5 Things in 2011
Lately I've been M.I.A due to lack of inspiration, but today, something random sparked. So here I am with this, what do you call it, 'meme'. It's that time of the year when you decide to look back at what you've done and try to make a list of New Year Resolutions. I don't follow to-do lists but if you do then, hey, it's a good thing. 2011, like the years before and the years to come, has its ups and downs, and of course, first-time moments.
Cheers to epiphanies, revelations and self-discovery. Here are five random things that happened this year:
1. My first attempt at reading a non-fictional book
Having a pet helped me discover a lot of things because taking care of it - him - requires plenty of research. I recently picked up Stanley Coren's How To Speak Dog and it's surprisingly good. Among interesting facts, there are witty and amusing stories (worth laugh-out-loud moments) told by the writer's acquaintances or simply experienced by the writer. If you think that the spotlight of this book is centered solely on canines, you're wrong. I learned a lot about other animals. I won't deny it - this book is life-changing and thought-provoking. You'll be surprised at what your dog is really trying to say. A dog's actions are not what humans assume them to be.
2. The year I spend more than an hour on DeviantArt
I don't, like, have my own page but sometimes when I get bored, I wander over there just so I can search up video game art or whatever I think of and spend hours admiring, observing and appreciating. The art created there is beautiful beyond words. The way talented DeviantArt artists perceive the world is indescribable. And hey, I even found out that getting a BFA in game art is possible. Wow. Never knew that. Am enlightened. On the side note, I'd like to own a Wacom tablet someday.
3. Keeping up with the Kardashians? Heck, no! Keeping up with game updates
I wouldn't say that I'm an avid gamer, but I wouldn't say that I'm not. I like playing video games twice and earning in-game achievements. Gaming isn't just for the sake of winning or completing it faster than your friends. If gamers would just stop rushing through their games, they might actually learn a thing or two and prove that gaming isn't just a brainless activity you do for entertainment. Okay, I'm going waaaay off-topic. I've been reading game news for the past three months or so because, you know, celebrity news is 'so 2008'. I'm kidding. I know just about any game out there now - Skyrim, Super Mario, Soul Calibur, Portal, Alan Wake - and I even remember a few company names of video game developers. You ask it, I name it. Just don't ask me this question, please-- Call of Duty or Battlefield?
4. Taking the time to learn how to pronounce Constantinople (and other words, of course!!)
Surprise, surprise! More intellectual stuff! Reading, writing, learning, it never gets boring. New challenges are great. When I come across a word that I've never seen, I try to pronounce it mentally. It always sounds perfect in my head, but it's a total tongue-twister disaster when I say it out loud. Not weird at all. 'Constantinople' was one of these words. Other words include 'Machiavellianism', 'meringue', 'harangue', 'juxtaposition' and most recently, 'conversazione'. It's those words I hardly use, but 'tis the season to be curious, I went to search them up this year. Lesson learned: Don't be afraid to satisfy your inner curiosity!
5. Everything starts with a base (even cheesecake)
For architecture, it's called 'blueprints'. For fashion design, it's a 'croquis'. 'Outline' for stories, 'biscuit crumbs' for cheesecake. Everything has a base. I didn't notice this until I started sketching. I used to start out with a letter 'U' as the head and chin. Then I would draw hair, features and so on. But I wouldn't know where the legs of the human belonged on the drawing. Are they too near to the right? Are they too short? Too long? I had no idea. So I did some research and decided to begin my next drawing with a croquis. I sketched the entire human form and then 'dressed' the sketch with clothes, accessories and such. Eureka! She shoots, she scores, she wins! Thus, the base is a very important element of whatever you're trying to create.
Wow. This is seriously long-winded. I have so much more unrelated things to say. But I think I'm done. Okay, I'm done. This makes up for all the action I've missed. 
Now it's your turn. Five random and memorable things that you've achieved / learned / realized in 2011. It doesn't really matter. Whatever that comes to your mind. This is a live-in-the-moment meme. What are you staring at? The clock is ticking, the year is ending. Get your notebook out and get creative!
C.
the girl most likely to fall for the
This is all T's fault. She's got me hooked on Parachute. I can't get enough of their songs and videos. I get so mad because they don't have enough interviews and live performances on Youtube. I even had a dream about them! Finally I'm in love with a band after that crazy obsession with Supernatural. Uh oh.
