Last Blog of My Least Favorite Year So Far

Tonight, according to a lot of the world and the Gregorian calendar, is New Year's Eve. We transition tomorrow into 2011 CE and begin anew or at least promise to anyway. So far this year has pretty much sucked. 2009 was better, but these last 365 days had their good spots. I made two new friends and spent some time with my manager/friend outside of work. I started UCR. I still have my job and health, and my family is mostly well, too. But there is plenty of room for things to be better. As I am sometimes a sucker for the cliche, I have some things I want to start doing differently. They mostly involve seriously getting ready for grad school and getting back in the shape I was in five years ago. You could say those are my New Year's resolutions. I also want to work on finishing my stories and actually get some of that done this time. I need to become more disciplined. That right there is the root of most of my issues and the reason for the changes I want to make.

So here's to another year or being safe, sane, and successful. There is so much more to come, and I want to get there more than anything. I know I can do it. I just need to stick to my plan. This year I know things will finally work out in my favor. And you know what? Having to work in the bakery for a while will be kind of fun.

Year in Review: Personal

January
-start as a junior majoring in anthropology at UCR
-go to Disnelyand with one of my supervisors, Lynne

March
-Sprained knee on the day of my first final
-first UC research paper due (90/100)
-get the Droid phone along with Mom

June
-finish first year at UCR (ended with honors: A, A, A-, A-)
-start summer school; make a new friend (Jill); start using my scooter again
-sell my Droid
-pass the CBEST

July
-join night crew temporarily while in school as someone else is on leave
-visit Hsi Lai Buddhist temple
-get straight As

August
-vacation (hiking, clean room, get back into Pokemon)
-Pokemon Red: death and rebirth

September
-start fall 2010 quarter at UCR (first full year)
-make a new friend (Angela)

October
-renewed Pokemon obsession
-Halloween as a Pokemon trainer
-field trip for bio to Solana Beach; see lots of inverts in the tide pools

November
-register for winter quarter
-apply to go back to Chaffey
-invited to join Golden Key International Honour Society
-gain school pride finally

December
-new plot for Lost in Hyrule/GS Distress series'
-register at Chaffey
-visit Dampe, Windrows, park
-finish anthropology subfield upper division requirements
-play lots of Pokemon Red
-spend Christmas Eve with Lynne and her family

A Common Theme

So I have been playing Pokemon Red lately, and before that I was playing FireRed from the point I stopped (sixth badge, Fuschia City). Then I thought of something. My teams are very similar in both, even though I started and played them six years apart.

Red
Pikachu, level 43
Pidgeot, level 42
Lapras, level 38
Hitmonchan, level 39
Dugtrio, level 45
Bulbasaur, level 42

FireRed
Pikachu, level 43
Pidgeot, level 46
Lapras, level 39
Hitmonhcan, level 41
Geodude, level 38
Charmander, level 49

Just realized

When I was a teenager in nigh school (not that long ago- I'm not complaining about my old age of 24 or anything) we had AIM. Now these kids have Facebook. (We both had texting.) The difference? Everyone that you want can see your FB, including what you write, even if it is terrible grammar/spelling wise. It's preserved unless you delete it. It doesn't go away when you close your session.

Sigh. Even I, someone who was a fledgling MySpace member, do not like all of this social networking.

So yeah

Two things about yesterday:

1. I was stocking the pots and pans display on the front of aisles 5/6 when a customer approached me. I thought she needed help, but all she wanted was to tell me that she thinks I was the hardest working person there. IMMD

2. A guy I knew two years ago at Chaffey and the internship at UCR walked by the counter with a friend and looked surprised to see me. When they left, I think he said see you or something like that. He moved up north right after UCR. It was a surprise to see him and that he remembered me.

Year in Review: TV/Movies/YT

Legend of the Seeker (and its cancellation :O( )
Dragonball Z Kai on Nicktoons TV
Pokemon: Best Wishes online subbed
Shrek Forever
Alice in Wonderland
Shane Dawson
communitychannel
Pokemmon/Pokedubs

So...that was random

Just now I was on YouTube and clicked on a recommended video. It was from Tenchi Universe episode 24 where Ryoko gets Tenchi to Jurai to save Ayeka and take out the imposter Kagato. One of the comments was from someone with a screen name exactly the same as someone I knew in high school. A little more clicking and checking it out revealed that it was, in fact, her.

