Date: 2009-05-12 23:43 Subject: Film Fest Week 1 + 2.1 recap Security: Public Mood: cheerful Tags: aaaff

Yay, I can't believe our first week of Film Fest is done and that we're starting on our second! I'm still living off the high from our first week; we've had such an amazing turnout these past four nights -- at least 200 people each showing! Here's a recap of each night:

Kissing Cousins: definitely a hilarious movie and one to buy when it comes out on DVD. I'm sure it would have been a hit in the box office if there was money to put it into theatres. It was really funny hearing the collective, "EWWWW!!!" from the audience when they kissed. ;D The director, Amyn Kaderali, was really cool too. His humor's pretty dry, so I liked him a lot. Many of the scenes in the movie are based on his true life experiences -- except the kissing cousins part -- so it was interesting to hear him elaborate on why he did certain things in the movie. I really liked how he protrayed his Indian family as pretty Americanized and not stereotyped as the super-Indian ones that we see in Bollywood movies. Plus he addressed the woes and pressures of singledom, interracial marriage, and he had Jaleel White in there!

Owl and the Sparrow: HUGE turnout! Our Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) at Davis invited UC Berkeley's VSA to come watch, so our theatre was packed that night; even more than opening night! The film itself is a really cute, feel-good movie, though I haven't watched it since I screened it during Spring Break because the moving-handheld-camera style made me queasy (probably having less than 4 hours of sleep the night before didn't help). People cried watching it and tons of people said they loved the movie.

Ping Pong Playa: The audience definitely laughed at this comedy. Jimmy Tsai himself, actor/writer/producer of the movie, came to be a guest speaker and he's pretty down to earth and made people laugh. He also made a really interesting comment about the movie 21 that I never thought about. He brought up the fact that the original MIT students that tricked the casinos were Asians, but in the movies, they were portrayed with white people instead. He said that if the original MIT students were black, and they were replaced in the film with white people, there would definitely have been an uproar over the switch, but because they were Asian, nobody really said anything. That was pretty insightful and probably my favorite comment of his.

Never Forever: Phew! As Allison put it: "We had a really gaspy audience today." lol. We definitely had people leave the lecture hall because there was too much explicit sex in there. =P I didn't really watch the movie, but I peeked in for a sex scene, and I agree, it was pretty steamy. I can't wait till I watch it on Memorial Day weekendddd...

The shorts for all these nights were awesome too. Tonight, with Never Forever, we played two Hmong short films and two Vietnamese short films. I'll post about them later though.

Hopefully the rest of the film festival goes just as well! I can't wait till the finale on Friday! :D

Date: 2009-04-30 01:35 Subject: Battle Cry! Security: Public Mood: delirious Tags: aaaff

FILM FESTIVAL! I have been running on 4 hours of sleep each night for the past four nights because of you. You are SO going to be WORTH IT when I'm done with you! YATTA! >:O

P.S. Check out our website if you haven't yet: www.aaafilm.org. Short films will be posted soon.

Date: 2008-12-25 23:18 Subject: Dickens' Fair 2008 Security: Public Mood: sleepy Tags: dickens' fair, winter break

Wow, can it already be the end of 2008?? I always feel a little sad at the end of the year because I'm one year older (I'm starting my 20s now, terrifying) and feel like I've wasted another 12 months, though I know I would fine them chock full of things I've done if I just reflected a bit. Maybe that'll be my next blog entry instead one on New Year's resolutions that I'll never keep.

Anywho, at least I'm ending the year with a pleasant Winter Break so far. I've been sleeping excessively, reading excessively, and working part time to avoid getting bed sores and to pump up my bank account. Last Sunday, Diana and I paid a to visit Victorian London by going to the Charles Dickens' Fair at the Cow Palace.

As much as I enjoyed the trip, I am never going on the first or last weekend of the Dickens' Fair again - unless I get in for free the first weekend - because the crush of people was almost claustrophobic (I did run into a childhood friend there though!). There is no worse time than trying on clothing accessories and politely shoving through three or four ladies in their hoop skirts to get to a mirror. Unless it's trying to wait in a never ending line for a plate of bangers and mash that cost $11. I didn't do that, but I give props to people for having that much patience and money. I wisely spent $5 on a cone of buttered, cinnamon almonds, which I shared with Diana and got effectively sick of halfway through because the flavors were overpowering. =P

