101 reasons, or some other sappy shit.

You put the spark in sparkle
And the sun in the shine
The storm clouds go
the flowers they bloom
Here's to you and the things you do!
-Sophie Ellis Bextor

So, before anything, blogger must be rather schizo today, because it shut me out. That's right, even though I have the whole "remember me on this site" feature of Firefox turned on, blogger simply refused to let me in. Oh well, at least I'm in now.

Moving on, however, there is this one sappy saying that I hate to my bones- the one that assures you of 101 reasons to be happy when you have 100 reasons to be sad. It's just so... sappy. However, since it's cold, and my frozen heart likes the cold, I decided to indulge this saying. Following, therefore, are my x-number of reasons to be sad, and my x+1 number of reasons to be happy.

Sadness and whininess:

1. I'm not coming home for christmas. huhuhu
2. I live an hour from L.A., but I don't have any celebrity friends yet
3. It's not snowing. There's only fog, and fog ain't snow.
4. My American friends are so totally not camerawhores...
   
5. I still can't be bothered to live healthily and exercise to help my slightly above normal chol. level
6. I live in california (southern california, even!) and I still don't have a lover (did i just say that?)
7. The numbers I chose tonight didn't with the 201m$ megamillions prize
8. My nose has been bleeding like crazy
9. I miss singing Christmas Carols
10. Finals week is next week -_-

Happy fields and unicorns:

1. My family is coming over here for Christmas! yay!
2. I can feel it in my bones that I'll be a celebrity in the near future <3
3. I LOVE THE FOG.
4. I'd like to think my self esteem is strong enough to make me not be vain
5. I'm still a pure ho! (see bottom)
6. I have the essential things money can't buy (I'm really grasping for straws here, aren't I)
7. My american friends find me to be a unique snowflake (wtf)
8. KOSTE 104.3fm playing nothing but christmas carols 24/7!
9. I need to get a 36/100 in my econ finals to get an A
10. Winter break in 1 week!
11. MY FRIEND GOT ACCEPTED AT UPENN w00tw00t! I am sooo happy for him I don't care if the past 10 numbers were delusions!

Anyway, I have to explain number 5. I told you I'm still a pure ho, in other words, that's kind of a "semi-happy", hopefully less awkward way of saying that I'm happy, if not proud, to be a non-sexually active person right now. You see, by now, I imagine i've painted a pictre of my friends here to be fun loving people- almost kinda like the archetypal american barkada. Well, the other day, we gathered round to supposedly study for a chem test (which I later bombed) at a friend's house, and, surprisingly, the topic turned to sex.

Long story, short, everyone in the group started sharing stories of their sexual escapades, and mishaps; with one of my classmates even sharing the story of how both of his only oral-sex-encounters were epicfails. Did that read awkward to you? Imagine being in the situation itself. Of course, being the nerdgeekdork that I am, I shared only a most objective side to the stories. That is, when A said that he always dreamed of eating a honey covered muffin (euch) I told him that it's a bad idea to use anything sugar based on muffins (yeast infections, yuch). Or, when victoria (for the sake of a pseudonym) said that abortions are wrong in all contexts, I pointed out that abortions for ectopic pregnancies are ok, and, biblewise, abortion before the third week (i think) can't really be discredited with the bible. Such were normal ones, but, eventually, the topics of conversation dwindled and the more awkward things had to come up. To summarize, the things I had to explain were:

• how 'fisting' is an anatomical possibility
• how 'edging' is bad for you
• why it's socially awkward to lose your virginity before the age of 15
• why erections are, basically, blood functions
• how orgasms work
• why it's possible for men to be raped
  
• i had to explain to z and to i (yes, he's a new character in this show called my life) how a could have sex in an elevator, and why it didn't mean that he lasts only 20 seconds from start to finish

Maybe I should be a urologist/proctologist? I dunno. Of course, they shared (they'd like to think they've taught) some things with me too. Namely, how many fingers to use (I still crack up thinking about this part of the conversation); why it's socially acceptable to lose your virginity before 18 (as all but 1 of them did); and how to "do things right" for when I "do decide to do things"

