Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The Potatoes

So, sometimes, things are just potatoey. If you need clarification for what this means, well, then I'm sorry but it cannot be known by anyone else but those who just know. Yes, it's very exclusive to understand the Philosophy of Potato. The Wholey Papaya is another philosophy that is elusive to many and understood by a selective few of Walruses, Durians, and other magical creatures.

What to say, there are a lot of happenings, irons in the fire as some might say. Some will take a while to mature while others are maturing right now. IN THE MOMENT!!!

I'm also doing some triple integrals right now, and it's very complicated doing integration. I don't know why, but I don't like anti-differentiation that much. It's not that it's hard per se, but it's just a brain teaser and I have to think a lot to get it down. Not that I mind thinking, but some things just take me longer than the time alloted. Oh wellll, Math is fun though and I like doing it. It's very interesting and I can't believe I'm thinking about a major in it! CPS made me hate Math, but then I came here and started to like it...I credit this to Northwestern not using the stupid CPS method of math pedagogy.

Speaking of CPS, I saw Perry Wong over the weekend. We went to La Oaxaqueña to celebrate Chinese New Year. Yes, only with Perry would I celebrate CNY by going to a Oaxacan restaurant. I sadly don't have pictures from this food adventure, but next time we go, I hope to have some for the blog. A few of his friends from UChicago tagged along. I highly recommend getting the classic chicken with mole sauce or the whole red snapper cooked with cactus. Delicious. Don't get the seafood platters though, it's really not as good as you'd think.

I also went with Perry to Banadir, which is this Somali hang-out. I can't really say it's a "restaurant" since it seems that most of the clientele consists of Somali cab drivers who just chill and talk about life while having either Al-Jazeera or soccer matches on the T.V. The food, however, is cheap and DELICIOUS!!! I need to get some pictures and post them. Get this, sixteen plates of amazing food for only $40. You just can't beat that anywhere...and plus, you get to hang out with friendly Somalis who are more than willing to talk to you about anything.

I'm also a secret soccer fan, which is probably because soccer was the first sport I seriously played. I was on the offense for the Castro Valley Wildcats(hahahaha, see the trend? CPS Cougars, Northwestern Wildcats) before my mom made me quit. It was very fun and even though I was the smallest kid on the team, I really liked it...mrgh, I wish I'd stayed on. I digress.

Anyway, this Somali man asked if any of us were Arsenal fans and I wasn't sure how to respond. I sometimes follow the UEFA stuff and the Premier League, but I've never really gotten very serious about it...at least, to the point where I have a favorite team. I don't particularly like Mancester United because they remind me of the NY Yankees: lots of money. It kills the game when teams that are the richest have the best players...but that's just my take. Whatever. I like Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea, which are just as rich. In fact, when ManU was playing Arsenal, I sort of broke my phone when Arsenal lost. Yeah, it was intense, but I just like it a lot. It's a more strategic game than baseball or American football or basketball for that matter. It's "like war and battles", as the Somali guy put it. Hahaha, me liking sports, go figure.

Also, Beckham might stay with AC Milan. He should too...it's a waste for him to play in the MLS for LA Galaxy. I mean, seriously...let him play in a real soccer league.

For the record, even though I played Volleyball in high school, I don't like watching it or play it that much. Actually, it's fun to play, but not to watch. Soccer though, I like kicking around the ball and while I haven't played basically in years, I still want to. I'm not the best, but who cares? Just play for the enjoyment, the same is true for the violin(yes, I practice, though not every day and not as long as I wish...I know you're reading this, :P).

Lots of rambling. Ok, I must study now. Yay!

Oh right, I went to a Japan Club meeting today. I should socialize and really give this place a last chance before I write it off. Maybe this'll help more with my lack of friends here...I'm crossing my fingers.

Monday, January 26, 2009

I'm a fucking sap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR_NncIZo9s


I'm a sap, whatever. I should toughen up, but I'll always be an emotional kid at heart.

There are lots of things on my mind right now, it's complicated.

I should try taking a Yoga class.

I have to study now.

And get some sleep.

Anyway, that's life. It's full of decisions and complications between heart, mind, soul, and various other things like potatoes and melons.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

The Elixir of Love

I don't have much to say; I'm just feeling weird.

Watch this. It's extremely expressive. I know the recording isn't the best, but it's still powerful and brings tears to my eyes every time.

The translation is below.




