Ups and Downs

I was so down yesterday because of both physical and mental fatigues. But today, I feel I'm blessed. LF sent me information about a possible job, GM said he'd be happy to read my cover letter, and AS also said he'd help me ... I'm really lucky to be here with those nice people who think about me. Um, I'm emotional. Maybe, I've been so tired of my uncertain situation.

Conclusion Chapter Down

I submitted the conclusion chapter to my chair. So now, he has all my chapters. This is such a long process. Your conclusion doesn't match your introduction because you have developed different ideas from when you wrote introduction. Mine is not an exception. After I finished my conclusion, I revised my introduction. And, I also submitted the introduction chapter to my chair. All I have to do now is wait for feedback. I just want to finish this crappy work as soon as possible!

Paperwork Sucks

I was running around on campus this afternoon for unfinished paperwork. To register the final oral defense, I found that I had to file the research clearance form. The form needed three signatures!!! I printed the form, went to my chair for his signature, the graduate coordinator for her signature, and the human subjects office at the far end of campus for their signature, which made me exhausted. I don't like paperwork.

Concerned about My Future

I'm worrying about my future. Give me a job! I stopped applying for teaching positions long time ago. Now, I'm receiving rejection letters from universities on and off. Those letters remind me of my applying for those schools. My bad. Teaching is not my type of job, anyway, from the beginning. I prefer jobs that I'd work with adults, not kids.

But what I can do in this country is really limited, and that's my reality. Visa matters, language matters, professional experience matters, and so on and so forth. The worst scenario would be a temporary translation job. This idea annoys me. What the hell did I spend four years for, man?! I want to have a decent job, hopefully a research or writing job and an enjoyable job.

Black Swan

OK, I think this is a good movie, but I hate camera movement! I understand such strenuous camera movement increases real feelings (and looks Natalie Portman's ballet better), but it makes me sick. After the movie, 110 minutes later, my stomach felt really bad. Puke!

It's basically about a person with dual personalities. Yeah, it's thrilling because you don't know that until the end of the movie. Natalie Portman is good but so skinny that I was freaked out. The supporting actress, Mila Kunis, looks healthy, and I like her better than Natalie Portman. Now, after checking her out on IMDb, I know why I like her. She does voice for Meg Griffin! Well, I don't necessarily like the character of Meg Griffin, but I love the Family Guy. Stewie is my hero.

Shoplifter, Winona Ryder is in the movie. Wow, she is still in the movie business, but she can't take a lead role anymore.

Do A Little Right Thing

I can't do anything to help people who are experiencing the unprecedented disaster but donating money. But, what I can donate is the little amount of money because of my economic situations. I'm just a poor student. Maybe, I donated money for my relief. I have been feeling so bad about victims whenever I read and watch news.

Extinction

I wonder why Navy, oh well, Maritime Self-Defense Force in indirect Japanese rhetoric, doesn't go and extinguish the fire (or heat) in the nuclear power plant. Watching news, I thought dropping water from the air is not good enough. Why don't they cannon water from the ocean?!

NHK

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I just can't help buy crying, watching news ... I'm so sorry for people who lost their loved one and don't know where they are.

Kindle

I'm so attracted by Kindle now. Since K sent me a late birthday gift, $40 gift certificate of Amazon.com, I'm thinking of buying a Kindle. I have wanted a Kindle for a long time, but I always think twice, "Well, I don't have time for leisure reading. It's going to be a waste of money." But I have some time to do so because I'm free from class reading though I still have to finish up my dissertation.

Today, I went for grocery shopping at a big supermarket within which there is an electronic store. And I realized that they sell Kindles. Amazon apparently started selling Kindles outside of Amazon. I touched it. It was very light. I read it. It was easy for my eyes. I played it around. It was fast to turn pages. It was convenient to take notes, draw underlines, and search. The only thing that I found inconvenient is it is not touchscreen. Of course, it is not iPad.

Mm, I will dream Kindle tonight.

Victoria

So, I came to Canada, a day trip to Victoria from Seattle. Mind you, I don't like traveling foreign places, but I had to this time. I needed to get a new I-94 in order to apply for a visa after graduation. Stupid me lost it. And, stupid me did not realize how important that little piece of white paper was until recently. Stupid me learned the hardest way.

Anyway, I came to Victoria. Victoria turned out to be little town reminding me of Britain. Buildings are, yeah, British. Prices are British (expensive!).

Why Irish?

I got a little seasick toward the end of cruising from Seattle, but I was so hungry when I disembarked. On Government Street, I came across this Irish pub. Victoria was a British colony, and then why Irish? Don't ask. I needed beer anyway. This is a holiday to me. Oh, well, it's Saturday anyway.


I ordered this gorgeous burger (the price was also gorgeous!) with Guinness source and crab meat on top. And, the drink next to the burger is Victorian Pale Ale, which is obviously not Irish. Nay, who cares. The burger was fantastic, and this pale ale was also fabulous. I enjoyed Canadian taste.

Happy Pedestrian

I found this traffic light for pedestrians cute. This green guy looks happy!

Earthquake

Oh, my, I can't believe what I saw on news. Awful, awful disaster ...

I went to bed really early last night, and I didn't know this happened. Some of my friends were worried about my family, and I realized I'd got messages from them. My family should be OK because they live far from the epicenter, but I'm so sorry for people in the Sendai region ...

Another Chapter is ...

... is officially down! I gave the first draft to my adviser and shadow adviser this afternoon, woo-hoo!

Another Chapter is ...

... almost done ...

Free Wine-Tasting Turned Expensive

We went to La Velle Vineyards for Friday free wine-tasting tonight. I knew tastes of La Velle wine, thanks to DS and RN who poured La Velle wine on me. So, there was no reason for me to go all the way there to sip wine. But, I needed a little excursion from town. Remember, I spend most of my time in my little box in the library.

Anyway, we went there and tasted three types of wine. It was literary "tasting" or sips! Of course, it was not enough for us, big drinkers. We ended up buying a bottle of Pinot Noir ($20!). After finishing the bottle, we ordered a glass of Pinot Noir ($8!) for each of us. And, we had food ($17!). It was supposed to be a night for free, but we spent far more than we had expected. But, I should not complain. It was fun, and wine and food were very good.