HOWEVER, I am proud to say that I was able to shut z up when he became way too eager in his sharing of stories. He was telling us how he wouldn't want to engage in fellatio anymore due to his two bad experiences. the script is as follows:

Z: I've had it, and they really just weren't that good
A: you shouldn't give it up, man. It seriously feels good
Z: *insert story about how the two girls he's had it from weren't good*
A: you just need to find the right girl!
Z: I dunno man, I think i've given up on it. I don't think there is a right girl, I mean, how could they just *elaborate description of fellatio*
me: You have a point, Z. You do know what they say, though. No one quite knows or does a man quite like another man.

*silence, tumbleweeds and awkwardness... folloewd by LOUD laughter by everyone*

that shut him up :))


oh dear lord. there goes my mind, conscience and morality. There goes my classcultureandbriding, too. I still giggle, though, despite its awkwardness and inappropriateness. Oh god, my friends are fun. They (apparently) have the lasciviousness that characterizes my friends at home, but with the burden of proof.

Maybe that's why we all pretty much bombed the chem test that happened later on. Because we weren't exactly asked to elaborate on how to "make people feel good". However, I would still like to think that such is valuable information I should not forget.


see, there are 101 reasons to be happy. and when you find that the reasons to be happy are equal to those warranting sadness, at least now, I more or less have added knowledge on how to acquire that one last reason to smile. =))

Love song of love songs.

He said to her "I'd like a cheeseburger
And I might like a milkshake as well"
She said to him "I can't give you either"
And he said "isn't this Burger Bell?"
She said "Yes it is, but we're closed now
But we open tomorrow at 10."
He said "I am extre-ma-ly hungry
But I guess I can wait until then"

Because you're his cheeseburger
his yummy cheeseburger
he'll wait for you-ooh yeah!
he'll wait for you

You're his cheeseburger
his tasty cheeseburger
He'll wait for you
yeah, he'll wait for you

He stayed at the drive-through 'till sunrise
He may have dozed off once or twice
When he spotted a billboard for Denny's
Bacon and eggs for half price
How could he resist such an offer?
He really needed something to munch
Cheeseburger, please do not be angry
He'll eat and be back here for lunch

'cuz you're his cheeseburger
his precious cheeseburger
he'll be back for you, he'll be back for you
Please hold on cheeseburger
he'll be back for you!

'Cuz he loves you cheeseburger with all his heart
and there ain't nothing gonna tear you two apart
and if the world suddenly ran out of cheese
he would get down on his hand and knees
*unintelligible lyrics*

you are his cheeseburgeeeeeeer....

Making your bed, and lying in it too.

I wrote this the day after the elections, and I just felt like posting it here before it became an ultimately obsolete topic. Forgive the intro paragraph, then; as I said, this was posted when it was current and "new" news. :)

_________________________

For those who don't know yet, the ballots are in and Proposition 8 has passed, and Proposition 4 did not. For even more added information, Proposition 8 was a proposition to re-instate the ban on gay marriage, declaring that only man-woman marriages will be recognized in the state of California (therefore, voting yes on prop8 is against gay marriage); whereas Proposition 4 was about putting limits on abortion; a.k.a., minors (those under 18) will need parental consent at least 48 hours prior to getting an operation to terminate pregnancy.

The voters have spoken, and while they do not resonate with gay marriage (cue the simpson's character shouting "What about the chilruuun?!", for a summary of their argument), they, by the same margin of victory, condone abortion for all ages.


Of course, you could say that I oversimplify the issues at hand, and the consequences of the victory or loss of the two propositions. However, I cannot help but feel that this was a standstill-decision, especially when people everywhere are celebrating the groundbreaking and groundshaking victory of Sen. Obama in becoming the 44th president of the United States. Then again, you cannot really fault the people for cheering for change, but not being ready to swallow its jagged little pill just yet, right?