Also, her videos are...interesting. Props for dancing in costume and putting that online. I would never do that.

Year in Review: Music

Passion Pit - Manners
Pokemon 2000 soundtrack
Pokemon themes
Morgan Page - Believe
Lady Gaga
Owl City
Dragonball Kai themes
"Shark in the Water." - V.V. Brown
"Satisfy" - Vedera
"Collide" - Howie Day
"I Am Not a Robot" - Marina and the Diamonds
The Parlotones
Adam Lambert
Spice Girls
"Symphonies" - Dan Black

Interesting Day

Reasons

1. The roof at work started leaking. They covered up three checkstands and stopped using them.

2. The power went out at 5pm when we close at 11. We stayed open and used up all of the dry ice we had.

3. My car was flooded in so I got a ride. There was a river four feet wide in front of our house as it was the rest of our side of the street.

4. A drunk guy trying to buy Red Bull and vodka was detained and then kicked out.

5. My department closed at 6:30 so I could help try and save merchandise. Not that I minded in the least.

Kids & Science = Awesome

UK science journal publishes study done by 8-10 year olds

Anything that makes kids like/be into science is great.

I'll spread my wings and fly

"Home will always be here unseen, out of sight
Where I disappear and hide
I daydream of things as I'm waving goodbye
So I'll spread out my wings and fly

I'll spread my wings and fly..."

Since I have recently kind of become obsessed with Pokemon again, this part of "Umbrella Beach" by Owl City reminds me of Ash. At the end of every region, he goes back home to rest and figure out what to do next. He knows his mom and the professor and his Pokemon will always be there waiting for him. Then he sets out again to continue on, always looking forward to reaching his goal and the battles along the way. The spreading wings part is like he's growing up and making his own way, establishing a name for himself (even though according to canon he is still 10 after 13 years).

Anyway, just wanted to put that out there.

To the Sky

--Owl City


Shipwreck in a sea of faces
There's a dreamy world up there
Dear friends in higher places
Carry me away from here
Travel light, let the sun eclipse you
'Cause your flight is about to leave
And there's more to this brave adventure
Than you'd ever believe

Bird's eye view
Awake the stars 'cause they're all around you
Wide eyes will always brighten the blue
Chase your dreams
And remember me, sweet bravery
'Cause after all those wings will take you up so high
So bid the forest floor goodbye as you brace the wind and
Take to the sky

You take to the sky

On the heels of war and wonder
There's a stormy world up there
You can't whisper above the thunder
But you can fly anywhere
Purple burst of paper birds
This picture paints a thousand words
So take of breath of myth and mystery
And don't look back

Bird's eye view,
Awake the stars 'cause they're all around you
Wide eyes will always brighten the blue
Chase your dreams,
And remember me, sweet bravery
'Cause after all those wings will take you up so high
So bid the forest floor goodbye as you brace the wind and
Take to the sky

(You take to the sky)

There's a realm above the trees (where the lost are finally found)
So touch your feathers to the breeze (and leave the ground)

Bird's eye view,
Awake the stars 'cause they're all around you
Wide eyes will always brighten the blue
Chase your dreams,
And remember me, sweet bravery
'Cause after all those wings will take you up so high
So bid the forest floor goodbye as you brace the wind and
Take to the sky

You take to the sky

Of Pokemon and New Generations

So recently I have been into Pokemon again. I bought Platinum and Soul Silver before my renewed interest in the anime, but it took my original Red losing all of its data to spark this. My brother replaced the button battery (a 2032 in Energizer terms for those who need to know). Since school ended for fall term, I have put in 10 hours (1 weeks' time) on doing the quest on Red again. Currently I just beat Giovanni at Silph Company. I still do like Pokemon. I just do not like the newer generations as much.