But I did end up having a lot of fun! I enjoyed seeing people dress up in Victorian clothing (although the visitors affecting a British accent too was a bit much) and the shops were interesting; it definitely appealed to my cosplay interests. Diana and I spent 20 minutes at a tea vendor sniffing all his herb and special tea blends, of which some fruit tea blends smelled delicious. I ended up buying a Women's Wiccan Herbal Blend for one of my roommates, so it's still one down, two to go, haha. =P We stopped by some scent and soap shops, an accessory store to try on some bonnets, a Ren Fair head dress shop to play with tiaras and circlets, and best of all: a corset shop. I finally got the guts to ask for a fitting, and holy mackerel! I lost like 4 inches off my waist! It actually looked like I had one, but it didn't really do anything for my boobs. =P Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera with me, but Diana took a few camera photos that show the unnatural empty spaces between my arms and my waist. Will get that sometime later or never.

The entertainment was entertaining, haha. We watched the Ladies' Oratorical and Recreational Society sing saucy songs, and that was very... educational about lower class entertainment. Diana came away with a new parody of The Twelve Days of Christmas that is quite risque. XD We also watched some Highland Dancing before we left. I always find it amazing that their feet move so fast and their calves are never any bigger for it. :O

As for food, we didn't eat too much at the Fair because it was all so expensive, but we split a cottage pie that was HOT! and burned the corners of our mouths at every bite and the skin between my pointer finger and thumb. Ahhh, so painful but delicious. D: Diana and I've resolved to try and make our own cottage pies once we're back in Davis.

After the Fair, we headed towards Downtown SF to pig ourselves out into a coma at the Cheesecake factory, and spend some time in the Cellar of Macy's fawning over cookware. Since she and I are the only ones who take such an intense interest in cooking supplies, we took full advantage of our rare outing together and reveled in it by pointing out every single cute thing and supplies that we wish we had. I was very sad when my mom wouldn't let me buy the 5 qt. cast iron pot, but she promised me a regular 5 qt. pot, so I am (somewhat) satisfied. Maybe if it's still on sale this weekend, I'll go buy it, but I don't know how I'm going to hide a 10 lb. pot in my laundry without getting noticed. =P

Overall, the Dicken's Fair was fun! I highly encourage anybody to go next year. :D They're going to have shuttles from BART from now on, which is extremely handy for those who can't drive. The public transportation will most likely be better next year since this is the first year that they did it. Tell me if you're going because I definitely plan on going back next year! :D

Date: 2008-12-12 21:43 Subject: Ready to Go, Go, Go... Security: Public

End of finals,
Clean room,
Post-exam girli-fying,
New haircut (with bangs!),
Going home in two days...

I am ready for the holidays. =]

Date: 2008-10-21 23:49 Subject: Feeling ripped off Security: Public Tags: college!, halloween

I find it amazing that the red boots I bought to go with my Wonder Woman costume cost me as much as the costume itself! Ah well, at this point, I'm going to have to wear this costume for Halloween for the next five years to get the full value out of it. >__<

At least I bought matte red boots instead of the tacky, shiny red ones because we all know how fashionable I am with mixing and matching clothing. [/sarcasm] These boots will probably only see the light of nightclubs every once in a blue moon afterward. =/

Date: 2008-10-19 00:15 Subject: In which the sleeping dragon wakes. Security: Public Tags: college!, party hopping

So last night was the first time in about a... year and a half since I went to a dancing party, and the first time I've ever drunken a sizable amount of liquor (granted, it was basically lots of milk mixed with Bailey's, but I still felt it!). I hadn't planned to go to my friend's birthday party, but then the president of one of my clubs called me to ask if I was going, and I felt obliged to accompany her and stick it out till she was tired of it. Damn, bad mistake on my part! It felt like I woke a sleeping dragon, and now I can't wait till the next party, which will be Halloween. XP *sad*

Haha, it felt really nice to just let go off the stress accumulated from school and my clubs with some dancing, though. It was even better since the house party was held by a friend who's in 3 of my clubs, so I knew about half the people that came. :D The only annoying part was that people didn't recognize me when they arrived until I literally waved "HELLO" in their face, and then they did a double take because I was fancied up (but not one of my better jobs). It was like, yes, I know I dress like a slob most of the time, but I don't think I'm usually that bad, thank you.. =P

