I really want to show my support for Microsoft by using more Live services (e.g. Live Spaces). I really do. A lot of my friends also use Live Messenger, so they can easily see my update on Live Spaces. But it's just...all these screw-up page layouts on Firefox, and the fact that you can't embed a picture in the middle of your blog (all pictures are tagged at the end of the entry) is kind of annoying. I don't like Blogspot because it's kind of confusing (I like something more simpler) and I don't belong to that community. Exteen is where my fandom friends dwell in, but (1) it's freaking slow + the site is down 50% of the time, and (2) it's only for Thai peeps. I hope Live Spaces will improve to be much better than its current state soon.

People who have known me for more than 3 years would know that I'm not a shopper. I admit that I like window shopping, and I do have the tendency to buy things on impulse, but seriously, my wardrobe is about 1/3 of what an average girl owns. (It used to be 1/6 back in high school, but I'm doing much better now.) My most recent obsession with shoes started when I was trying to put my mind off some unpleasant thoughts. I also happened to own 6 pairs of nearly-broken shoes, so I threw them away once and for all. That would leave me with a pair of kitten-heel sling back, and a pair of zebra-printed ballet flats...not exactly the most practical shoes for school now, are they?

So yes, I've been looking and buying quite a few pairs recently. Since Fall, I've purchased 8 pairs in total, 4 of which aren't shoes that I can wear on a daily basis. And come on, most girls do own more shoes than that. I guess I'm just a late bloomer, that's all.

PS. I'm still looking for pastel, candy-like mules like those you see in Marie Antoinette. I actually found a couple of them at Neiman Marcus in SF. They are lovely. I should have at least tried them on. Why didn't I buy them, you ask? Well, they are Manolo Blahnik's, that's why. I can barely pay my rent, so no, I can't afford Manolo's.

Today sucks. It's been raining non-stop since I woke up. Not to mention couple bad news I received when I checked my mailbox this morning. I'm still sore from the practice last night. I'm just looking forward to tomorrow when chocolates go on sales.

I've been spending way too much money on clothing and shoes! Just yesterday while walking home I bought another pair of boots! (I was tempted by the sales.) I really need to STOP buying things...but but but I want new dresses :'(

The Honors Program at UW is known for offering random (and somewhat bizarre) courses. In the past I have taken an honors class where students were expected to play an MMORPG and blog/write essays about it. This Spring, the Honors department is offering a class called 'A Short History of Love'.

This new class focuses on romantic literary masterpieces from the Renaissance to the present. In addition to attendance at two operas, students are required to read three novels, three plays, selections of poems and classic essays, and a short book by Freud (whom I have no respect for; he's bullshit.) Obviously there will be a massive amount of writing assignments, especially when an English professor is teaching. So I'm still debating whether to take this class or not. Due to my own incapacity of loving, I hold the belief that the feeling of being 'in love' is primarily induced by hormones. Being a skeptic, I sort of want to take this class just to see what it's all about.

I want to take it easy next quarter since 1) I'm graduating, and 2) I want to focus more on the research. I only need one more CSE class and 7 La-La-La credits to graduate. I might end up taking more classes than I intend to though; that's what typically happens in the past. I also want to learn Hip-Hop dancing (they're offering a class at IMA). I feel that I haven't done enough activities in my past three years of college. So I'm making up for it now in my last year. It's my last chance of doing whatever I want to. Besides, dance and martial arts are worth investing time and energy in. Agree, yes?

A side note: I'm finishing the 'intro to social ballroom dancing' class this week, and will be taking Salsa II with David starting next Wednesday.

I've become addicted to Scrubs thanks to Wafa. It's a sitcom focusing on the lives of medical students (later become a doctor) and other characters who work at a fictional hospital called Sacred Heart Hospital. This clip is one of my favorite scenes of the show. I love it so much that I've been watching it repeatedly.

Another sitcom that I'm following at the moment is Ugly Betty, which has just won the Golden Globe Awards for Best Comedy series, and Best Actress in Television Comedy (go, America Ferrera!). I usually watch this show online from their official website.

