I'm finally eating healthy :)


Brett and I have decided, that we are going to cook dinner every night. This week was the first week we've tried it, and I think it's working out well. We've had teriyaki salmon, spaghetti, cornbread, potatoes. . . I'm so happy to finally be able to eat healthy and good-tasting food.


I've been spacing out so much lately. . . Aah, what's wrong with me?


On Friday we went out to sushi on Newberry Street, and then to watch "Tokyo Godfathers". I really liked the animation, and it was a cute story, with some very funny moments. I was rather good yesterday, and went through 3 6.170 practice exams. I had dinner with Punya, a fellow 6.001 LA at an Ethiopian restaurant--- it was a nicely decoated little place, and we had to eat the food with our hands--- a nice and interesting experience :).


This week promises to be terrible--- with 5 summer internship interviews, my first 6.170 test. . . At least there is one hour every evening that I can look forward to :)

Last night was the ring premiere— when the design of the Class of 2006's brass rat was revealed. With my tiny fingers, my ring will be way too small for anyone to see any of the fancy little details they put in, but oh well. I liked it a lot better than last years— the beaver was rather cute, and there’s a way two 2006's can join their rings together to spell out MIT :). But even though I like the Stata Center, I thought it was excessive to show the new Computer Science/ EE building 3 times— as it neither appeals to or is relevant to most students. Sarah won one of the door prizes, a $75 gift certificate, so that was exciting too :). I used to win those sorts of things when I was younger, but lately, almost never... But at least now that I’m working, I can pay for my own ring.


We all went to see Lost in Translation again, since it was showing at LSC. Lindy and Matt, the only 2 of us who hadn’t seen it before, really enjoyed it. Oh, Max hadn’t seen it before, and didn’t like it, but he doesn’t count. He can’t appreciate a good movie when he sees one ;). And then we headed over to a Mardi Gras party on Jim’s floor— 3rd West. I was a bit wary of going— because when I get excited about a party, it usually ends up making me disappointed. But I’m so glad I went. It was the first time I’ve gotten to dance in... a long time. And the music was so good :) ---- not the trash I put up with at parties just because I’ve come to expect it. When did I first start to like dancing? It’s actually not been to long ago. All through highschool I used to loathe dancing totally... and then my last year of highschool, I thought it was okay, but pointless, and then very recently somehow I switched to really liking it— it gives me so much energy, and makes me feel so happy to dance. The change also mirrors my slight increase in general outgoingness, I guess. And my comfortableness around people. Not that I’m completely comfortable around people. I still think I have no sense of social proprietary. And I don’t form friendships easily. Because I tend to get annoyed easily, and more so, I’m very annoying. But my current group of friends make me comfortable, and they mean a lot to me, and so I’m trying to get better.

If one's writing makes a statement about one's personality (and if it doesn't, what could possibly?), I wonder what mine says about me. When we brought our drafts to Writing class on Tuesday, I nervously glanced around at the stacks of paper everyone else bore--- mine was barely half a page. Perhaps it's that I'm immensely lazy ;) and a huge procrastinator, but this is very typical of my papers. I struggle to make word limits. After a few short paragraphs, I usually feel I've said all I need to say. When I edit my writing, it tends to stay the same length or perhaps grow shorter still.


In this particular assignment, though, I can claim it was for the effect---- I'm fine if I keep on choosing topics that require this writing style :). I wrote it on--- well, you'll see. Another thing about my writing is that I can only think of anything to write at all if it's a topic that's dear to my heart :)


My favorite Japanese restaurant at home is small and quaint, warmly lit by hanging square wooden lanterns. The decor is simple and clean, the booths separated by wood and semi-transparent paper frames; paintings of fish and birds line the walls. The air of the restaurant is rich with the smell of sake and teriyaki sauce and the mirth of pleasant company. The pink fish, white rice, and green vegetables, of various textures, come arranged elegantly and strikingly contrasted against the partitions of the smooth black bento. The taste of the food is delicate— not too strongly flavored, but settling in your mouth after a few moments. The atmosphere of the place seems to put a spell on the unwitting customers— who pick up and eat small bites of food with their chopsticks, raise their bowls gently to their lips and sip, and are too complacent to do more than smile in gentle agreement. It transforms the commonplace act of eating into a ritualistic work of art.


If you've been to Little Tokyo in Jackson, MS, you can tell me if this is an accurate description or not :).

What a shame! It seems that the anime club has stopped showing One Piece. True, at the beginning of last semester I had never heard of the series, and I may come to fall in love with the now unfamiliar titles I found through on the new schedule. . . I'll still come to sample them. But now that I've been hooked to One Piece, I can't survive without my weekly dose. Anyone else who's suffering from the withdrawal, you're cordially invited to watch the episodes I've gone and downloaded on my own. The more the merrier. After all, what fun is it to sing "We are, we are, on the cruise" all by myself?


I'm glad 've finished my 6.004 lab--- only one of the many things due this week. But does anyone else feel that it's silly to use a java program to simulate circuit elements? I like--- having a circuit I can feel, and touch--- even if a programmed mosfet will never burn out.

Love, Actually


So, well maybe it's meant to be a Christmas movie, but there is no better movie to watch on Valentine's Day evening with a bunch of friends :).


I enjoyed it very much: touching parts, funny parts, particularly the resolution of the little boy and his grade-school crush. I do wonder though about the girl who had to take care of her brother, and the wife of the boss. And now I feel like singing Christmas songs.