Ah well, other than that, I held my shit together after drinking three large cups worth of the same milk drink and still managed to stay in my housemate's heels all night so they wouldn't get damaged. Now I know what it's like to be tipsy, haha. The buzz stayed till about 1AM and then went away as I started running to find barf bags for people and restrain one of my friends from collapsing on the floor/drunk dialing/climbing on top of her sleeping boyfriend. I told Anabel before i left, "Tch, I 'll be back in like half an hour after I just check out the party." Yah, I didn't come back till 3:30AM because I took my friend to her apartment and then stayed there for about an hour. D:

It was all fun though. At least I cared about the person I was taking care of. Taking care of anonymous drunk people is something I really hate doing. I can't wait for Halloweeeeen! I gots my Wonder Woman costume hanging in my closet and being ready to be worn! :D

Date: 2008-08-03 17:54 Subject: Effort in Egypt fights against mutilating girls Security: Public

Genitals cut on 96 percent of married Egyptian women; girls face same fate.

I can't believe the numbers are still so high, nor that Egyptians even took part in this process! =X

Date: 2008-07-29 11:50 Subject: Thrumming My Pain with My Fingers Security: Public Mood: shocked Tags: pain and injury, work

So yes, I finally had an accident in the lab yesterday evening. =[ I had the whole works: open flesh, rivulets of blood, white-faced panic... on my thumb. And all because I was rushing to finish cutting on the microtome (a cutting machine used for slicing tissue into thin sections for microscope slides) so I could go home. XP I wouldn't say I exactly panicked, but I was so shocked that I sliced myself and that I could pull away a big chunk of flesh (a quarter of my thumb) that my mind went blank. It happened so fast that I don't think that even my flesh realized it. And then I ran around the lab for a few seconds as the blood finally started gushing to look for something... right, a napkin, and then I had to go back to my desk to figure out what to do, or if I could hide my injury, or if it was really as bad as I saw.

I laugh at myself now, because of all the ideas that were going through my head: Panjing? No, gone. Tai Pa? No, he's going to kill me when he finds out. ER? ... for a bleeding thumb? And at those costs?? No way! So I called my mom and scared her half to death by saying ambiguously, "I had an accident." LoL, my mom then told me the reasonable thing to do - wash the wound, and wrap it up, but I was at a loss on HOW to do it. The first aid kit definitely didn't come to mind, so I went to one of my co-workers and told him all woobly that I sliced my thumb, and he helped me clean it up. Ahhh, so much blood! I'm kind of amazed that I didn't get any blood on myself (I, who can't keep chocolate off my nose or from under my eye no matter how hard I try). It hasn't hurt too much more than yesterday, but the increased force from climbing up stairs makes my cut hurt like it's being stabbed with pointy knives. Yes, I understand the physics of my pain, somewhat. ~_~

And did you know what my first thoughts were when I cut myself? "Holy fuck, I just cut myself, and into the nail too! How the fuck am I going to go to two weddings with half a thumb?!"

=P

Date: 2008-07-22 00:21 Subject: I am a Harmony-Seeking Idealist Security: Public Tags: quizzie-poos & testies

What about you?

Date: 2008-07-13 22:47 Subject: Awwww! Security: Public Mood: amused Tags: cut to the cuteness

Awww, look at these puppies that are being sung to sleep! I almost couldn't believe it! =3

Date: 2008-07-13 16:29 Subject: In which I do not have the perfect dress Security: Public Mood: cynical

So the outfit I chose for the upcoming nuptials (which I had joyfully completed yesterday with the purchase of a pair of seashell-pink open-toed pumps) is apparently not good enough. Truthfully, I'm tired of shopping for these weddings. I only wanted two things for my dress when I went: 1.) it would not look like a negligee, and 2.) it would not make me look like I was going to prom. I really don't think those shiny polyester numbers and gaudy rhinestones are appropriate for a wedding, especially one where I'm not part of the bridal party. >__>

Actually, I think they're pretty tacky as prom dresses too, but who cares for subtleties anymore? Maybe I've been watching too much Project Runway?

Blargh, back to the racks.

Date: 2008-07-07 00:13 Subject: Jja Jung Myun, Take I Security: Public Tags: cookery

Okay.... epic failure on the Jja Jang Myun. =[ It had an overall amazing lack of flavor. The reasons, I'm deducing, are because I had no beef broth to flavor the sauce with (I'd substituted fried tofu instead) and because the Korean black bean paste just tastes different than the Chinese version. Apparently they're processed differently, so although they're both made out of soybeans, the smell and taste are different, thus my fundamental base was wrong from the start.

