Mood Swings are like Assorted Flavors

Sweet, sour, or bitter. Your Pick.

I dub this the Korean version of the Chinese Bao Bing, but fruity style! The watermelon gives a refreshing touch behind the sweetness from the red bean and ice cream. A pity that that this cool dessert melts really quickly at room temperature.

Oh my goodness. This is a good summer. Wang Leehom (王力宏) and Nan Quan Mama (南拳媽媽)'s new albums released just a few weeks ago! I was really surprised when many people who reviewed on YesAsia.com were disappointed in Wang Leehom's new album because he didn't carry much of his "chinked-out" R&B/Hip Hop feeling from Shangri-La (心中的日月) and Heroes of the Earth (蓋世英雄) to his new album Change Me 改變自己. On the contrary, that's the reason why I didn't really like his past albums as much. In his new album , he revived most of his older style songs and actually sings! As much as I love Wang Leehom to the bottom of my heart, his rapping didn't captivate me as much as his talented vocal techniques.

Why does it seem like summer is slipping away like the Hi-Chew candies that I'm chewing away on? As each day lingers on, the older I feel. I know this is quite early, but I'm still under disbelief that I'm turning eighteen. You know, the big 1-8. Well, it might not be as big as a deal as being 21, since people that age can gamble legally in Vegas and drink like no tomorrow (of course, as long as they follow below the DUI scale). In a way, I do regret that I haven't lived my teenage years to the fullest. I only have about four months till I can vote and purchase tobacco, but I also lose alot of the excuses that I took advantage of as a child. It's amusing and randomly coincidental that my sister, my mom, and I are turning in a certain prime age. My sister is turning 21, my mom is turning 50, and I'm turning 18. What a shocker.

Take Revel in Reading

Venture the taste of blue and red.

I realized that I take pictures of food at a faster rate than posting entries. Well, I blame for the lack of time...or lack of productivity. The bag of potato chips that my friend Jono brought was very interesting. Because we Americans usually consume the ordinary brown (yet dirty and starchy) potatoes, I found it shocking to see blue potato chips that I was a bit scared they were molding. However, with a taste of salt and little seasoning, these delightful little crisps was a lovely treat. Never hurts to try!

Speaking of food, after a night of reading another tortuous seven paged article (okay, it wasn't that tortuous since I have to read an article almost everyday), I came across another article that would really strike the interest of many people who are conscious of their weight (Ehem, girls).

For those who diet almost everyday of their lives since I don't know... twelve? Do you ever realize that we all fall in that perpetual cycle of gaining weight or losing weight. And after each change, you either praise for joy or fall under deep depression? In A Weight That Women Carry by Sallie Tisdale, Tisdale mentions that many girls follow the diet by numbers: mostly either calories or fat. By expressing her feelings toward dieting, the author mentions that dieting is presumed to cut most and almost all pleasures of eating. After undergoing the experience of losing weight and regaining back her original weight, she undermines the use of dieting and sees it as mostly an unhealthy plan to lose weight happily.

Of course, there were certain points that made me disagree with Tisdale. For example, she mentions that people are unhappy and irritable during the process of loing weight. After slowly losing a couple of pounds since fourth grade (yes, I was a bit "weighty" during my elementary/middle school years), I can safely say that I am happy with the changes of my shape and body (thankfully with puberty) through my motivation and self-control. Maybe that's one problem with some people. Many Americans lack the self-control of taking reasonable portions of food. Like what my classmate said, "Sure it doesn't hurt to take the pleasure of eating a cookie once in a while. But consuming ten cookies might be a problem."

However, there's one thing which she mentions that she considered skinny people "a pinnacle not of beauty but of will." Beauty is really skin within, but the power of one's motivation of losing weight can be clearly shown by one's shape and size.

Which also brings another question in mind. I sometimes wonder if I ever build up a wall into myself, isolating myself in dedication of being a doctor, would it be worth it? Throughout my high school career, I contemplate whether or not I'm working hard enough, fulfilling enough, or even satisfied enough to say that there will be nothing that I would regret out of high school. Despite the fact that there are people who say, "I never regret what I did in the past," I cannot help to say that they are not stating the unconditional truth. Most of us live in a life of regret, it's only those who move on that are happy.