Their songs are so easy to sing because the lyrics are really smooth and nice. Their live performances are good and effortless. All of the band members are musically talented too! They're really creative when it comes to acoustic live performances because they use different instruments (I don't know what some of them are called) and take music to a whole new level.
My current favorite song is White Dress because it's so funky and catchy. I've already listened to Halfway 60 times this month so that probably says something... 
Well, I'm not gonna tell you which Parachute I'm crushing on, so you'll just have to make assumptions to satisfy your suspicions. All of them are equally cute. Johnny is the first good-looking drummer I've seen. LOL. Kit has really gorgeous hair. Nate (Table Scrappa!) is so crazy-nerdy-cute (please don't let the grammar police see this word) and Will's smile is like a camera flash to a fan girl's eyes and Alex is so funny!
I'm so excited that T said she wants to play the guitar again because of Parachute. I can't wait until all those assignments are over to get started on guitar strings again. I guess I didn't really give up on our dusty, old guitar. I was just waiting for someone to say, "Hey, let's start learning the guitar again" and bam! there you go, that's the green sign for me.
that can’t match up to the real thing
I confess, Parachute is my new favorite band. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them. Now that I've listened to their songs over and over again, I have come to a conclusion. They are of their own genre! They're not a version of Maroon 5 or anything. They've got a really indescribable style. It's not exactly pop, not exactly alternative, not exactly pop-rock but a mesh of good stuff.
And their originality is refreshing. I can also relate to their songs because they stick to real stuff, not nonsensical stuff about being rich and spending money in clubs and things like that. I especially love that some of their songs tell a story. Forever and Always is one of my favorite tracks off their newest album The Way It Was (released 17th May 2011). Okay, who am I kidding? I love all the songs on the new album. But I do favor Philadelphia slightly more...
I had no idea they were the band that sang She Is Love. In the beginning, I wasn't quite into that song but now I admit, I love it. Also, I've watched almost ALL their videos on Youtube. HAH, watching band videos for hours is my sign of love for them. I don't know how anyone can dislike their music!!
And it would be so unlike me to NOT talk about the band members in my giddy lovesick band post. Will is cute! LOL. At first I thought he looked like Jesse McCartney. He doesn't. Will is... cuter, definitely. I can't decide which member I like best but I've got this crush on Kit French. Who can deny the attraction of a tall blond saxophone player who reminds me of Jesse Spencer (yes, I do mean Dr. Chase on House)? All of them are hilarious. Alex looks like he's a serious guy but you should watch their videos. He's funny. Nate as the Table Scrappa (I made C watch it and now we're commonly referring to various people as Table Scrappas) was adorable, especially when he was wearing those nerdy glasses and plaid shirt. Johnny is cute and totally funny! And he's supposedly the ladies' man. 
So that was half the point I wanted to make in this post: Parachute = amazing band with cute members.
The other half is... (I feel that this is an appropriate moment for a drumroll. Move over, royal family!) ... Parachute has inspired me to want to learn the guitar again. How freaking awesome is that?!! I blame it on the sweet guitar parts in their songs. After 2 years, I'm inspired again. The first band that inspired me to learn how to play the guitar was Simple Plan. Since then, my inspiration has spiraled downwards to nothing and I haven't touched the guitar in two years.
Maybe I'm not musically talented but I've always had this love for learning an instrument. Our guitar lessons were a struggle because the teacher was bad and we tried to learn it ourselves but somehow failed. And school and other things were always something that came between our practicing time. After we began to lack inspiration, we made excuses not to touch the guitar.
Now I'm inspired again. I'm ecstatic but I'm not sure if we'll be successful in learning it again. Wait for more tales of the guitar.
x
Hold my gun and watch the door
Pick the lock and cut the phone
Keep your head up, love,
Nobody here can stop us
Grab the bags when sirens call
We're out the window, through the yard
Keep it locked up tight
Nobody here can stop us
Baby, I've had this same dream
Where I wake up wondering
What it really means
If the world came running down
If it was you and me against the world
Baby, they've got us under but
We'll take whatever we want.
If it was you and me against the world,
You get the car, I'll get the cash,
We'll take the money and run.
They'll come running through the door
Shattered glass across the floor
Oh, they think they know but
We both know they don't.
Oh, we did our crime and got away,
We stole the gold and made the day
And we both smile knowing that they saying
Nobody here can stop us
Baby, I've had this same dream
Where I wake up wondering
What it really means
If the world came running down
If it was you and me against the world
Baby, they've got us under but
We'll take whatever we want.
