Human potpourri

Vacancy.com! Un-vacancize my stomach! Please!

2011-09-08T16:02:00.013-04:00

This is so embarrassing.

But, I am addicted to Hgtv. Show's like My First Place and Secrets From a Stylist are like what a Disney show is to a teeny bopper (being a grown college woman and all, I can derisively call prepubescent people, "teeny boppers".). I go online to look at apartments, gasping at the astronomical prices in some of the big cities or reading the fine prints to see if pets are allowed. Are they in a safe neighborhood? Do they have a big kitchen? Is that speck on the floor a gaping hole? I try to imagine where my bed could be, what color I would paint the walls, and wrestle with wallpaper vs wall paint. It's quite sad.

But! I was browsing through scholarships when I found this: Vacancy.com is looking for someone that can write a blog post about an apartment of my dreams on their listing. Wait...so I can get paid to write about the thing I do? Considering I am surviving on my 15 dollars worth of food to hold me for two weeks (oh alright, 15.11, if you want to get picky), this is quite a dream come true.

So! With renewed hope, I began to look at their listings in the beautiful city of Athens, GA! Athens is home to the University of Georgia, where I attend and love (Go Dawgs!). And it just so happens that my friends and I plan on living off campus next year, so why not take a peek at the real estate properties of Athens?

http://www.vacancy.com/georgia/athens-apartments/farmers-exchange-lofts

Farmers. It's not even THE Farmers. It's just Farmers. Because everybody in Athens naturally knows about Farmers. It's situated in downtown and its beautiful, old structure makes it one of Athens' most famous buildings. When I first came to this fine institution, I thought it was a pharmacist's office, for some reason or other. Then, I actually got to talk to someone that lived here and she said she absolutely loved it, because of its location. In real estate, it is all about location, location, location, and this place definitely fits that bill. It's less than 10 minutes walk to the campus and it's smack dab in the middle of downtown Athens! For those of you unaware, downtown Athens is like, the coolest, hippest thing since, like, ever. Shyeah. Its concert venues, restaurants, stores, and bars all combine to provide the perfect college atmosphere. Even if you don't drink or can't afford to enjoy the concerts, the atmosphere is inviting. Of course, I can't afford to live here, but this is a dream abode post after all, and Farmers would definitely fit that bill of dreamy, perfect world living. It has a full kitchen, brick walls, and a 24 hour call maintenance. Since it is a loft, it would be open and inviting, a perfect spot to have friends over! Maybe I will just take a quick peek at the building one of these days...Not convinced that this is the epitome of fine college living? Maybe these pictures will convince you, all courtesy of Vacancy.com.

This kitchen is a far cry from the dorm kitchen I have to share with 50 others

In which the Blogger rambles about nothing in particular.

2010-07-20T20:07:00.004-04:00

Hi.

I haven't really updated this blog, despite my ALL CAPPED resolution to do so on Dec. 31, 2009.

What am I doing lately?

Just chilling in the house, reading sensationalist novels, all high brow novels chucked to the side (Chucked is a very fun and British thing to say. I like it.).

Right now, I am reading Live and Let Die, 2nd book of the 007 series. Before that, I read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Not very deep and philosophical, but I'm thinking I should read all my guilty pleasures now and read age defining novels next month, when I go into...COLLEGE!

That is basically what gets me going this summer.

Of course I realize it won't be all fun and games, quite a lot of caffeine and stress, but I am excited.

It's new and it's all mine.

UGA didn't HAVE to accept me but they did and I'm paying this year with my own money and scholarships and grants. I can't believe I did it. I am so grateful and happy and excited and apprehensive and just...gah....YAY!

I guess this is it for now. I had some ideas for the blog, but... I forgot. BOO.

California Gurls by Katy Perry is a very catchy song. It's been in my head all day.

Gosh darn summer pop hits!

And this one scene where she kills the gummi bears is memorable and breathtaking.

Out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwE-SLnLkqY

Sometime later, I'll post pictures of my travel with my family. There is a rainbow involved!

May de Sousa

2010-06-01T22:45:00.009-04:00

I'm a very cautious person.

When I use photos, I give credit.

BUT! Flickr's The Commons is the answer to my-don't-wanna-credit-the-link-because-that's-one-more-work-self.

When I was looking through, I did what any girl would do.

I looked through the vintage black and white photos, putting colors into each face and sky.

Then I came across this picture:

Me being careful yet again

The term "heavily hooded eyes" just popped into my head like freshly popped fake butter flavor popcorn. Her eyes are so soft and dreamy. Just her pale, creamy skin and the white lace and pearls all just made me stop and stare at the screen for awhile. She was just. so. beautiful. I fully realized what the Victorian novelists so raved about for the first time. I feel like she would have that lilting, girly, Cinderella voice while holding a leather bound book. The comments below Flickr said she was an actress. But that wasn't enough.

