4 hours at the local mall! |09.30.2001|
Yipes. 4 hours (1 was spent grocery shopping)! That's the whole afternoon spent at the mall in Waterloo! But it's okay, I actually had fun shopping yesterday with Ben C.--he ended up buying over $120 dollars worth of clothes and most of it was spent at Winners--a place he hasn't been to before, so it was fun taking him in (I'm just glad he bought something even though I didn't just to show how the place isn't as worthless as it seems) :P. He also bought a pair of pants at a store that he thought would be "too young" for him. Heehee, he's funny.I paid a visit to "my" store (I call it my store b/c no one else around me tends to fit into these clothes): Gap Kids. I'm not sure if the size 14+ khaki pants (style Gap Classic) was worth my $22.99 (because I just bought pants that are less in HK (it was $8), and a couple years ago, Gap Kids had pants for $18.99), but I had to account for inflation and tax-free clothes :). Size 14+. I cannot believe that I size 14+ waist is still waay too loose for me (think if I gained 5-10 lbs, it'd still fit me). If I didn't have a belt, I think I could use the "elastic" feature of the "adjustable waist" (but I don't like that, so I don't think I'll incorporate it). Hmm. I just thought of something. I think the "+" indicates it as pants for bigger kids. That would make sense. Ah well. I like the style and no hemming is needed, but if I really get hung up on the waist size of the pants, I still have 14 days to return it :).
I also didn't accomplish my goal in getting some fall or winter wear, but instead, got a navy polo T ("cute", according to Ben) that was on sale for $6.99 at the same place. Blue. Great, another "blue" shirt to add to my existing "blue" collection. Ah well, it was a good deal (even though I got blue T's in HK for $2, but nothing here can compare to over there). Heheh. :)
Today's SS was good .We spent the time at the playground--not playing, but just sitting outside and enjoying the warmth of the sun (possibly for the very last time), was very good cept for the number of wasps that were swarming around certain individuals.
Anyhow, naptime. Need more sleep. Think I caught a cold last night. See ya. Hrm. I think I've changed my mind. I need to program :P
Don't blame him. |09.25.2001|
For the first time in my entire university career, I discovered where Radio Waterloo actually exists on campus. For my four years here, I haven't found that place, but today, an aspiring accountant drove us to get a $4.10 fee refund (for people like me who don't like paying any unnecessary fees). 'Tis a tiny lil building that looks really old and run down and it's in the middle of nowhere. Literally, the path to the place was not even paved, nor were there signs that told people where they were located. I have no idea how he managed to walk his way to this place in first year, much less even find it!Now, today, I will make a defense for this poor lad. And if any of you don't like it, then don't read any further. I know that some of you refer to this particular person as a cheap "illegitimate child" (that is not a direct quote, but it's close to it), because certain actions makes some wonder (even though I can think along the same pattern as he does). I learned something today: the rest of his class is exactly like him!
Why do I say that? Because at the Radio Waterloo HQ today, the names of those that requested a mere $4.10 refund were all accounting students from his class ('cept mine). The 4 of us (3 of which were in accounting) even bumped into two others on our way out. Accounting students must be really articulate in getting the most for the least. Most people don't even bother to wander there because of the distance. And for my 3 years in UW, I didn't even know where it existed!
In conclusion (even though English professors tell us never to sum up something with "in conclusion"): face it, he's going to be an accountant. Probably a good one at claiming tax credits/returns too! :)
Sewage Overflow |09.24.2001|
Eew! I think there's something seriously wrong with the sewage system in Waterloo today. I think it must be the heavy rains and thunderstorms that took place on Friday night. Today, as my housemate and I were doing our cleaning duties, some alarm suddenly went off. We went about our business and later our DMs told us to stop using the water b/c the alarm was a sewage alarm and the North building was flooding from some system failure. Yuck.To top it off, Ben Cheung's place had a toilet problem. It threw up at Wilson. Poor fellow. And the maintenance office is not opened til tomorrow. 'Tis a good thing that they have another bathroom in the house. Ben A came home and reported that William's was closed due to some circumstance--won't be surprising if it has something to do w the sewage system. :P
Aside: I'm with Rogers again! The luxury of being able to stay at home and doing my CS lab (and procrastinate alongside) w/o having to go to the slow computers at school . . .
Rogers@Home Service |09.18.2001|
Or should I say a lack of service? The KW white/yellow pages do not even have a number listed for them, and the school rep hasn't even returned my call yet (even after the flyer quotes that all calls will be returned w/in 24 hrs). When I did finally find a brochure that listed their number, customer service asked me what ROOM I stayed in (a vs. b). The last time I checked, our apartment does not have room numbers and we get bills going to the SAME mailbox. They refused me an account because I didn't know where I lived. How silly is that?! If my previous sublettor had not disconnected my phone (and taken the number w them), I would have just taken Sympatico up on their $20/mnth DSL offer. Why bother waiting for good service from Rogers when even at the start they can't really seem like they're good?Here's my journal from my trip btw: asia.html (also linked in my travels section). Comments welcome.
National Day of Mourning |09.14.2001|
Today is deemed the National Day of Mourning across both Canada and the US, for the lives that were innocently lost in the crises of September 11, 2001. For many, prayers of hope and pleas are uplifted to a God that is finally made real for them in their desperation. In the midst of this, communities are united, bonded together than stronger before. Yet, I am sad to see that there are those who assault those who are of the same ethnicity as the suspected, whether physically or emotionally, on our campuses or in the environment around us. I somehow highly doubt that they have any connection with those who plotted the act and I'm sure that they would not have wanted this to happen as much as the rest of us didn't.And as much as the president of the US paraphrases Romans 8:38-39 (which says, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.") in his speech, I am also greatly disturbed at the idea of war. His speech speaks of God's love and comfort, which in bittersweetness, contrasts against his stand on retaliation and revenge. War just makes everything worse, and more innocent lives will be lost. I'm not excusing the acts of these people, but just take a look at Pearl Harbour and Hiroshima.