If it was you and me against the world,
You get the car, I'll get the cash,
We'll take the money and run.
Oh, I keep waking up
In an empty bed
And I'm wondering why you're
All the things I should have said
And, oh, we could have had
If it was you and me against the world,
Baby, they've got us under but
We'll take whatever we want.
If it was you and me against the world,
You get the car, I'll get the cash,
We'll take the money and run.
If it was you and me against the world,
Baby, they've got our number but
We'll take whatever we want.
If it was you and me against the world,
You get the car, I'll get the cash,
We'll take the money and run.
You get the car, I'll get the cash,
We'll take the money and run.
It's you and me against the world.
not so supernatural weeks
Am I the only one who misses Supernatural?
I can't help but wonder about Dean's Metallicar a.k.a the Chevy Impala. It was damaged pretty bad in the last episode of season 6. Oh well. I don't feel like doing a recap/review for the last two episodes because it'll be all fan-girly and you know.. I think I'm beginning to like Crowley though because he's super funny, especially when he goes from talking to shouting. I hate it when he gets all bad-guy-ish. I don't really like antagonists.
Anyways, the four-month countdown shall start from today. Supernatural season 7. Not sure what to expect but it should be interesting. Let's hope Sam and Dean will save the day, as usual.
ROFL, I just realized it's Crowley a.k.a Mark Sheppard's birthday today. Random thought!
tv series of the month, or the year
I love Supernatural. I think I already expressed my love for the Winchesters. But here are my favorite characters, starting with the one I like the most.
Castiel is my favorite. He's such a mild-tempered person, pretty much like Boyd Crowder (my favorite character from Justified). The constant frown on his face is probably the only expression he makes in season 4 but it only makes him more mysterious and serious. That tie is super adorable too. I don't think he would've looked good without that tie. And the light brown trench coat. I like the fact that he doesn't display many emotions because it gets the SPN fans (like me) all excited and fan-girly when he cracks a smile or something like that. I don't think anyone could've been a better Castiel than Misha Collins. He says that he based his character on his younger brother who "has this way of, very calmly, just staring into someone's eyes" making a person feel "like he can get into your soul." Wow, I think that's pretty interesting. The idea of someone intimidating another with silence is just... wow. FYI, I cheer when I see Misha's name on the credits at the starting (and we are currently watching season 4). It's like a promise that the episode will be a good one.
And we have Dean Winchester next. I can't tell you why I love him, because describing him would have to include a few foul words, for example, he is a kicka** character. His tough swagger and mesmerizing green eyes are simply amazing. And he's a ladies' man. Also, he's a good guy, unlike Sam who is the complete opposite in the plot of season 5 or 6 I think. He's arrogant and brave, but he can be emotional and caring. Jensen Ackles' character is definitely something special and different. 'Nuff said.
Then there's Bobby Singer. Pretty much like a father to the Winchester boys after John. He's quick, intelligent and has an amazing amount of knowledge about supernatural things. He's also the guy who saves Dean and Sam when both of them get into trouble. Without Bobby, there wouldn't be much of storyline because the boys would be on their own and they obviously need someone to save their a**es sooner or later. Bobby is a truly aspiring character and I'm glad he's with the Winchesters until season 6 and I hope he will be forever in the series.
This 1967 Chevy Impala isn't a character but plays an important role to Dean -- the car Dean convinced his father to buy. It's Dean's prized possession and I didn't quite like it when Sam started to drive his car and used an iPod as the radio and everything in season 4. Anyways, this vintage car is always shiny and super gorgeous which makes me love it even more. I never even realized that I had a thing for vintage cars until recently!
And how can I forget Papa Winchester? Jeffrey Dean Morgan's face makes me laugh, ever since I watched The Losers (eight times). His character was the perfect father figure - self-sacrificing, loving, serious and most importantly, the man who raised his sons to be hunters. I thought that John disappeared too quickly though. It was just sad but I guess the critics want the story to be centered on the two brothers. I still say they should let John have a special appearance soon.
Finally, Sam Winchester. I used to think that Sam was more thoughtful and the nicer of the two but as the plot became more complicated, that nice guy Sam became twisted and bad. He was and still is naive. His brotherly love for Dean faded away (and so did my love for him!) and he usually gets himself into these horrible (and rather explicit, I might add) relationships with the wrong women. Ugh. What a downer. He also needs a haircut badly because he looks like he's aging with that hair parted in the middle. Where did the bangs and boyish looks go?
