105. Worst Nightmare

One of my worst nightmares came to life today.

My first class was cancelled so that made the beginning of my day pretty good, but my second class of the day was when it all started.

I walked to the building using a different route than usual because I wasn't rushing from class to class today, and as I've basically just gotten out of bed and still wasn't quite awake yet, I walked up three flights of stairs to reach my class. As I got to my destination, the doors to the hallway were closed. I tried pushing and pulling on the doors, but they both didn't budge. Suddenly, someone from behind me asked "Do you need something?" Startled, I turned back and sheepishly asked, "Isn't this the third floor?" And this man replied, "No, this is where the labs are... on the fourth floor." So, I basically walked up three flights of stairs thinking three flights = third floor and embarrassed myself first thing in the morning. Lovely, just lovely.

After that mini incident, I walk back down to the right floor this time, and go to the washroom seeing as I still had some time left before class started. And it was a good thing I did because just when I was done washing my hands and throwing out the paper towel, the fire alarm went off. This is the first time I have ever experience a fire alarm going off inside a building (first year residences don't count).

Once I heard the alarm, I bounced. I bee-lined for the door and walked back down two flights of stairs to get out. I started seeing other groups pouring out and found my classmates. Shortly after, a firetruck came. It wasn't anything serious, in fact, it was probably a prank seeing as how none of the firefighters were in their full gears and uniforms and just took their sweet time.

This whole incident took around twenty minutes. The lecture still went on, I still walked up five flights of stairs and down three flights of them before class even started, and one of my worst nightmares came true: having the fire alarm ringing when I'm in the washroom. Well, it was a good thing that I went first, I guess.

104. What's Happening

If you got the reference to B1A4 (Korean boy group) song, What's Happening or What's Going On, you are cool.

Here's what's been happening recently in pictures!

 

It snowed pretty hard during one weekend (and snowed a bit again this weekend) that there were lots of snowmen created. There were a lot of interesting snowmen built on campus (including a fail Totoro).

I went to Tim Horton's for lunch to eat and study and got their Chili soup combo. I took out all the red beans in the soup because I don't like red beans (and didn't want to have gas haha), and when they were all out, I realized the beans made up about 1/8 of the soup.

I got my first Instax camera! It's FujiFilm's Instax Mini 8 in a cute baby blue colour! The only thing I did with it was take it out of its bubble wrap, attach the string on it, put it back in its bubble wrap and then back in its box and into the closet. I still don't know when I should use it...!

I passed by The Bay on my way back from a trip with a friend and always wanted to take a picture of this gigantic white moose sculpture they have on display. It's pretty cool. Next time I want to get a picture next to it!

That's pretty much what has been happening. Starting next week my schedule is all booked up in preparation for a midterm for my major while juggling club activities and various assignments and essays from other courses.

This weekend isn't over yet and I can't wait for the next already!

103. Sharks at Bella Cermica

After waffles, we went off in smaller groups and decided where to go next from there. Since everyone had time until dinner, we were thinking of either going shopping or being tourists at Stanley Park since the weather was nice and sunny for once. After deliberating for a good five or so minutes, a friend suggested we go paint cups, and a great suggestion indeed! None of us except her had done so and we were all excited. I had been to the store before with her, but didn't sit down and paint last time since we were just picking up something.

There were a lot of choices... it took me a long time to decide what I wanted to paint!

So many choices!!

More choices in these boxed compartments!

In the end I chose a shark to gift my brother for his birthday.

Before its "makeup" transformation. 

After choosing the model, I had to choose the "makeup".

 Even more choices!

Choices... choices everywhere!

 After its "makeup" transformation.

The hearts for the eyes are actually done in pop up paint so once it has been fired in the kiln, the paint will show its true colours and the eyes would seem to "pop out".

My brother and I don't actually get along as much as I would like to, but I do love to troll the kid. They saying playing pranks and whatnot bring two people closer, and this is my effort.

After painting and paying, we left. While waiting for the bus, I saw this interesting... sculpture?

Looks really cool, doesn't it?

102. Waffles Gone Wild

1 cute cafe + 5 yummy waffles + 5 great friends = 1 great outing.

Three of us ended up ordering the same waffle: Fruity Heaven, while two others ordered Matcha Waffle. I was debating between Fruity Heaven or Matcha, but ended up with Fruity Heaven because I was really craving fruits.

You'll think that because we ordered the same thing, they would all look the same! Well, guess again! For each plate, they decorated it with cute hand drawn pictures to liven up the dish, and to add some cuteness to it! Let me show you the ways...

 Now some close up shots of this deliciousness!

This is Fruit Heaven (banana, strawberry, whipped cream, ice cream with strawberry jam on top of waffle).

This is Matcha Waffle (red bean, ice cream, matcha mochi ice cream, whipped cream, strawberries on top of waffle).

And here are some pictures of the cafe's interior design.

A wall where polariods are taken of their customers and hung up.

That's me with my friends! Tin Tin is surprised to see us five sexy ladies (hehehe).

Hand drawn take out boxes! Aren't they adorable?!

I couldn't take a picture of the washroom for various reasons, but it was a very nice washroom! The theme was wood and it had a very calming and spa-like feel to it. The toilet seat was wooden, which I thought was really cool, and despite the sink being very small, it was really neat and organized. It was kind of like a home sauna room.

I had a great time and will definitely be back!

101. Kintaro Ramen

Last Thursday, I finally had my first bowl of Kintaro's famous miso ramen. I went with a very close friend and we waited what-felt-like-forever-because-I-was-starving time. During the wait, I could just smell all that good soup and see the yummy ingredients coming together to complete the final bowl. It was wonderful.