So being smitten, I immediately googled.

This link was the first one, courtesy of the NY Times.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9506E5DA123BE633A2575BC1A96E9C946396D6CF

Ok, so this says she performed, to great success, in Europe.

Ok, so did she have any kids, any clandestine affairs with dukes? WHAT?

So back to Google.

Another NY Times article.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A03EFDE1631E233A25757C2A9629C946997D6CF

It says she...disappeared??!!

She wasn't on the ship home, but it turned out she accepted a last minute offer to appear in a Berlin play. Whew!

Still not enough!

But other sites were pretty much the same thing, she acted, she died sometime later.

I gave up and went to bed, making up my little story for her.

....

Few weeks later, I resumed my hunt.

After clicking on next page on Google, this site, the mother of all May de Sousa related sites:

http://www.stagebeauty.net/th-frames.html

They had her entire biography!

This shows that you SHOULD go to the next page on Google, because the first three links are not all there is to life (well, internet, but pretty much interchangeable).

A little summary:

She was born in Chicago, and her beautiful face and her beautiful voice (ah hah!) captivated her audience, leading her to dazzle in Europe soon.

But then, bad marriages caused her to eventually go to Shanghai, where she was imprisoned by the Japanese because of WWII. She was left a widow. The last part is not the happy part I envisioned. It is real life. It made me aghast and even though I never knew her and she is in no way related to me, I ached for her. Not because she was beautiful, but because she is a human being.

"Making her way to her native Chicago she took a room in a cheap hotel and was forced to take a job as a scrubwoman in the public schools to make ends meet. Her years of internment had taken their toll on her health however, and soon she was forced to quit working because she was too weak to continue. Without means to support herself, her condition worsened through malnutrition and she died, penniless and alone, a charity case in the county hospital on 8th August, 1948. It was a tragic end. Once the toast of Europe and America, whose voice had thrilled royalty and the nobility as well as countless masses, she died alone and unloved, unable even to feed herself. Her body lay unclaimed in the morgue and was interred in a paupers grave."

Reproduced courtesy of Don Gillan (Copyright), www.stagebeauty.net

After reading this, I no longer felt like playing detective.

I felt so bad for this woman, this woman who jolted me, who fully made me appreciate the idea of Victorian beauty. Yes, women wore corsets, they were heavily downtrodden, but you cannot deny that charm of Victorian life.

Before her, all the Jane Austen, Charles Dickens novels, although great, were stale because I could not visualize the people. She gave flesh to centuries old literature.

The term beauty, in this blonde, tan, anorexic world, was changed for me.

I never knew her.

She might have been the most horrible, manipulating shrew ever.

Call me dumb, but I would like to think that she was a beautiful woman, inside and outside.

The royal audiences of her play are dead, her voice forgotten.

Time goes on without her, no one really cares about my post about some dead actress.

But when I sit in my room at night, typing this, I can hear her beautiful high pitched voice filling an elaborate auditorium. Her audiences, bespectacled and bejeweled, sit in the dark. It is only her on the stage, all light and eyes are upon her.

The woman who changed my perception, who gave life to dusty old books, deserves nothing less.

Thank you Ms. de Sousa.

Mama's Day Craft

2010-05-08T12:28:00.023-04:00

Ok, when I first made these paper hearts, I didn't do it for my Mama.
In fact, I had quite forgotten of such a day.
I was bored, browsing on the web, looking for something to do, lost in the comfort of my own house, etc, etc.
Then, I came across this site: Eat Drink Chic.
AMAZING! Beautiful pictures, clever ideas, inspirational, and best of all, free printable crafts!
She had made these paper heart invitations for her "engagement party" (the quotes are intentional to provide an aura of duplicity).
Of course, I am in no position to make engagement cards, but I wanted to make some hearts. This page told me all I needed to know about origami hearts and I got to working right away. Then, my brilliant mind realized that mother's day was 2 days away, and so I turned into an one woman paper heart factory.
These hearts of mine are not just hearts.
They are a...Card/Banner thingy!

Anyways, less talking, more showing.

Attempt at a pretty shot.

Not so bad.

Eh.

That tiny one made me cry.

After about 2.5 hours of intensive folding, I made these banners.

These pictures are horrific, but hopefully you can get an idea of what I did.

They're prettier in real life. I promise!

All these papers are recycled from my high school days.

I had this teacher who would print our homework assignments on brightly colored papers and instead of throwing then away, I made it much, much better (Precal homework? Oh yeah, this is much better). Unfortunately, she is getting fired because of the budget cuts. This is too sad, as she is one of the best math teachers I've ever had. Anyways, I guess this is also an homage to her. Thanks Mrs. K! And sorry about sleeping in your class.