David C: I am more the sort of person to see how well we get along as friends first before outright courtship, heh...
David C: And I am careful about how much interest I allow myself before checking if there is possible interest on their side as well. I am maybe too careful, though.
me: You're definitely different from most guys I know.
me: Many guy friends of mine told me that nowadays they have to go after multiple girls at once.
me: So when they got rejected from one, they can immediately go after the others without having a gap in between, which will be a waste of their time.
David C: Hmm. I think that's fairly normal these days, for both girls and guys, as long as they haven't been dating steadily yet.
me: Perhaps. I think hey're like BFS. I personally do DFS.
me: So it sucks. Coz when I go too far for one person I can hardly find my way back.
David C: There's always the danger of getting hurt, yeah.
me: It seems to me that you're doing A* though, coz you're secretively guaging several girls at the same time
David C: It doesn't *seem* to be working =p
me: but it's supposed to be the most efficient algorithm
me: Dang, I need to save this conversation ...so geeky.

It's raining non-stop here in Seattle. But because I've been going to California every month since school started, I don't really feel that depressed. In fact, this school year has been a good one so far. Maybe what Pam said about the third-year depression is right. Third year in college is when you have been schooling for a loooongggg time, yet you're not quite close to graduation. I thought about home a lot last year. Not that I don't miss home right now, but I don't have that constant thought about graduating as soon as possible and go back home to find a job there. I don't really want to work in Thailand, but it's nice to live close to your family. I guess that's why my parents always want to go back to China, to reunion with their friends and relatives. But to be honest, I'd rather live in Thailand than China. Thailand is more like home to me since I grew up there.

People always ask me what I'm gonna do, where I want to live after college. This question is not easy to answer, you know? I mean, I like working in the US. I miss the food in Asia. Thailand is where I call home, with lots of friends and memories. And my parents want to move back to China. I guess it depends on where life will lead me to. I cannot foresee the future, but I know as much that for the next 5 or 6 years, I'm still gonna be here in the US.

Ah, now I miss my brother again. ^^;

Now it is the beginning of the college grad recruiting season for many companies (so the job hunting season for us students). I've never felt wanted from someone outside my family as much in my life! All the tech companies take turns to come visit our CSE department almost every week. Once you get a final interview, or an offer, they'll treat you like a princess -- put you up in a nice hotel, take you to fancy dinners, shower you with free stuff, etc. I realize that after you accept the offer, or start working, you'll be nobody again. So might as well enjoy the attention, right? Jellyfish makes an analogy of job recruiting process that I can't say it better myself. LOL.

Jellyfish said:
พวกบริษัทเนี่ยแปลกนะแก เอางี้กูขอเปรียบเหมือนการจีบผู้หญิงนั่นแหละ
พอผู้ชายจีบผู้หญิงแม่งทุ่ม เท่าไหร่ก็จ่าย แต่พอฟันได้แล้วก็ไม่แยแส ...555
บริษัทตอนไม่ได้คนก็เหมือนกัน พอรับเข้าแล้วก็ไม่ค่อยแยแส 555

I usually don't travel a lot, but recently I've been having a trip every month. It began with my NYC trip; I went there because Microsoft will pay for an outbound flight from Seattle for evrey intern. Since I'd never been to the East coast and had planned to visit Bank since last year, I chose to go to NYC. Then there was this Grace Hopper conference in San Diego, so I also visited LA on the way back. I'm flying down to San Francisco to party with friends next week, which is rather exciting. I plan to visit Berkeley and Stanford, and check out their CS department while I'm there. Unfortunately, the weather doesn't seem to be as sunny as I'd like (according to MSN Weather). Oh well, I hope it'll still be warmer than in Seattle.

Next I will be going to Canada for the NIPS conference. The Chair of UW CSE has agreed to sponsor for my travel expense. Thank you, Hank!

There's also this new 'Jazz in Paris' summer abroad program by the Music department that I really want to go. But how on earth am I supposed to find the money to pay for it? The program is only one month long, but costs like 4k even without the plane tickets. Let's hope that my dad'll earn enough money to pay for this, and I'll give him half of what I earn from my future job until I go to grad school, promise!

Jean's Monthly Trip, Fall 2006

9/19 - 9/25 : New York City, NY & Princeton, NJ

10/3 - 10/8 : San Diego & Los Angeles, CA

11/3 - 11/6 : San Francisco & Berkeley & Palo Alto, CA

12/4 - 12/9 : Vancouver & Whistler, British Columbia, CANADA!

3 years ago

Dad: You'll be all by yourself in a foreign country. You have to take good care of yourself. Don't date while in school. Don't drink too, coz it's far away from home. I worry about you.
Me: Suuuuure...I guess.

Today

Me: I'm so not gonna get married.
Dad: Well, if you look around I'm sure you'll find some good guys.
Me: Weren't you the one who told me not to date anyone three years ago?
Dad: Oh, I was just afraid that you'd get distracted from study. Now it's three years later, and you almost graduate. You can date as much as you want, and perhaps get married, too.
Me: ...