Disarming Passion Underneath the Subtle Sweetness

My mother calls it the "Summer Passion". Bashful and Coy.

What would you do for someone you love?
Would you lie, cheat, steal?
Break the law and call it justice?
Would you say yes? Scream no?
Would you kill? Would you give up your own life?
Would you move mountains,
Swallow fire, keep a promise?
Would you change the world?
Would you change yourself?
What would you do for someone you love?
-- Jodi Picoult

Thought provoking no? Well, it got me for a while. Despite all the humdrum that slowly drizzles our lives, we must also learn the goodness of affections and memories from our loved ones. To be frank, I am immersed in my daily routine so much that I would be oblivious of how much people do care about me. From parents, relatives, siblings, friends, and to even that special someone will fall under that category of what would one sacrifice with utter self-abnegation for the sake of others.

After copying this poem from my mother's vente Starbucks cup, I've kept the paper written with beautiful words in my bag for months now as a precedent of demonstrating altruism and generosity for others.

Enough of that, now to explain that lovely drink posted in today's entry. My mother, brother, and I decided to make some lemonade using the strawberry lemonade powder drink that we bought in the grocery store. Because the powder is mostly composed of sugar and other artificial flavors, we decided to use some lemons to strengthen the flavor a bit. Little did we know that we got a bit carried away. With some ice, a blender, and a tad bit of vodka, we made a nice little summery drink that was perfect for the sweltering heat a few weeks ago. Don't be hyperventilating now, we didn't get drunk at all. There was probably 6 parts lemonade and less than 1 part vodka. But after an hour or so of experimenting and having fun, my family and I discovered a nice sweet drink that is easy to make.

After weeks of doubt and stress, I think I realized how powerful praying and having incessant faith is.

Harrowing Complexity of the Number 13

Because I was too ashamed to show mine.

I was never a fan of Friday the 13th. No, I was never suspicious of black cats coming my way or falling under stacks of ladders. But after yesterday, I guess it doesn't hurt to believe in it a little now.

Just to warn readers now: This is for the deli savvies. You might find this pretty boring.

After a week of what I thought was the perpetual horror of SATs, Civics, and Calculus BC tutoring, I finally had a day off for the weekdays. Since Jono and I had an interesting conversations (which may involve some hostile attitude and languages), we decided to have a meal together at 三年2班 (Class 302) off the plaza near 99 Ranch Market. Because the restaurant gives off a nostalgic ambiance of Taiwan's elementary classes, I was quite eager to explore the different things that made up alot of my Taiwanese friends.

三年2班 was also food critiqued by one of our school newspaper's staff a few years ago. After reading his article, the restaurant seemed like a petite yet lively place that portrays the simple pleasures of Taiwanese deli food. Jono also mentioned that they serve their entrees in a metal container (which is common among elementary school students in Taiwan), I presumed it would be a vicarious thrill to be Taiwanese student enjoying his daily lunches.

Boy, I was wrong. The picture above is Jono's order. Reason why I was so ashamed of taking a picture of my order was the way the restaurant serves mine.

After staying in Taiwan for about two weeks and ordering from numerous Taiwanese delis, I assumed that it was custom for each Taiwanese deli to have 炸排骨飯 (fried pork chop entree that is usually served with rice, stirred fried vegetables, and mustard vegetable). As I looked into the menu, I found a picture of the entree and asked the waitress for that order. Although I called it 排骨飯, 炸排骨飯 and 排骨飯 can be used interchangeably mostly in Taiwan and other delis.

When the waitress served my meal, I could have sworn the fried pork looked like lumps of feces. Because Jono and I knew that we were both thinking of fried pork chops, we immediately asked the waiter why it looked so...horrible. They explained that their custom for pork chops is to first fry it then soak it in a sauce. Not only was the pork chop inadequate for looks, but also the vegetables appeared plain and clearly unappetizing.

