that stuff. Or maybe at the Warriors/Wizards game. I was high on life.
The animal I would like to see flying besides birds are: Pigs. Imagine the chaos!

There are lots to complain about in the world. For example, I absolutely have no voice. Qwig said I sounded like the people with a hole in their throat. I'm continuously consuming H20, which leads to countless annoying trips to the bathroom. I can't go to the O'Dowd State Championship game today, having skipped last week's so that I can attend this one. YEAH, not happening. I am not able to get desperate messages across like, "Mom, Quynh's not going to the game" without a "What? What did you say? I can't hear you. Speak up. You sound terrible."

But seriously, it's really not all that bad. The reason I really lost my voice was the Warriors game last night. Anything for booing Gilbert Arenas for that retarded game in D.C. and shouting "M-V-P" for Boom Dizzle. I am getting a much needed rest from intense dancing (which I skipped...ack) and etc. I can finally finish watching this week's ANTM. and 24. And rewatch some Dub games. And actually get some homework done. Yeah, right. That's for Sunday. It's only noon. Maybe take Carol out for a lunch and movie, it's her last weekend. Whatever, I'm just writing the first thing that comes from my head. You know that story about the fox who can't reach the grapes but later said they're probably sour anyway. I mean I'm kinda doing that right now, but it's good for comforting the soul. I couldn't possibly have made it all the way to Sacramento and back in one piece.

Anyway, "Infernal Affairs" yesterday for ASA. Wow, I watched "The Departed" and I kept saying "Oh, 'Infernal Affairs' is way better" but it's like I kind of forgot how that movie was. Seeing it again yesterday was really refreshing and it just convinced me that the original trumps the Americanized-Oscar-winning-copy of it.

Graduation is not far away. (which is on my birthday, which sucks. JUNE 3RD, MARK YOUR CALENDARS!) Wow, so we're really doing it. After 13 years of school, we're actually stepping into the big world. You know how pretty much since sophomore year I've been saying I can't wait to graduate and go to college, and even more so this year? Well, I've definitely toned that down, because I'm just trying to enjoy every minute of high school, before I say, "Ugh, I don't need high school," and feel nostalgic about my high school days while in college. I'm going to try to make the most of these next several weeks so that I WON'T have to think back in college.

Sincerely, your favorite Becks

( That's right. I got into college. )



Bowdoin College.

This calls for a celebration at the Mavs vs. Dubs game tonight! (a team with the most active non-playoff appearances vs. the Western Conference champion last year, this is going to be fun...)

My emotions are displayed in the following picture:




Anyway. On another good note, Multicultural week was last week, and as always, it was Asian domination all the way. Me and Olivia were talking at one point last week, and we both agreed that you no that feeling of performing on stage (or racing in boats or riding horses à la Lauren and Lexi) with everybody cheering you on? Nothing like it.



And the video.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-455363440932390609&hl=en

Seriously, we've been preparing this for so long, and to finally go out there and have a blast, just as we always do, was so worth all that drama crap we went through. It worked out in the end, so I am so proud of all of us.

I can't believe that after the end of this month, we only have one more marking period left.

The following pictures describes my weekend.







SICK!!!!




not so sick.



Monta (pronounced "Mon-tay") Ellis is my hero. Remember that name. He's going to be big.

Plus a double performance on Sunday, Chinese New Year, and shopping in The City yesterday, coming home to find my driveway all blocked and not being able to park in the garage and coming into a house filled with the people in my dad's company to celebrate Chinese New Year. I thought I'd be bored out of my mind putting on a happy face until I played MJ with some people of my parents' age and older. Wow, intense. I can already picture myself 60 years from now playing that game.

Lack of sleep is truly a monster. It probably all started with last Sunday, when procrastination once again takes over my life and I must, once again, stay up till 4:30 writing a stupid English paper on Voltaire's "Candide," who believes that "All is for the best" or whatever crap-naive optimism he portrays. Yeah, not in the mood for your blind optimism. But seriously, why is there only 24 hours in a day? Or why does lack of sleep cause your body to shut down or cause you to almost fall asleep at the wheel? Anyway, after Sunday night, this whole week I've gotten no sleep. And here I am, it's 1:30 and even though I swear that I'd sleep no later than 1:30, I get incredibly distracted and 1:30 slips into 2am and 3am.

Whatever. Speaking of time, I'm basically having the busiest weekend of my life.

Friday: French tutor after school, then Victoria and I headed to the Warriors vs. Bulls game and we got there early to watch Monta practice shooting while we swooned and giggled like little school girls. (Wait, I forgot, I'm still a little school girl because I haven't actually graduated yet). Got home and I don't know I was doing until 2am.

Saturday: Morning Dance class. Then to the SF Streetfest where it was POURING rain. So we danced in the rain.



Except we weren't this elegant. We were completely soaked, from the head to the toe (I wanna lick......jk). Not to mention our dance shoes are completely messed up by the menacing puddles and flowing water. Gross. And the stage sucks and it was slanted on one of those crazy streets in Chinatown so our balance was distorted. Then after that, we caught a ride back to this side of the Bay and I went to buy a gift for Mitch and headed to her place. Where I stayed for the remainder of the night. I'm pooped. And it's about 1:45, still not asleep. Great.