It also didn't help that I've never tried Korean Jja Jang Myun. 9_9

*le sigh* I couldn't even stomach any more of my creation after the second bowl, but Mu gallantly ate the other 5 cups and finished it off for me. Darling gem, he is. =X

Oh well, I'm going to put that aside for now. My next goal is not any of the recipes on my list. I'm going to try making Oee Sobagi, cucumber kimchee. It's so simple that I'm sure I can't screw it up.... We'll see. >__<

Date: 2008-07-03 20:29 Subject: Four Day Work Week in America?? Security: Public Mood: excited Tags: news

Genius! I'm so jealous of Utahians ( <-- looked that term up on Google) right now. Their governor just declared government employees will be switched to a 4-day work week in an effort to cut state energy and gasoline costs! In turn for getting Fridays off, the employees will put in 10-hour work days Monday through Thursday, but get paid the same as if they were working 5 days a week (kind of a "duh" there).

Personally, I love the idea. Two extra hours a day is a small sacrifice for a whole extra day to enjoy with family and friends. It means you can take longer trips, relax a little bit longer, and generally work yourself into a better mood by the time Monday swings 'round again. I know I definitely feel better after three day holidays rather than regular two day weekends. One extra day can make all the difference in mind and body. Best of all, you save gas money and our ozone layer from not running your car, and the state saves millions of dollars by not running the AC and electricity full blast for a 5th day. Double win!

Now if only California could do something like that!

Date: 2008-06-25 13:53 Subject: (no subject) Security: Public Mood: PMS-ing Music: Duffy - Mercy Tags: food!, summer 2008

I'm home now, but I miss my Davis freedom already! =[ It sucks being limited to the couch and my bed when I could be busing to Borders to read for hours, watching illegal movies online with my speedy internet, or exploring Kim's Korean Mart in downtown some more.

Sadly, I haven't done much since I've gotten back home. Watched a marathon of Law and Order: SVU, some cooking shows on Food Network, did some work for AAA, and went through half a year's worth of entries from Serious Eats and other food blogs that I've been neglecting. At this point, I think I'm turning into a foodie. I have this list long accumulating list of recipes I'm itching to try when I get back to my own kitchen in Davis. This is the list I've written down since Sunday:

• Maangchi's Kimchi
• Maangchi's Sweet and Crispy Chicken (dak kang jung)
• Maangchi's Black Bean Noodles (Jja Jung Myun, pretty much the same as the Chinese "Zhajiang mian")
• Giada's Sun Dried Tomato & Pea Dip w/ Endive Spears.
• Giada's Turkey Meatloaf Sandwiches
• Ina's Chicken Salad Veronique
• Ina's Herb Potato Salad

Date: 2008-06-16 21:06 Subject: A meme for all! Security: Public Mood: comfortable Tags: meme!

I'm bored in my apartment all alone, so I stole this meme from sigelphoenix. Feel free to do it - I'd certainly be interested to see the results! =]
___________________
Hi, my name is: Tiffany

When I'm nervous I: speak in a very subdued voice, if I talk to any people at all, and scavenge for food to eat.

Last night I: went to the shopping mall, ate at Hard Rock Cafe, emptied my room, and shoved everything from the living and dining room to the kitchen and bathrooms so as to make way for the carpet cleaners tonight.

PART 1: YOU
Were you a planned baby? I dunno, I just know there was a baby in the making three years before me, but that baby never made it.

Were you the first? Yes, unfortunately. Fortunately?

PART 2: YOUR PERSONALITY
Do you have low self esteem? In some aspects, yes. I always feel like I've never done a good enough job, and that everybody else is always doing better than me. =[

Are you happy right now? Yes, but I wish I were doing better in school and had better time management.

PART 3: APPEARANCE
Are you comfortable with the way you look? Yes. I like my body shape and the way I fill clothes. The only thing I wish I could keep up is my semi-flat belly that I get from my Abs/Back class.

Describe your hair: Long, straight, black, and uncombed.

PART 4: RANDOM
Ever been kicked out of a bar? Not old enough to be inside one to be kicked out.

PART 5: THE OUTDOORS
Do you prefer indoors or outdoors? Indoors. Nature and I only get along so much.

How's the weather? Hot and hot. Blazing sun, sweaty backs, burning skin.

Do you like walking in the rain? Not really - it makes me feel like acid rain is washing into my pores.

Do you like thunderstorms? When I'm toasty and snug inside my house.

PART 6: FOOD
Are you a vegetarian? Never when I eat out or make ready-to-cook meals, but when I start meals from scratch, they're usually all veggies. I find preparing meat too much work for what little time I have available.