Una furtiva lagrima
negli occhi suoi spuntò:
Quelle festose giovani
invidiar sembrò.
Che più cercando io vò?
Che più cercando io vò?
M'ama! Sì, m'ama, lo vedo. Lo vedo.
Un solo istante i palpiti
del suo bel cor sentir!
I miei sospir, confondere
per poco a' suoi sospir!
I palpiti, i palpiti sentir,
confondere i miei coi suoi sospir...
Cielo! Sì, può morir!
Di più non chiedo, non chiedo.
Ah, cielo! Sì, può! Sì, può morir!
Di più non chiedo, non chiedo.
Sì, può morir! Sì, può morir d'amor.

One furtive tear
in her eyes appeared:
the festive youths
it seemed to envy.
What more could I possibly want?
What more could I possibly want?
She loves me! Yes, she loves me, I see it. I see it.
Just for an instant to hear
the beats of her heart!
To almost confuse my sighs
with those of her!
The beats, the beats of her heart to hear,
to confuse my sighs with hers...
Heavens! Yes, I could die!
I ask for nothing more, nothing.
Oh, heavens! Yes, I could, I could die!
I ask for nothing more, nothing.
Yes, I could die! Yes, I could die of love.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Catharsis

Every so often, we all need a grand catharsis.

It doesn't matter where you have it or who you have it with or what you're doing to get to it or whatever. Well, don't have one while on drugs, then it doesn't count.

It has to be a natural catharsis.

And when you get it, The Catharsis, it is amazing and will change your life.

Maybe you will think it was a dream, but you'll remember that it wasn't.

Yes, we must all have a Catharsis.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Snow blowing all abound
Wind gushing to and fro
Icicles falling
Falling
Falling
Down

Wondering what goes on
Sun disappearing on horizon
Dripping water from above
Sudden gushes

Biting wind to the bone
Inside chills never known
Warmth is sought
Icicles
Falling
Falling
Down?

News flash: it is cold
Sniffles around
Chuckles within
Stone beings frowned


Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Hilarity



This video made me laugh. I don't know if it'll embed properly, but watch it. It will be even funnier if you're brown. Or not, whatever.

There was supposed to be a big blizzard today. I was most disappointed when I woke up and found sunlight. The sun is fantastic and all, but I wanted to experience an intense blizzard! The last time I felt such was way back in the day when I was on one of my first visits to Lake Tahoe with my dad. We couldn't even drive out; it was so bad. Oh well, I'm sure a few more warnings will come around and a few will be true! I'm excited.

I'm not feeling too chatty at the moment; it's ok, these moments happen. I've yet to figure out the destiny of this blog, so I'll let it evolve over time. This segues into a new thing, I need to get out and start taking pictures again. Digital and film. The opportunities are vast here and I already have a project in mind! I'm going to do icicles. I've spotted quite a few massive specimens that deserve my close inspection.

Well, that's all for now, be on the look out for some random pictures. I can't say if they'll be good or anything, but hey, who know, right?

Friday, January 9, 2009

The Lands

These are the lands in which we live. They are open and flat. Grand and empty. To some, these lands are places to weep and cry. Places where we leave our dreams and pursue new developments either by necessity or by lack of will. Yes, these are the lands in which we live.

But are these lands so bad? Are they so heinous and empty? We look at the empty gray blankets of snow upon the lake and we feel the biting wind drilling into our bones and soul, what do we see? What do we feel as we walk forward and feel our toes surrounded by the slush left behind by the passing cars? What keeps us in these lands that we claim so strongly to despise?

These are questions that cannot be answered. Questions better left unanswered.

Yet I will tell you, these are the lands of the cold toes. The bitterness you feel as you slosh forward in your canvas Converses through the blackened snow and ice only grows with each step. Yet in it, you find some treats. You find the knowledge that once you reach your home, that you can curl up by the knocking radiator and dump off those shoes. You can unravel those toesies and let them warm up. These are the most wonderful feelings. The mint hot chocolate you put in the microwave beeps up and you slurp it down. Not fast , but slowly, to appreciate each subtle flavor and warmth. You feel the mint coolness and wonder what is it that compels you to return to the cold outside? Oh and then let us not forget, the grand comics of Asterix and Tintin that you have nearby. Yes, these are why we stay in these lands, to foster these memories.

What more does one say? To stare out and feel depressed about the coldness and lack of sun? It has been done by many, I'll admit. I've done it as well and to what effect? Appreciating it makes it far better. Once you think of those warming toesies and that soothing mint hot cocoa dancing down your esophagus, all is well and for even a brief moment, Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy are real. Ah, the innocence of childhood alive again! Calvin and Hobbes got it right beyond belief.

Perhaps tonight I shall change Tintin for good old Calvin. Yes, one change. But delicious anyway.

-The Panda Has Spoken

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Hello

I am the Fat Red Panda and I shall amuse you soon with various things.

Maybe food and stories of my adventures.

Brace yourselves.

- Jean-Pierre Guillaume d'Anthès