And People Say I'm Unobservant

2010-02-26T20:43:00.005-05:00

You're Slipping

You're going to slip someday my dear.
You're going to fall off of that place.

Meanwhile, while you're up there,
You look almost invincible.

That pinnacle you're sitting on doesn't fit you.
You're so distant, so cold, so intimidating.

Come down, dear.

Clouds, clouds, come down to play,
Won't you keep me company?

...

Goodbye.

Writing

2010-02-24T17:58:00.008-05:00

Words are selfish.

From Flickr's Common

Changes

2010-01-14T22:24:00.005-05:00

Ok, so it's been quite a while since my last blog attempt.
And I suppose the big news is: I GOT INTO A COLLEGE! AND A DECENT ONE AT THAT!!! YAY!
I got into University of Georgia which is close to my house (which my parents love) and it's free (which I love).
And there was the New Year, a New Decade, and only 2 more years till the apocalypse.
And now, there is the matter of money. The Big Green Thing That Makes the World Go Around. Even though my tuition is free (Thank you purchasers of lotteries!), I still need about 10000 dollars for room and board.
SO!
My big thing is getting some money.
If anyone who is reading this just happens to have a bundle of 10000 dollars lying around in this wonderful economic climate, let me know. I can be contacted through this blog.
And there are other things which I must share, but I have to go and study for Econ and Stat (Ahhh...Senioritis, you're making my life hard...)

Lost Little Puppy

2009-10-13T21:47:00.002-04:00

I am going through a rite of ritual nowadays.
I am applying to colleges.
Yes, despite my immaturity, I am now legally old enough to do the whole animal house thing.
It's crazy, and I'm not quite sure if I am.
I mean, am I really that college material?
I don't even have a driver's license yet.
It's just so fast. I can't be going to college, not yet. Colleges are for the big kids, the kids with the
hiking backpacks and beards. I have neither of these (well, i'm a girl so the no beard thing is good)
I'm hardly that.
I can't imagine me in some big green lawned campus with an old gray stone architecture looming over me. I'm not that.
And there's the matter of whether or not I'm good enough.
I worked hard in high school.
I took APs, pulled all nighters, joined clubs, volunteered and made decent grades. Not utterly fabulous, but decent.
But am I?
I'm competing with literally the entire 17, 18 yr olds in the world.
Am I good enough?
To the admissions officers, I'm the black figures on white paper.
They don't lose sleep whether or not I get in.
To them, I'm a part of their daily life they glance at for a minute.
Is God an admissions officer?
I'm now being too pretentious and wordly.
I mustn't forget i'm a lowly high schooler.

Dreams

2009-07-19T00:06:00.008-04:00

Everyone has dreams, right?
We all want to be doctors who cures cancer, teachers that want to make a difference, ballerinas dancing for the Royal family, pianists playing at large prestigious halls in a dress.
Then, we realize we don't have the grade for med school, teachers don't pay that well, ballerinas and pianists are just silly pipe dreams for starving artists.
So we work at a job.
That's it.
A job.
It pays the bills.
Then you meet a decent someone and marry them, not because there is that Hollywood passion, but because of snide remarks and expectations of you as a reproducing, coupling citizen of a respectable society.
There's that nice house in a nice neighborhood with a name like "Maple Valley."
Your kids give you hope, that maybe they'll have it better than you, that they will live the life you never had.
Then they move out, to start a cycle not unlike ours.
Meanwhile, all through this, the occasional luxury cruise and trendy clothes over your aged body make you feel alright, like you have accomplished something in this life.
Not historically memorable, but hey, it's the little things that matter!
That book written by that Harvard educated wealthy guy said so!

Then, something in your life makes you stop.
You look at your microsuede couch, just like the one you saw on the magazine.
It's no longer modern/chic.
It's quite dull looking, and the color's not my type.
Come to think of it, that 20 dollar olive oil has been sitting on the mantel too long!
Why did I even buy it? I don't even cook!
And the idea of Crisco as decoration is ludicrous!

You question everything, and realize how far your life has strayed from your original path.
To compensate, you go directly opposite.
Off with my job!
Off with my family!
Off with my friends!
Off with my house!
Off with my possessions!

And what?

Okay, you rebelled.
How original.
What are you going to do now?

What?

You're lost.
I'm afraid I can't help you.
But, I don't blame you.
As lame as this sounds, the society created you.
It created me too, trying to sound disapproving, when I, too, will do the same thing.
Want to know something?
We created the society.
It's like a cassette tape. Remember those?
You take the brown cellophane-y strips out just as an innocent fun and then before you know it, it's tangled up.
The only way to solve it is cut them or just simply throw them away and buy a new one (Now you can see why they switched to CDs).
But that is where the similarity ends.
Because how can we throw away our society?
It's the product of billions and billions of people.
And even if we did, what sort of new society should we get?
Communism? Anarchy? Because we all know those worked out so well.
So just accept it and then we'll die?