I feel strongly about proposition 4. I wanted this proposition to be passed. The opposers argued mostly about the poor girls who got pregnant either through incest or rape, or those who are in an abusive family, wherein the declaration of "mom, dad, I'm pregnant. please sign these papers so i can get an abortion" would spell trouble.

Firstly, it surprises me that underage pregnancies are so rampant now that laws are being passed wherein numbers, by the hundreds of thousands, claim direct repurcussions to the decisions passed. Secondly, I am still loathe to believe that victims of rape or incest are at a staggering, or maybe even just statistically significant number to warrant an argument such as the one proposed. The third demographic the nay-sayer's are trying to protect, in my opinion, should not even count. To be succinct, it's so easy to tell these children to not have sex in the first place; and, in the even that they do get pregnant, face the consequences of their actions.

It strikes me as surprising that, in a totally sensitive irony, the voters are allowing this proposition to not go through because children who were stupid enough to get pregnant before the age of 18 shouldn't get hurt; but are, at the same time, allowing and condoning, even preferring the death of an unborn child to 'save face' for the teenager.

when put into simple terms such as that, it puzzles me how any rational adult can consider such a law being passed. And, to address those affected by incest and rape; there are so many more alternatives for them than are now being presented to all those thrown-out fetuses. yes. thrown out, mangled, dismembered fetuses. But now i'm resorting to appealing to gross emotion.


Proposition 8, I feel even more strongly about. Being at the front-seat of this campaign trail (I paid attention to the Prop 8 campagins. ha ha), I was able to see the commercials put out by both pro and anti gay marriage supporters. I won't go into detail about the Church stand on this, aside from my saying that 1.) there should definitely be a distinct separation between church and state, although this in itself is blurry because of the Church's right to an opinion and to counsel its members, but more importantly, 2.) marriage in the church sense should be totally autonomous of marriage in the civil sense; and the sanctity of the second should be independent of moral pressures as dictated by a single (although admittedly nearly omnipresent) religion.

Rather, I want to address the main argument that seems to be pulled by the naysayers. It revolves around the notion of 'ill-teaching' our children, making them have to go to school learning about marriage being a contract between two parties, rather than it being a contract between a man and a woman. This supposedly would have severe negative effects on the children.

hogwash, if you ask me.

I might be a little avant garde for saying this, but I can't help but hear their "but they'll to learn marriage as between two people!!!" argument sounding rather like the past arguments of "but they'll have to learn that voting is for people!!!" this sounds, silly, yes, but that's what it sounds like. And really, do they believe that marriage as a teaching is that major on children that it will scar them for life or otherwise stunt them in their psychological, emotional or mental growth? If anything, this large hulaballoo on voting yes or no for prop.8 has probably instilled whatever "evil" notion of gay marriage there is on these children than if they had learned it from an unbiased, morally objective discussion in the classroom.

remember, before this prop.8 issue arose, gay marriage was recognized in California! And were children flinging themselves off of buildings in horror? no. Were children under the age of 18 getting into more crime, fighting more, or recreating the atmosphere of hate crimes more to oppose homosexuality? no. And even more than that, by recognizing gay marriage, were same sex couples dressed in leather bondage gear running up and down the streets publicly performing acts of sodomy as they tossed mardis gras beads at aghast and bweildered onlookers? no.

Instead, what happened? Personalities such as Ellen deGeneres, George Takei and Neil Patrick Harris were able to publicly profess their love. Numerous (by the thousands) same-sex couples were able to do the same in varying degrees of privacy or public announcements of love and commitment. If that isn't an excercise and simultaneous lesson in equality, which I'm sure we'd all like to teach our children, then I would like to go back to my elementary days to contest why I had to share an apple with jimmy, or why it was wrong to hate on Shaniqua because she was black, or why I wasn't right in punching Jimmy because he preffered gummy bears to sour-worms.

And in fact, to again be in the kidergarten, if not the Church, angle, same-sex marriage possess so little harm and malevolence in them as, say, the still ever-present, and ever-condoned realities of divorce, separation, and other things which plague heterosexual marriages. I dont mean to say that same-sex marriages will not be plagued with the same problems, but my point is that it is not correct, nor fair, to assume that same-sex marriages are the epitome of immoral union, whereas heterosexual unions which may be sanctioned by either, or both the state and the Church, is the opposite epitome of pure love, romanticism and everlasting union.