Me: Hey, so I also follow your 'no-drinking' rule strictly (only when school's in session , of course.)
Dad: ... That's nice?
Me: Dad, I've been a good girl. Can't you stop smoking for an exchange?
Dad: You see, the reason that I don't want you drink is because you look silly when you're drunk. You laugh like a fanatic. I don't want you to make a fool of yourself in front of your friends.
Me: ...very smooth, Dad...very smooth...

It was sunny again today...unbelievable, isn't it? In fact, it's been sunny everyday for the past week. Annie said that today'd be the last day of summer. The temperature's gonna drop by 15 degrees tomorrow. Isn't that sad?

School was all right. I found the lectures a bit boring. I'm seriously thinking about dropping CSE 378. It's the class I have the least interest in, plus the people I know who's taking it this quarter already have a partner ... If I take it next quarter, I can pair up with either David or Brian.

Speaking of David and Brian, I don't understand why the CSE people here like these names so much. In UW CSE alone, I know like 8 Davids already (Notkin--our former Dean, Balatero, Chen, Grimes, Tepper, 2 x Tran--both alums now, Wu). And Brian Ngo introduced me to another Brian today, so I know like 3 Brians now.

When I was taking Math, I always ran into people whose name is Matthew. I thought there might be some correlation between Matt and Math.

<editted out>

Anyway, today Brian and Chi-Wai came over for dinner. Chi-Wai was late, so we didn't make the Thai green curry as planned. (He asked me to show him how to make it.) My chicken wings were a succcess! I still think that the ones I made last time tasted better, but this time they were more perfectly cooked. Everybody's loving it! I shall send the pictures to my mom and dad...to make them proud.

Besides chicken wings, I made the Sichuan styled eggplant hot pot. I still can't perfect this dish eventhough I cheat by using Lee Kum Kee's sauce. The next time I go back to Thailand, I'm gonna beg chef Chen to pass along his recipe. (Chef Chen works at Nan Yuan restaurant, also is a good friend of my father.) The main problem is that I can't cook the the eggplant perfect enough (but it still tasted good!) There was also the soup I made a few days ago. Everybody was saying the same thing -- the soup reminded them of their mom. Soup before dinner is what I miss the most, too. It's something that feels like home. I guess it's part of growing up in a Chinese family. I used to complain about it a lot back when I was still living with my parents. It was because my mom always made me drink a large bowl of soup before the dinner, and that filled me up. Oh, how I miss those days. I gotta learn to make more soup, especially the complicated ones. I should have paid more attention while at home.

School finally started today. This past summer almost feels like a dream to me. It's so different from taking classes. I like them both, but in a very different way. My first class today was the security class taught by Yoshi Kohno, a new faculty in our department. The man is awesome, very energetic. I enjoy the lecture a lot, but the class project scares me a little bit. I'm not so sure I want to take the graded version anymore. CSE 378 does sound like it's a lot of work. The bad news is, this quarter they throw the exams back to the class again. I really wish I didn't have to take this class...there're so many other classes that interest me more, and I wouldn't be able to take them all before I graduate. (Yeah, I'm not a big fan of hardware .)

After classes, I went to pick up the textbook for the class I'm TAing. I met Lindsay, so I was gonna ask her a few questions about grad school applications, but it turned into an hour-long conversation. It was great. She gave me insider tips about the admission criteria and stuff. It sounds so scary though, I really don't think I'm good enough for top tier grad school with my research experience and GPA . I think I'll probably have to work for a couple years before applying. That way, I'll have the stuff from my last year of college show as well. I'm really happy that the thought about graduate study excites me once again. For the past year, I've been very depressed that all I wanted was to graduate as soon as possible and got outta here. I still want to get outta here ASAP, but that's only because Winter in Seattle is that depressing.

I made a large pot of soup for dinner. I put pork bones, lotus roots, ginger, Knorrs chicken broth, and added a little bit of salt and sugar in it. It tastes soooo gooooood. My parents should be proud of me. I came to the States three years ago knowing nothing about cooking. Now I'm like an expert...okay, so I might have exaggerated it a bit, but I really have gotten much better.

I also marinated some chicken wings for Friday's. Brian and Chi-Wai are coming over for dinner. Let see if I can perfect my super awesome chicken wings again like last time. Who knows, maybe my recipe will become the next KFC ~

Looks like this is going to be another tough quarter ...