Current Song: "All I want for Christmas is You". :)

It is ten minutes to 4:00 pm. My cube paper lantern is on, but the room is still rather dim. The day outside was cold, but pleasant. I've just returned from my Writing class, 21W.713. We have an essay due on Tuesday. I usually have problems writing essays on demand, but the structure of the class and the personality of the instructor are such that I don't feel pressure to produce anything more than a compilation of my honest thoughts. The professor is able to find something interesting to say about everyone's work, perhaps even just a small phrase that he particularly likes. And I think that's what I've been looking for in a writing class--- just a warm, encouraging environment that will allow me to write with as much ease and naturality as possible.


I think that's what we seek in friendships as well--- people who make us comfortable to be ourselves. And I really don't ask for anything more. Just yesterday, I seem to have found that a friend has gone through great lengths to give me attention, it seems at cost of his own personal obligations. I would not have gathered it from complaints (which he makes none) or from his seeming ambivilent during our time spent together (he is kind enough that he would be happy just to make someone else happy.) I do not despise his attention, his company is some of the most pleasant I've had in a long time. But. . . I don't want him to suffer for my sake. I want him to be honest about his other obligations, and I don't want to take up his time. And I wonder. . . due to his extreme kindness. . . if this is because he feels compelled to give me this attention---- that he thinks that I am in some way in need of it? Do I act as if I need extra taking care of? Do I act selfishly? And who will take care of him?


Do I make sense? I hate to speak in vague generalities, but for akwardness I cannot much do otherwise.


It is ten minutes after 4:00. The room is still dim, and will only grow more so. And my homework still sits waiting.

Friday was the 6.001 Lab Assistant meeting— where I signed up for hours, and had a bit of training. And also when the full sense of my responsibilities hit me: watching lectures, working problems, working all 8 of the projects so I could give students applicable advice. Janet and Min cooked fettucine alfredo and dumplings for dinner, and it was really nice to see them. They also expressed concern at my schedule, and I think I will be dropping 6.042 (sadly my most exciting class so far, but the only one that's not a pre-req for anything else I'll be taking. . .).


Saturday, I made a Galleria trip with Max, and picked up Valentines and chocolates to hand out. Brett’s moving to East Campus, so that evening I went over to help him paint while he and his roommate installed rug. After we were tired, we made an excursion to the local Krispy-Kreme's. This being my first time in an acutal Krispy-Kreme place, my excitement extended beyond the delicious douhnuts--- I got to see the marvelously amazing douhgnut machine, which, with its icing-fall and dough-squirter, would not look out of place in Willy Wonka’s factory.


This week is looking. . . busy, and slightly overwhelming. . . But at least it'll be a little better with one less class. *crosses fingers* It was my intention to make a Valentine's day layout from the Tsutsumo and Mikako picture I had, accompanied by my "You kiss me like a different ___ everytime" poem. . . but that doesn't look like it's happening. Maybe it can go up Friday night.

Yay


Yay! I have my first campus job--- I had my "interview" today, and I will be a lab assistant for 6.001. I'm not all togther sure I'm actually qualified for the job, but I will try my hardest to review my Scheme and be helpful to people debugging code :).


And yay for infinitely enjoyable and tasty dinners off-campus :). I like Thai food. It's very similar to Indonesian food--- curry, coconut milk, peanut sauce. Reminds me of home. . .

Lalala. . . The first day of class was Tuesday, and I went to all my Monday classes by mistake instead. And today, I went to the previously assigned location of 6.170, all the way over by MIT Medical Center, to find a Cryptology class instead, and that the lecture was in 34-101. The things I would realize if I had a brain. . .


I had my first 6.042 (Discrete Math) lecture today--- I think that will be my favorite class this semester. I watched Brett and Vikki's hockey game tonight--- it was interesting. I went to play, actually, but there were no skates for me to rent. . . But probably for the better--- because their team played well (and won!), and I need a bit more practice before I can play, I think. And I need to learn to use hockey skates--- I doubt they'll let me play in figure :P.

*deep sigh* First day of class tomorrow. I had to change my Humanities class yet again, so I'll be taking "Major Poets". I like poetry, at once more spontaneous and more contrived than prose, but this will be a poem reading, not writing, class.


I bought my notebooks and decorated them with stickers, which made me happy :). I'm such a child when it comes to what makes me happy. . . I drew out my schedule with glittery pens, and adorned it with a picture of Tsutsumo kissing Mikako on the forehead. I will try to be organized this semester. . . as in, not lose all my notes as soon as I take them and all my handouts as soon as I receive them.


Maithilee, Jacque and I went to John Harvard's this evening (since Mondays are "College Nights"), but they stopped serving food early today due to renovations. . . Maybe some other time.


6.170 will be my first class tomorrow. In all honesty, I'm starting to get scared. . .

View the fruit of January's efforts: our robot's website.


We had a late Christmas party today, to exchange gifts, since most of us had exams til the very last day before break and left campus in haste. Vikki gave me the cutest Hello Kitty Candy ever, Jim, a Beatrix Potter book, and Sarah, the very 1st Encyclopedia Brown book. Happy reading for me :).


I learned something interesting about a friend yesterday. And it makes me admire hiim that much more.


Must register for classes, must register for Anime Boston convention. Any ideas for costumes, anyone? I want something rather simple. And no wigs: someone with long black hair. Too bad that most of my favorite characters have short hair. Misato, from Evangelion? Kaoru or Megumi may be easy, with a kimono. Robin or Taghigi from One Piece?