Tomorrow: Another most-likely-disgusting-soaking-wet-performance-in-the-rain. Then I'd have to rush back to go to Victoria's concert at Head Royce. Then we all rush to the Warriors vs. Hawks game (which is actually mandatory this time because I'm performing at halftime). Then I made some wacko promise with my dad that I'd go to bed at midnight.

I probably could have managed my time better, no doubt. But still.

In other news, PowerSchool can go die. Apparently, teachers aren't cutting us any slack, but I've just gotten into the habit of not caring about hw anymore and just not stressing as much. Which is probably better for my health (except that I still don't sleep) but not good for my next report card. Ack.

Kudos to anyone who can correctly identify each one. (I think Victoria's the only one who can)

"Today's big news was the eight-man trade between Golden State and Indiana. The most interesting part of this swap for both teams is what it will do to the 'do's. Among other things, the Pacers pick up a girl-headbanded blondie and some brown hair that grows from a plastic mask. The Warriors pick up their first mohawk and what I believe will be their only set of 'rows."

"And suddenly, we don't miss Dunleavy anymore." -- Warrior fan, after witnessing Jackson make several three-pointers.

Ha. Except we lost. And yesterday was J-rich's birthday.

In other news, I can't believe how much homework I have. I'm a second semester senior. It's almost unethical to give us homework.

O'dowd vs. CV basketball game was soo good! We won by about 9 points and I'm still in shock. But that's not the best part.

So me and quynh see all the O'dowd kids in the freshmen cage, and we're like, we'd probably not see up there, so we decided to sit at the junior bleachers. Then towards the end of the 2nd quarter, obnoxious O'dowd kids were screaming and yelling in our direction, and we're like "wtf?" and we turn around. And there's Mistah F.A.B. and Too Short.





And here's a picture that quynh took with her snazzy camera phone just as everyone else whips out theirs, for evidence



WHHHAAATTT???? What brings a famous rapper to a high school basketball game? One can only guess. They sat right behind us, and Mistah FAB's shoes were right next to my seat. And we're on High School Sports Focus, so basically, the entire O'dowd student body in the cage wished they were in our seats. Yadidamean? (He actually said that twice. Qwig and I heard it and couldn't stop laughing.) So Alex Soulier kept coming over to ask him to perform at the end, and some random person had a CD and at the end of the game, they put it in and he performed "Ghost Ride it." Of course, the O'dowd kids had to go over there put there faces in the camera and you know how it goes. Us included.

Today, in Sussman's class, she gave us this quote:

“The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer.” -- Nolan Bushnell

It really made me think. As a senior, we all tend to reflect on our lives like this, and I realize how much I have grown these past years in high school. I've really been playing all the right cards all along in school and I didn't get screwed over by O'dowd because I've learned to seize the opportunities that I have. In real life, people aren't going to just hand these opportunities to me, I really have to get down on my hands and knees to find them and work for them.

Anyway, second day of class and homework is already burying me alive in a 10-foot deep grave. Why do I still care??

Boo, I miss winter break and watching basketball.

Monta Ellis...



...is my freakin' hero.

Wednesday I went to the city with Mitch (San Francisco City Center is absolutely amazing, a shopper's paradise, pretty much resembles the malls in HK or Bangkok) and saw A BUNCH of O'Dowd kids, (your friends, Lauren) Kara, Allison, Kimi, Brie, Kelsey Walker, Hilary, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Ok, anyway, we went into this store called Ruehl, and the front basically looks like a New York brownstone. I basically spent all my money and time there.

Anyway, yesterday was the ASA party, which was hella fun because the fab four is back after much drama. We basically bonded over very bad karaoke and annoying the hell out of Yang. Making a complete fool out of yourself is so much fun when faced with a group of people who don't care, and when you're with your friends.

And, I can't believe its time for school again. This sucks. I've been enjoying winterbreak since 12/30 when I finished all my apps.

I'm starting 2007...WITHOUT COLLEGE F-ING APPS!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOD I'M DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel...



ecstatic. And guess what. No school for an entire week! Finally. I've been looking forward to this time for the longest time. I feel so empty now, I have a whole week all to myself. But of course, there's AP English hw. NEVERTHELESS, I am done with my stupid applications.



New Year resolutions: (I swear, I have these every year and never fulfill them)
- Workout
- Stress less
- Be more outgoing
- Stop being paranoid
- Forget about homework (right...)
- Do something that would be inappropriate to post
- Be less selfish and less insecure
- Watch more Warrior games
- Choreograph a dance for CFDA
- Get more sleep
- Have fun in college

Et cetera. So, I started the new year, vacuuming. Woah, yeah, I haven't done that since I was like 10. And my room, well, at least I could see the floor and the surface of the table now. Woohoo! And my new LJ layout is going to need a little getting used to.

I'm so tired of apps. Basically have been stuck in the house for the past week writing essays and getting extremely frustrated.

Anyway, here's something to ponder:

( Too Asian? )