Damn Gabe convinced me to take the grad level Security class with him. They offer both graded and CR/NC versions. The difference is that the graded version requires a final project. I mean, if I'm gonna take the class, might as well take the graded one, right? I heard the workload for CSE 378 is pretty heavy too. Algorithms should require quite a bit of reading. On top of that, I'm taking a couple honors classes, and will TA for CSE 322. Will I have time for research at all?

I think I'm gonna die ...

So, I'm spending the last week of Summer in New York. It's my first time here, so everything is new to me. There were so many things going on that I can't really summarize them down in one entry. Here's what happened:

TUE 9/19
This was a really bad day. I missed my flight because I was 5 minute late for the check-in, and I could swear that that 5 minutes I was probably standing in line! Anyway, I paid $100 to change to a later flight, which was not a direct flight as my original itenerary. The flight was 2 hour delayed, so I finanlly got to NYC 5+ hours behind my schedule. As if this wasn't enough, they lost my baggage! I was sooooooo stressed out that day it wasn't even funny. I mean, what the hell? I missed my flight and lost my baggage on the same day? Oh well, at least I got to Bank's place safely, and I guess that's the most important thing.

Anyway, NYC at night is really beautiful. From above, you can see the light everywhere. One thing I hate about Seattle is that, after 8pm, pretty much everything's closed.

WED 9/20
This day was the first day that I actually got a true glimpse of NYC. My first impression was, NYC was such a shitty place to live. The subway is so dirty it smells like public restrooms. I went to the Macy's Herald Square. The store is huge. I like how it dedicates a whole section to petite women; too bad they're mostly for the older ones. There seemed to be no luck with my lost baggage, so I spent the whole day shopping for things I need just to get by. The perk is, the salespersons had been really nice to me after listening to my rant about the unfortunate series of events. They gave me a full make-up, and doubled the free gifts with purchase. I spent like 250 bucks, and most of them are just women's stuff. Men should be glad they don't need to wear a bra.

Annie arrived NYC later that night, so we got together and I went to stay over at her cousin's place. The neightborhood around there is really ghetto, but apparently her cousin pays like $1400++/month for the rent! I thought to myself that I could never live here. It's a fun place to visit, but definitely not to live in. And I start to appreciate Seattle more now.

THU 9/21
Annie and I decided that today would be our shopping day. I wanted to first stop by the BananaRepublic store to buy a jacket. The reason being that a day prior to my flight to NYC, I bought a new jacket from BananaRepublic. It costed almost $150, but I like it so much I could hardly resist. Moreover, they had it in the size 00 petite! It's like they specially made it for me. So when the airlines lost my baggage I was extremely upset because I had this jacket in my suitcase. Anyway, I thought I'd buy another one if my suitcase was forever lost. And if they could relocate it back, I'd just return it. And so I went to the biggest BananaRepublic store to get this jacket, but THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT! Apparently they only made a limited number of this size, and the closest store that had it was in NJ. I was so pissed that I called the airlines up to bitch about it, but it turned out that they had found my baggage. So I was happy.

We walked along the 5th ave and checked out Saks Fifth. The store is really grand, and we can hardly afford most of the stuff they sell. However, not that many brands carry petite size, so I wouldn't be able to get much stuff even if I did have the money to splurge. We ended up buying clothes from the same stores we usually shop. Annie got a dress from AX, and I got some tops and a pair of jeans from Banana. I know, we both were lame.

We had dinner at Serendipity 3, a restaurant recommended by David Tran. The main dishes were all right. What they're actually famous for is the dessert. We each ordered an entree, and shared the "Can't Say No" Sundae and Chocolaccino. It was pretty good. A little bit too sweet, but still pretty good.

Later, we hit a famous jazz club called Blue Note. Annie's cousin, Johnny, recommended us to this place. The cover fee was rather expensive -- $45 each for the table and $30 each for the bar. We decided to pay a little bit more for the table to get a better view. Luckily, they gave students 50% off, so it was not too bad. McCoy Tyner Trio with Pharoah Sanders were performing that night. They were real virtuosi. Tyner's solo piano part was the best. And Moffett, the bassist was awesome -- he wore sunglasses throughout the performance, and looked so cool with it. I could certainly appreciate Sanders' techniques on Sax, but that's not what I'd actually enjoy. For Sax, I prefer something more smooth and traditional to Sanders's funky style. Overall, it's still the best jazz live I've ever been to. Blue Note is definitely my favorite place in New York.