Sorry, I know we are supposed to have everything, but this is something that our uber-smart, evolved, civilized descendants have to solve.
Because for all my yelling and supposed cynicism, I honestly have no idea.
How can we switch to a different course, from apps to entrees, without a lull of painful hunger?

Anime

2009-06-04T11:21:00.018-04:00

Animation, or anime for short, is getting to be popular in United States. Although they are sometimes associated with punk/goth/"weirdo"kids, I love them. I have been watching them ever since I was little. I sometimes think of them as too predictable and just silly, but there are some animes that go beyond the bulgy-eyed, pink hair, squeaky voices. Some have just fabulous storylines and WOW artwork. So, I decided to make a list of some of the animes that I have been awed by.

1) Honey and Clover

Photo Credit:http://narufriends.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/honey___clover_07.jpg

This is possibly the best anime I have ever seen. EVER. The people are not super humans nor are they silly school kids prone to getting very large-sized bumps. To top that off, the artwork is gorgeous. It is wistful, kind of faded, sunny, and it just struck a chord with me. The characters are students of an art college in Japan. What struck me the most is their ordinariness. There are some silly antics and "Can that really happen?" moments, but overall, it portrays our regular life. I could relate to how the students attempt to find themselves and struggle to hope for the future. I hated how the ending was bittersweet and we don't know their futures for sure, but in real life, we don't know how our life is going to turn out and we don't always get the happy ending, so I was quite satisfied. I cried at the end, so sad because there was no fairy tale ending for the main character and sad that it was over.There are two seasons of this ASTOUNDING anime, but it is short. And there is also a live-action movie and two dramas which I haven't seen so I can't comment on it.

2) Lovely Complex

Photo Credit:http://jankcl.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/lovely_comp_manga2.jpg

This made me confirm the fact that I am bipolar. I mean, I was literally crying one second and then laughing the next. It is the anime I have most recently seen. It is about this girl that is taller than average and a boy that is shorter than average. They are the school's most famous comedy duo and they always argue over the silliest things. This anime too, didn't have a satisfying ending, but it was hopeful, so I am going to pretend that their dreams were all fulfilled. As high school seniors, they have to deal with separation of friendship and what they are gonna do as adults, something that I am dealing with right now, so that probably explains why it made me cry so much. I didn't really like the voice of the girl because I found it too forced and a bit annoying and there were some classic silly anime moments, but all in all, I liked it alot. Plus, even though the guys is shorter than me, he is SO CUTE and I fell in love with him! >_< style="text-align: center;">

3) The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Photo Credit: http://aycu17.webshots.com/image/25216/2005897828443506217_rs.jpg

This is based on a novel. It is about a high school student who can go back to the past and upon her best guy friend asking her out, she goes back to the past to prevent him from asking, because she didn't want to ruin their friendship. Then all these things happen and I was left teary-eyed. I loved the artwork, especially its background. I hated the sad ending, but all in all, it was great. I liked one of its songs so much that I actually bought it, even though I can't speak a word of Japanese.

There are a few more animes that I like, but I don't feel like posting pictures of them and then writing about it so here is a list:

Ouran High School Host Club (Funny, and sometimes sort of sad)
Conan (My childhood companion. It is a detective story. It has a gazillion episodes and it's still going on, but I never watch it now)
Bleach (Violent, quite a bit of swearing, kind of predictable, but good for a lazy afternoon)
Reborn (Violent, and the character is kind of whiny, but the characters are likable)
Card Captor Sakura (Loved it as a child, I watch it sometimes, when fancy strikes me)
Death Note (This anime is really depressing and I stopped watching it when one of the main character died. But it was cool to have a villain as main character for a change)

Intro

2009-06-03T12:27:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I tried a blog a year ago, but it didn't quite work out, because I was so busy and I just didn't know WHAT to write. So, upon a summer whim, I decided to start up another one! YAY! hehe. So, I decided not to make my blog about one particular thing, because I hardly know one thing well. My knowledge is like a few eggs in many, many, baskets. So, I will write about everything!
This reminds me the days of Myspace and Xanga, where everyone had those bright, shiny, blinking, neon layouts with some deep philosophical thoughts or lyrics on it. Although I confess to being one of them, I promise to be a more maturer (a real word, I know) blogger.
This will be a learning process. I feel so out of sync with the layouts and the htmls and the photos (Facebook will do that to you), but you can teach an old dog new tricks. Right??

SO, leave me loads of comments! (To encourage a fragile, budding blogger lol)