Since my mom asked me to get some take out for her, we ordered a couple of other entrees along with 雞卷 on the side. Who puts 雞卷, which is clearly crispy, and covers it with steaming rice that can make the rolls soggy and gross!?

Ugh, I don't want to say anymore. I clearly didn't enjoy the food. Food for thought: ALWAYS ask specifically and meticulously what you want to order.

Overall, 三年2班 was a cute restaurant to take a look. However, the pricey orders and mediocre food is enough to eschew from the colorful black boards and school desks.



Apparently Friday the 13th plagued my brother too. After my nanny took my brothers home from Elite, one of my brothers forgot to take his schoolbag back home. Since he needed it for the following day, he had to ask our nanny again to bring it here. Since my mom would be upset with my brother since she would have to pay gas money, my brother decided to fork up the $8 and ask our nanny to keep it a secret.

Oh and I am still in utter disbelief of what my AP scores are. It's scary.

All I can do now is hope and pray.

Measuring knowledge.

Source of Stress Reliever: 天仁 (Ten Ren)'s 水密桃綠茶

The Ten Ren restaurant in our area seems to lose quality as the months go by. Not only have the drinks become so sweet that the drink is practically syrup going down my throat (well to tell you the truth, kiddies, it is syrup), but I don't taste that distinctive yet subtle green tea taste that I should normally perceive. My mom also noticed that her Rose Black Tea was too sweet and bland and began to complain to the Ten Ren's employees for its poor quality. It's good that Ten Ren gives pretty decent service by replacing our drink free of charge. Well since we did have to pay at least $3.00, they're bound to give some sound service.

I really really really dislike Elite. Ugh. The weather is just unbearable too.

Life just seems to be utterly simple yet complicating and boring now. Like school, summer school and SAT Prep is just a routine that I undergo nonstop from Mondays to Thursdays. I learn almost nothing in each class but to understand simple Algebra and Geometry that I learned some three or four years ago, some grammar here and there, oh and being bribed with candy. I guess the only thing I will find useful in preparing for the infamous and overrated SAT is the vocabulary. However, since I cram about 100 words per two days for a mere quiz, I've realized that I have no other purpose of learning these words but to avoid getting a demerit, nothing more.

Preparing for the SAT made me realized how unprepared I am for the real world out there, not to mention it just shows how mediocre my knowledge is. After looking at my scores, I just stare at it and contemplate whether or not I can even survive in the universities that I'm aiming for. In college, students learn more than just simple math or reading that the SAT gives. Instead, students are required to write pages of extended essays and reports from varieties of subjects. Staring down at my menial four paragraph essays that I write about propositions that are impossible to prove as absolute is simply useless. What kind of intelligence does the SAT measure? It cannot measure how smart one is in math since most of it is reasoning, and not straight-forward math. Writing just seems like a pattern of just looking for the same repeated mistakes that appear endlessly. Essays also follow in the same pattern, just decorated and elaborately ornamented with pretty words in which half of it is rubbish. Reading is full of passages that seems to be unanswerable and can be answered in different viewpoints.

What exactly does SAT prepare us for? Definitely not for college. The test appears to be just too elementary to measure our intelligence for college. Is it the only thing that can potentially determine where most of us will go? Sadly, most likely.

After getting a straight 4.0 unweighted GPA, I'm appalled that I still cannot surpass a score that many people in my age can achieve for the SAT Reasoning Test. Not only is it embarrassing, but it's also somewhat shameful to not be able to measure up to the scores of others. That's what's so pitiful about high school, the competition is so high in our school that we cannot help but know our classmates grades and hopefully surpass them in the next exam. You know who you are.

I'm just going to close it here. Sorry if I end up offending anyone. Constructional criticism is welcomed.

Concocting is good

Wonderfully colored.