Jo Harvelle is also kinda cute and perfect for Dean but she didn't make it past season 5. Oh well. I liked her because she was tough and had chemistry with Dean.
Don't you just love Supernatural? Because I do.
get me with those green eyes
Excuse me for the truthful and sadistic post ahead. I'm feeling rather rebellious now. 
So I was watching these live videos of Maroon 5 and Taylor Swift and it sparked an old, abandoned interest of mine...
Guitars, chords and picks.
I know, I know. It's so absurd. But I can't seem to completely forget about guitars. I haven't even gotten over the fact that I've gone through all that and yet I still fail again and again. There are (oh, only I know how many) days when I wish I could pick up that rotting guitar in the corner, attempt to tune it and start playing all over again. I guess I'm still an even bigger kid at heart than the outside because I still hope that I'll be a rockstar someday. Two years have passed and my dreams are the same about the same thing. I know this is pretty lame and typical of me (because all my friends want to be singers and stuff like that...), but dreams are made to be dreamed of by dreamers. Knowing this makes me feel a little... good? because it shows that I haven't given up all my hopes.
Ah, guitars. I hate them so much that I feel like ripping up all the music sheets in jealousy and anger yet I love them so much that I want to cradle them in my arms and play until my fingers have callouses again. I remember being really proud of the first sign of callouses on my fingers because I thought that it was the ultimate symbol or landmark of playing the guitar. Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking straight. You can't be great just because your skin peels off. Right?! But I really miss those stuff... When I had to lift my right knee higher to support the guitar, when I plucked a string and real music came sang from the guitar, and when I pressed down those strings really hard until I felt like crying in defeat because I couldn't get the chords right.
I miss the weirdest stuff, don't I?
Every time I go near the 2-year-old guitar, I feel like bringing it out just to touch that lovely wood and silver strings but I always back away because I'm reminded of how it felt to lose to everything related to guitars. See this love-hate relationship I have with stuff? Talking about guitars again... it's like spilling all my secret hopes out. Yes, I still secretly hope that one day when I wake up on the morning of my birthday, I find a guitar (preferably a black one, but not a Takamine anymore), bathed in sunlight, waiting for me. Maybe not the sunlight part but it would be really cool. I can't believe I was so close to getting one but backtracked so quickly. It was within my reach! I would've regretted it, though. To be honest, I didn't and don't deserve a guitar. Not now and not yet, at least. Someday. Someday when I'm good enough and when I've proved myself to be worthy of instruments. Someday when I can sing while play (after I get over my stage fright). Someday when I can switch chords without looking down.
Being an on-and-off fan of Taylor Swift, you probably already know that all girls who love Taylor will look up to her and act as if she's the goddess of heartbreaks, relationships, songs and guitars. I do admire her talent in music and her love for guitars. It's just amazing to know that she's been playing since such a young age. Unbelievable. It makes me wish that I could play and sing as wonderfully as her. Of course, I can't really sing like her because my voice can't reach simple high pitches and I definitely can't play guitar better than her but maybe I'll be as good as her one day.
I always think of how I'll start playing the guitar again during the holidays but it never happens because there are so many plans, so much work and so many dreams that I'm chasing after. Even if I had the chance, I wouldn't. I'm a shy person when it comes to doing important things openly. I don't take critics very well but I'm learning.
But then again, the bad side comes out when I begin this whole phase again. The unreachable chord problem. The cause? Short fingers! I used to think that my fingers were long but guitar just changes a lot of things. Chords that can't be pressed. Frustration. Anger. Sadness. Envy. Regret. Slow strumming, fast strumming, bad strumming. Strumming patterns that aren't even stated in how-to-play videos. Able to play but unable to sing. Palm-muting problems. Looking at the bad side makes it all so dizzy and so wrong. Argh, patience and concentration!
One day, I want to accomplish whatever I've just said. It would be a real dream come true.
If I had the time; if I had the right amount of patience; if I look on the bright side and forget the bad side; if it ever happens, it'd be a blessing, a surprise, a success, an accomplishment. Wishful thinking.
Oh, here I go again. Going on and on about my thoughts, complaining, hoping, wishing, moping and just saying. I gotta do something to make it happen, right? In a few more hundred days... or, who knows, a thousand days.