Forgiveness, anyone?May God have mercy on us.
"The sky is falling!" |09.12.2001|
Henny Penny said to her friend, "The sky is falling, the sky is falling!". In my last entry, my Monday did not end until that night. As I was calling Bell that day, I knocked over a fragile lamp that did not belong to me (it belonged to one of my sublettors/brothers in CCF). The outer shell shattered and left 2 gaping holes. I was like, "UH OH. Whatever am I gonna do?! I really hope that this isn't a gift from someone that contains sentimental value because even if I was to pay him back (which looked expensive too), I cannot replace the sentimental associations." Thankfully, he didn't want it (I didn't tell him about the holes though) when he came to give me last month's cheque.After a day's crises was over, I was talking to my mother on the phone and all of a sudden realised that my driver's liscence was missing from my wallet! I said to my mom, "My driver's liscence is missing." She said, "Okay." and continued our conversation. Slowly, I started to drift paying attention to the conversation. Where did I see it last?! And I realised that my mother probably didn't hear me right and repeated what I just told her. That's when she started freaking. I was more calm then she was. Thankfully, I remembered that I had left it in the Karaoke place back in BC, and called Zeke up to help me check if it was there. Surprisingly, they still had it, and he picked it up for me. PHEW. Well, I guess I'll be IDless for a while so no clubs/drinks for me. :P.
And I thought I had a bad start to my week, until yesterday, when our CS TA told us that 4 planes attacked WTC. I was like, yeah right, you're kidding me. How can 4 (I had imagined fighter jets) planes attack a building w/o the US air security (or whatever it's called) knowning?! He said that he wasn't lying, that's why our Internet connection was so slow. I quickly logged into Twinkle after class and tried to read up on the headlines. All the major newsites were down and it was the truth. Well, not 4 at WTC, but it was pretty much exactly what he said. What a nightmare!
I think because it seems like a scene from a movie or a game (too surreal), I don't really feel anything. I mean, yeah, I'm not happy that this happened, but it's not hitting me as hard as it should. I'm just kinda numb or become desensitized or just pure cold. Definitely it's news, but somehow, I'm neither in tears nor running around like a chicken with its head cut off (like people my friends know). I think there's something wrong with me because one of the first things I thought of was (because I was looking at a Christian sale flyer), "OH! Like Columbine and Oaklahoma, someone is going to get rich just by writing on this tragedy." Great. Of all things to do or think about. Somehow though, as I was reflecting last night (on Sunday School and what I taught them last term), I realise that this would be definitely a good time for revival, prayer, and where God can work and opportunities for Christians to answer the question, "If God is such a loving God, then why does He allow pain and suffering in this world?"
I will write again. Something amusing just happened. A student came in to ask information about the language tapes and wondered if I was in second year.
"Nope."
"Oh, so are you first?"
"Actually, I'm in 4th year."
Reply: "OH! Did you fast- track or something?!"
Why does everyone automatically assume that I fast-track whenever I tell them I'm in 4th year? :P
Monday |09.10.2001|
Have you read the children's book about a no good, very bad day? So far, the start of the school term has not been the best for me. Well, at least I woke up in time, after 4 hrs of sleep or so : ). I woke up this morning with my muscles all stiff and sore (from moving?! I have no idea why). Went to school to try to talk to an advisor about my CS problem. I find out that he really has no sympathy for my situation. He tried to compare my decision to minor in CS like him deciding to fly someplace tomorrow in hopes of finding a plane ticket. Well, yeah, that's understandable. One thing that did learn is that I should have added an additional note in the section provided when I submitted my request to be placed on the waiting list. Apparently, the list is sorted not by a first come, first served basis, but rather on a priorty service. Ah well.I did not look at my schedule carefully enough and almost walked into a Math class instead of a CS class that I want to sit in for this week (in case I get in next week). Well, I kinda did. I turned the knob and walked in and realised that the prof did not look like the prof that was supposed to be teaching that course. Thankfully, I walked out before I sat down and realised my mistake. Sigh.
I needed to see my potential employer today about the PT Lang Lab job that Bonnie seems to have successfully landed. I went to school to print my resume and cover letter and realised that I forgot my letter at home. So, I went home for lunch and to find my letter. I found it in one of my other disks, so I proceeded to pack it and go to school. I walk to school, bump into Sponge and hit the lab to print. Guess what?! I stuck the wrong disk into my bag! I go back home and try to find the file. I can't find it! I'm thinking to myself that all along, Sponge is probably right that it's in my OTHER disk at school. I go back to school and check and it's not there! Sponge says to not worry about the cover letter and just hand it in, so I proceed to staple the 2 pages of my resume together BUT all my staples in my mini stapler are OUT. SIGH. Thankfully, the MathSoc has a stapler and it's only 1 floor higher. I bump into Ben C. on the way, and when I walk to the Arts building to hand it in, the guy wasn't even there!!! I was like, great. Mental note: call him next time before I walk over.
To top off the whole day, I call 310-Bell today to complain that my phone service wasn't working yet. I beeseech thee, brethen (in view of God's mercy, to . . . ) call up 519-884-0837 and ask for me. I guarantee that I won't be there even though I am listed as the co-user. My sublettor decided to take the phone number with him so that I will have to pay a connection fee if I decide to connect my phone again. Thank you, my friend, you are too kind to me. Wait til my housemate finds out about this one!
I wonder what else will hit me next . . .