The reason for this is because they are just pumping it out for money now. The old days were still new and exciting. Yes, the original saga in the anime was there to promote the games, but the Orange Islands league was free from this. Even Kanto and Johto were not as structured while they were promoting the games. As I read somewhere, OI gave the writers freedom, and they expanded on it. There was tons of romance (this was the pinnacle of Pokeshipping/Ash and Misty). Brock was gone (I grew to like him, but Tracey is still my fave). Yeah, Tracey was a replacement made to look as Anglo as possible since the anime was spreading to the West, but I liked him better. He was a Pokeshipper, and he was funny. Even the movie that happened in this saga (The Power of One/Pokemon 2000/Pokeshipping the Movie) was good as I previously blogged about. It had a good lesson. Team Rocker succeeded at being good (what they're best at if they would just leave the team and go their own way together). And Ash was not the only one to have a part. Tracey was kind of forgotten, but Misty and the new girl Melody were major players. Plus you finally learned the two prof's and his mom's first names, and they all were supporting characters, not just background noise.

For me, the "filler saga" was the best. It still had story that was not all game-oriented. I say this as someone who has not watched much Advanced Generation and only catches Diamond and Pearl when it's on CN in the morning and I am actually awake. I just can't get my enthusiasm up to play through Platinum. I've had that game for almost a year and have only gotten one badge and five Pokemon. I'm halfway through Red, which I booted up in August. Guess nostalgia wins for me on this.

But one look at Gen V... *sigh*

All I can say is: though, I may buy Black and/or White, the original was the best (plus a little Johto).

If Only Tears Could Bring You Back

--Midnight Sons (Pokemon The First Movie Soundtrack)

How will I start
Tomorrow without you here
Who's heart will guide me
When all the answers disappear

Is it too late
Are you too far gone to stay
This one's forever
Should never have to go away

What will I do
You know I'm only half without you
How will I make it through

If only tears could bring you back to me
If only love could find a way
What I would do, what I would give
If you returned to me someday
Somehow, someway
If my tears could bring you back to me

I'd cry you an ocean
If you'd sail on home again
Waves of emotion
Will carry you, I know they can

Just love will guide you
And your heart will chart the course
Soon you'll be drifting
Into the arms of your true north

Look in my eyes
And you will see a million tears have gone by
And still they're not dry

If only tears could bring you back to me
If only love could find a way
What I would do, what I would give
If you returned to me someday
Somehow, someway
If my tears could bring you back to me

I hold you close
And shout the words I only whispered before
For one more chance, for one last dance
There's not a thing I would not endure

If only tears could bring you back to me
If only love could find a way
What I would do, what I would give
If you returned to me someday
Somehow, someway
If my tears could bring you back to me

In the Dark

--Morgan Page

Capture here a moment,
you know less if u don't notice
the way the moon shines down on us tonight.
Don't be so afraid to open up when its so obvious
that you and I are beckoned by this light.

Because you can fool yourself into wanting something else,
but you'll be running back to see me;
you can play this game
while memories remain,
I know you're holding out for something real.

Because you can see a spark somewhere in the dark,
but only when it's gone will you feel it.
You can feel it start
someplace in your heart,
but only if you try to believe it.

So take a minute of your time,
reflect on your life,
see how it feels living life alone again.
And I know you're afraid
to see yourself in that way,
but everytime you try
you step back in the light again.

Because you can fool yourself into wanting something else,
but you'll be running back to see me.
You can play this game
while memories remain,
I know you're holding out for something real.

Because you can see a spark somewhere in the dark,
but only when its gone will you feel it.
You can feel it start
someplace in your heart,
but only if you try to believe it

Why'd you keep your love from me?
Why were you hiding out from me?
Come to me, I need you close,
I need your everything the most,
so give' to me.

Because you can fool yourself into wanting something else,
but you'll be running back to see me.
you can play this game,
While memories remain,
I know you're holding out for something real.

Because you can see a spark somewhere in the dark,
but only when it's gone will you feel it.
You can feel it start
someplace in your heart,
but only if you try to believe it...

Something to remember...

When someone you know offers you pain pills, make sure you know exactly what they are before taking them. They will be what was joked about, not what you thought they were, and it will be a really bad day from that point on.

Grades Fall 2010

It was a hard semester, but I did it in the end.