Almost a thousand words of the same old topic that I've been talking and thinking about for the past two years.
I can only sit and wish for the future now.
she says nothing’s forever
I nearly bought this in a gorgeous shade of purple but I passed up the opportunity since I already splurged on a pair of cute floral lace-up wedge heels. This Marc Jacobs bag is still on my mind but I will let it go.
In the mean time, there's no harm in having a Miss Marc by Marc Jacobs wish list, right?
Okay, this bronze is so attractive and I can soooo see myself carrying this though I'm not a big fan of handbags. The Miss Marc printed on the bag is adorable.
Hobo bags are my favorite so this is definitely a bag I would buy. It's so simple yet pretty. And the little knot on the strap is so creative. I love this!
Throw in the sunblock, sunglasses and a good book into this cute bag and I'm all set to hit the beach. Totes are so useful. I love huge bags like these which I can simply dump my things into.
So this bag is a little longer but it's totally buy-able. Very chic and go-to-the-movies type of bag. Not quit sure about the handbag strap though. I prefer longer handles so that I actually sling it onto my shoulder.
Like this strap. So cute! I love the design for this bag. It's my favorite. She's so me! And this is the type of pink you'd catch me buying. I would not actually buy anything pink but this is different. Do you like it?
Another hobo bag with cute pockets. I like! The green-blue hue makes this bag look so fun and cheery. Simplicity is the key to my heart. No chains and weird buckles for me.
This isn't exactly in the Miss Marc line but it's Marc Jacobs too. I love the color and design but I just hope that the chain won't cut into my shoulder.
Okay, end of my wish list. Christmas is coming. Any generous people out there? (:
when i tell the punch line wrong
Dammit, she's so freaking skinny. Must have abdomen as flat as Katy Perry's! In love with her new single. Can't stop listening to it. It's better than the first single. Hope E.T is the next single. So futuristic. (:
i’m working it out, please don’t give in
Let's do '10 things I hate about you':
- I hate walking in to find people taking up my laptop space. It's so irritating because I hate sharing.
- I hate obnoxious talk during meals because it's sickening and I just might get up one day and hit you in the face.
- I hate it when I make effort to do something and it doesn't get recognized.
- I hate people using my room.
- I hate whiny men. They make me sick and I'd love to slap them real hard in the face just to see if that'll wake them up. I wish they'd just shut the hell up about every little thing. E.g: 'OH NO, there's a hair in my fruit! What should I do? Oh my god, there's a hair, what should I do? Should I wash it with my effing piss because I don't understand what the word 'water' means?" and repeated "I cleaned the damned room and no one appreciates it". Well, I've cleaned the house more times than you and I haven't said squat about it. So why not you stick a damned pacifier into your mouth and sulk in the corner? because no one actually likes listening to crap like that, especially from grown men. Whee~
- I hate doing my homework.
- I hate my math teacher as of two weeks ago. I don't know what her problem is but she's so uncool.
- I hate people who think they can get away with anything.
- I hate people who are big on fake apologies. Sorry, sorry, sorry. The word comes out so naturally, I'm not sure it has even crossed their minds what the word 'sorry' means. It's just an excuse to get people to slave away for you. HA-HA.
- I hate silent meals.
That was fun, maybe we should make it a weekly thing. :O
Hmm... let's move on to '10 quirky things you probably don't know about me':
- I actually like washing the dishes. Don't tell anyone!
- When I'm not reading, I'm writing.
- I nudge my sister under the table by kicking her leg (and vice versa) whenever we have secret messages to pass along. Usually we don't say it out in words but with one nudge and a roll of our eyes, we know exactly what each other mean.
- I don't like indie music; I kind of prefer mainstream music???
- I like guys who have a certain style of wearing jackets. (:
- I strongly dislike math and science and I don't know what I'm going to do in the near future.
- I love daydreaming during science class and that's where some of the brightest ideas are hatched.
- I don't like carrying my cellphone around even though it's a necessity.
- I've read Cecelia Ahern and Nicholas Sparks books but I'm sooo not a fan of theirs. No offense.
- I love my mom (even though we have grouchy days and pesky arguments) because she's really cool and she's my role model.
That was super cute and fun. You should do it too. Okay, off to study for a pop quiz thingamajig tomorrow. Oh, and to finish incomplete math homework. Ugh, refer to number 6 for both top 10 lists. Can't wait to write, blah.
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