I find that utterly amazing that I made that all by myself. Gosh, it took me two tiresome hours to stir-fry, chop, and beat all those ingredients to two large dinner plates. But boy was I proud of how it came out *smiles*. I never knew that a few dashes of white pepper can skew the flavors into different directions! I like that. I was a little sad that we ran out of tomatoes since it would give the dish a nice warm color along with it's beneficial vitamins and antioxidants. I was freaking out while I was cooking the rice since there was too much rice and too little of the combinations. Without thinking, I just hurried and sliced three more slices of bologna and corn into the concoction to compensate for that imbalance. Then to finish it off, I sprinkled ever so gingerly the extra green onions that I saved for the last touch.

Not only that, I spent another two hours cleaning around the house (tables, floors, etc.). Boy, was I dead after those hours of cleaning/cooking. It was kind of worth it since my mom gave me $20 for all that work (bleh, even though it's under minimum wage, it's better than nothing). Yay, I was pretty happy that I got that $20 and spent that for my sister's belated present since I haven't had the time nor the opportunity to go to the mall. I also helped out get Jono a pair of Puma shoes since his K-Swiss shoes are waiting to "retire".

I'm beginning to resent my summer. Not only is it simply boring, but it's simply busy. From Mondays to Fridays, I leave home around 10:00 AM and come home around 7:30PM. Because I was forced to enroll Elite Boot Camp, my schedule during the week is increasingly hectic by the day. After surviving just one week of torture and boredom, I don't know if I can handle it. Are daily homework is roughly:

• Critical Reading: Read a 7-page article and pass the quiz full of analysis question the next day, memorize 100 vocabulary flashcards and get quizzed every other day, and occasional practice SAT questions.
• Writing: Quizzes every other day and 20+ problems due the next day.
• Math: 40+ questions due the next day.

All that and I'm not really worried about the writing and math sections as much, but more of the critical reading. One can say "oh, I can just BS all the work and fail all the quizzes." No you cannot. You have to have at least a 90% in most quizzes or you can get "demerited". Get demerited four times, and they may consider expelling you from the program and not even refund the tuition. Pretty strict no? Because of the ponderous amount of homework, I normally sleep around 1:00-3:00 AM depending on the amount. Nice. I'm was pretty upset that we don't have a holiday on July 4th. Great, I won't even have the time to really enjoy the barbeque nor cherish the fireworks. Nope, I have to sit and read either about politics or literature.

Since my parents knew that I had to get a car someday, we began searching for our family's future car. I was pretty bummed out that I couldn't get the Lexus IS250. Although it's within the price range that we were saving for, my mom was convinced that the new Camry is alot better since it's named "America's best sedan". Also, the back seat in the IS is extremely squishy, even a person my size would have a uncomfortable ride. Since I have to take my brothers to school next year, it would suck sitting in the back. One can barely fit his/her backpack in the back. To top it off, I didn't want my dad to fuss over the fact that we got another luxury car. The moment my sister drove in her new Mercedes C240, my dad was yelling his head off.

Since my mom wanted to look at the Honda Accord, she, my sister, and I drove over to the Honda dealer in Diamond Bar and test drove it. My my, the brake and gas pedal was extremely sensitive, even more reactive than my sister's Mercedes C240. The back was quite spacious though.

Well, even though I won't get the car of my dreams (that we potentially can afford), there were some reasons that made sense after some thinking. Besides the reasons two paragraphs above, it's also the self-image. Getting Lexus IS would show one is pretty spoiled. Also, getting a really nice new car also means keeping a "low-profile". I guess getting a typical car like the Honda or the Toyota will keep one from getting pulled over numerous amounts of times because of the discrimination. Also, I wouldn't have to feel too guilty for crashing it (after crashing my mom's Mercedes S500, I was VERY guilty finding out how much the accident cost).

So, help me out here. I have the choice to either take my sister's C240 or get the new Camry. You wanna help me choose? Reason why I don't really favor the Camry is because it looks like a bulging rhino. I heard from my sister and Clarice that it's very roomy and quiet. I really like my sister's car since I'm already used how it works and it has a nice spoiler in the back.