There is a common misconception, and wrong idea that was propagated through the campaign to say yes on 8. Same-sex marriages are not an act condoning or actively encouraging sodomy, promiscuity or HIV/AIDS. There is simply a wish to grant equal rights of union to heterosexual and homosexual couples who, i'm sure we agree, are able to possess, partake and provide the same kind and quality of love as everyone else.


This isn't nearly the end of the battle, nor is this the end of the impassioned reactions of people who think that proposition 4 being ignored and proposition 8 being passed were silly decisions. I am loathe to equate, but if Barack Obama really stands for change, and this desire for change is echoed by the majority of the people who showed up to vote for him, then it should only a matter of time before we are one step closer to the ever-elusive goal of equality.


For now, however, the people will have to make our beds and lie in it. Children may choose to have sex in it and to kill their babies afterwards, just as same-sex couples will still (defiantly?) choose to express their love for each other in ways not even the government can stop. And the rest of us, just like those directly affected, will have to lie in this bed and reap the consequences of the votes, and of our collective voice.

Dreaming of a White Christmas

I was fortunate enough to have been able to go to Disneyland during the start of their Holiday celebrations. The start of the season was met with a new Holiday themed parade, Holiday overlays in certain rides like IASW and Haunted Mansion, a spirit of togetherness with the huge and suffocating crowds, and the new holiday themed fireworks spectacle.

How can a bunch of exploding metals be holiday themed? Well, for one thing, the explosions were choreographed to popular Christmas Carols, and, for another, the grand finale was a showering all over mainstreet with fake snow. Yup, fake snow. Small globs of foam made to look like floating and descending snowflakes which, upon landing on your hair and clothes, look more like dandruff than actual snow.

An interesting thing about it was, as the snow descended and the lights more or less dimmed to suit the mood, and "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" played in the background, American families all around me became senti all of a sudden and started to hush and gush. Meanwhile, I was thinking that this was a little odd, Southern California, given a regular year, does not experience any snowfall at all. In fact, our Christmases are more characterized by heavy fog and rainfall... not snow. Technically speaking, snow should be as foreign to them as it is to me (disclaimer: it's not that foreign to me, I've been to places with snow, hence my statement).

Bah.

[Trying to make a smooth segue]: I am, however, dreaming of a white Christmas, if anything, because I don't really have a choice. Yes, I am staying here for the holidays. But enough of this tomfoolery, and unto more.... frivolous matters (yes, that was a contradictory contradiction). I am dreaming of a white Christmas because I know now what I want to ask Santa for the Holiday season for being that special brand of a "naughty boy" that is actually quite nice ::wink, wink; nudge, nudge:: I want a pet HSLP. Yeahp, you heard me, I want a miniaturized, pocket-sized, on a leash version of highschool lab partner.

eww, how dare you think of lascivious thoughts.

I want a pet HSLP because he's just so innocent and entertaining. His mannerisms are very endearing, and, as I found out today, he loves his dog so much he makes appointments for it to get acupuncture treatments. Yes, acupuncture.... for dogs... because he has a bad back (scoliosis?).... how cute is that, right? Besides, he said already that he wants to enroll in the same Chem1B and Math3A classes as me, and so, having a pet verison of him will be fun- if I have any questions about how to take care of it, I can just ask him. And, if he grows too mature and jaded and american-teenager like, I can just put him to sleep. That's way more humane than killing the original HSLP.

eta: oh, and did I mention that he's a friggin technology genius? At age 16, he friggin repairs DVD optical shindigs, and is on his way to making a synthesizer. whuts.

See, I am dreaming of a white christmas. a 2 foot tall, 16 year old caucasian pet. HAHA. OH MY GOD, that sound's so wrong.

whatever, you're just jealous.

______

My rants for "holiday" vs "christmas" will have to wait. Santa Claus doesn't like giving gifts to complainers...