Anything you absolutely could eat forever? Chipotle Chicken Fajita Burritos with extra corn and bell peppers. :O

What is your favorite dessert? I'm not much of a dessert person.

PART 7: RELATIONSHIPS AND LOVE
Do you want to get married? Sure.

Been married before? Not that I'm aware of.

Are you truly in love? Tee-hee.

PART 8: RANDOM QUESTIONS
Where is your cell phone? Right next to me.

Cheesecake? blech. Definitely not one of my favorite desserts. I'll usually eat the crust and two small bites of the cream cheese part, and I'm done.

Your dream last night? None. I didn't feel like I slept - which was bad for my 8 hour ER shift starting at 8AM this morning. 8D

Your favorite drink? Pepsi or Sobe Green Tea.

Where did you grow up? Bay Area

Tattoos? On other people. I like my body the way it is. I think fit, unadultered female bodies are the sexiest body types. I like clear skin, what can I say. :O

Ketchup? As a dip after I get an original taste of the food.

Your computer? The wires running through the hinges of my laptop are getting messed up, thus giving me a fuzzy screen.

Your life? Free.

What are you thinking about right now? How I'm going to read the Narnia Chronicles all night and spend all day at Borders tomorrow! 8D

Favorite color(s)? Emerald silk.

When is the last time you laughed? Just an hour and a half ago, when my roommate called me up to see how I was doing by my all lonesome self in my apartment. :D

Last received call? Serene, above.

Part 9: LIFE
What friend knows the most about you? Probably Mu, but I hide little things here and there from everybody.

Who do you blame for your mood today? My 8-hr shift at the ER.

What should we do with stupid people? Fire them.

What is making you sad right now? That my GPA is terrible, and that I'll need to ace every class within the next two years to get a good GPA. :[

What was the first thing you did this morning? Hit the snooze alarm several times.

Last person you went out to dinner with? Mu at the Hard Rock Cafe. =0

Do you drink lots of water? No, water's flavorless. =[ I try to, but I take really small sips in general.

How do you vent your anger/sad? I complain to a person or two, and then hate the world for being so stupid. Or for me being stupid.

What theme does your room have? Crap-strewn-everywhere theme

Are you a mama's child or a daddy's child? I guess my mom.

The last website you visited? Youtube, to watch this Dai dance. Dai is probably my favorite dance style out of all the Chinese ethnic groups. Dai people have a great respect and love for peacocks. Look at 3:50 - you see her looking exactly like one!

Who was the last person you took a picture with? The Housers.

Last person you went to the movies with? Um... I don't remember. I'm too cheap to go to the movies often.

What did you do/will you do for your birthday this year? I'm going to take my friends on a Chinatown Alleyway Tour.

Is anything alive in your room? Yes, a fat cow.

Today, would you rather go back a week or go forward a week? Go back a week, so I could do better on my o-chem test.

What are you looking forward to right now? All the fun stuff I can do in the summer - specifically food related. =D Or actually, more in the near future, going to Borders all day tomorrow.

Part 10: IF YOU HAD TO
If you HAD to dye your hair a color what color would it be? Dark red highlights, but I like my hair the way it is. I'm actually afraid to dye my hair in fear of damaging it. People always ask if I have highlights anyway.

If you HAD to get a piercing (not ears) what would you get? A small nose-ring.

Date: 2008-06-14 19:27 Subject: First week of summer plans Security: Public Mood: indescribable Tags: college!, summer 2008

Okaaaaay, so I'm here in my apartment by myself until Tuesday, when the girl who's subletting my loft will arrive. She's coming all the way from UW to do an internship here for a big company's refinery in Sac. I'll be showing her around for a couple days before completing more shifts at the ER and then clinic on Saturday. I don't mind being alone in my apartment, but now I have nothing to do, nothing to procrastinate from. =[ Nobody to cook for... and I have a lot of fresh food. =P

Spring Quarter sucked, by the way. Oh, o-chem, how I hate you for killing my GPA. >:[

Date: 2008-03-25 02:05 Subject: Reflections and Outlooks Security: Public Mood: tired Tags: aaaff, cdac, college!, emrap, imani, internships, work

Spring Break feels sooooo good. I'm glad to be home again. I've never been away from home for more than three weeks, so this month at school was long and agonizing. I missed home a lot, and I realized my parents missed me a lot too. Waking up naturally is more theraputic than any massage, and I've been pigging out on home-cooked food since I got back. =9