But, what was even more wonderful was that it was able to be mine soon, very soon. We both ordered their signature miso ramen dish and asked for rich soup. There were three options for the soup: rich, medium, or light. They also had an option for the chashu pork to be lean or fat, I chose lean and my friend chose fat.

Once we were seated, our food didn't take long to arrive. Or maybe it was because we were fascinated by the cook and their technique. The cook also tasted the soup, which I must praise because not many cooks do that. He would definitely make Gordon Ramsay proud. "Taste everything" as Ramsay would say.

Anyways, our ramen came and we dove right in (just thinking about it makes me hungry). No words, just nods of satisfaction. The praising came afterwards when we've had enough to quench our stomach's rumbling. Or my stomach rumbling at least.

Although there weren't that many ingredients in the ramen itself (it had noodles and soup obviously, some greens, corn, bean sprout, bamboo shoots, and some slices of chashu pork), it was enough to fill me up near the end and more than enough to create this delicious dish of all that is good.

One thing that I would change for next time though would be the soup option. I found the rich a bit too salty and strong for me, so next time I will try medium. And if that's still a bit much, then light. I definitely don't mind coming back here more often.

What's funny is that we actually decided to go for Mongolian Grill, but on the bus there, we passed our stop and realized that since Kintaro was nearby, we headed there instead.

I'm glad we missed our stop, or else it would have taken a long time for me to have this mouthwatering ramen.

100. 2 Decades

I have lived for two decades so far, not centuries. I made the mistake the first time I said it, but I got it right after that little embarrassment.

My birthday this year was the best so far and let me tell you why:

1. The day was beautiful! Cold, but beautiful!

(Left: On the skytrain to Richmond | Right: Life Sciences Centre building on campus)

2. I was able to get closer to a very quiet classmate and we walked around campus and chatted for an hour getting to know each other
3. Discovering cool new things on campus with classmate-now-friend

(Both: Full on chalkboard on the wall where the elevator is | Can you guess what I drew?)

3. b) Finding out Bruce Wayne was there

4. I didn't have to pay for my Starbucks drink because it was my birthday!
5. The Starbucks barista wrote 'Happy Birthday' on my cup, but I forgot to take a picture of it before I finished it and threw it away

(Non-existent picture here please)

6. I ate good food

(Top Left: interior design of restaurant | Top Right: Chicken Teriyaki and Fried Chicken Wings (yum) | Bottom Left: insanely sweet hot honey lemon tea | Bottom Right: Noodles for longevity!)

7. There were cool new displays up at the mall nearby where we ate (a mini garden inside the mall with a bridge and a statue of a man reading)

8. I finished off the celebration by sharing Banana Splits with a friend (@ Marble Slab)

9. Finding out where my vanity comes from #itsinthegenes #familyinheritance

(Please excuse my dad's lame English)

10. Sharing my birthday with my friends and receiving thoughtful presents! Apparently when they saw the gift, they went "It's Milly". I love it when people buy me presents while thinking of me, gets me all melted cheese inside, you know?

Couldn't have asked for a better birthday myself!

99. To Be or Not To Be

Today has been an exceptionally wonderful day because it is my birthday today! I have finally turned two decades - not centuries - old! I will write about this amazing day another time because I have procrastinated long enough today that I can't hold back my readings for tomorrow's pre-reading test anymore. Instead, here is my new year's resolutions... finally!

I was debating between whether to write about my year's review and goals in point form or not, but decided against it because if I were to look back at this years later, I would be confused by the choppiness and incoherent-ness of my thoughts and sentences due to the use of point forms. So, I opt to write properly in paragraphs.

A bit late, but another year and another list of hopeful resolutions. I wonder if I even completed the list from last year. Oh well, that's probably long gone from my memory bank by now, so I'll just make sure to save this list instead for review next year.

Anyways, I think I did pretty well academic wise the past year. I managed to obtain a decent grade and average for Term 1 and I hope to keep it up, if not, make it even better, for second term. I found that taking notes helped for essays and exams, but as for learning the material and keeping it in my head, I found that I really had to listen during the lecture to get the basics down (then review the details from my notes after class in my own time).

I also found that keeping a strict schedule helped a lot as well. By writing down what I had to do everyday and highlighting off the completed ones really helped me stay on track and focused. It also gave me a sense of self satisfaction knowing that I was productive for the day.

Hence, for the new year, I want to keep up this efficiency for my studying, as well as to boost my grades (or at least maintain them above a B). Also, to get at least an average in the A-range!

Aside from academic goals, I also want to continue my personal goal of losing the weight I gained over the Winter Break plus a little bit more. I have less than four months before sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns start to appear and it's time to break out the dresses sitting at the back of the wardrobe. So, I need to start maintaining my figure and be more careful and strict with what I eat... especially with those late night snacks!

And of course, to keep up this blog! I don't want it to be another one of those blogs that I've started, only to keep at it for a few months, then ignore it and in the end totally forget about it until the site sends me an email telling me they're terminating the account because of inactivity.

Also, to complain less. When you actually step back and look at the world and gain more knowledge of what is going on with current events, your perspective and attitudes change. There are so much more people who actually deserve to complain, and yet despite that, some with horrible situations don't even do that! So, I think I need to put my own issues into perspective in regard to those worse than me, and actually be more thankful and grateful for what I have.

This is another point that I need to address, which is that I need to be more thankful and grateful for what I have. Although I already started doing that last year, sometimes I catch myself being ungrateful with what I already have, and when I realize what I'm thinking or saying, I become sad at myself. Sad that I am ungrateful and being selfish. I hope I will become even more thankful and grateful towards what I have, especially in situations where I complain, which also means I need to keep my little complaints in check as well!

So, these are my goals for the New Year, a bit late, but here nevertheless!

98. A Catty Experience

(Update at the end)
Real-time Post

(This post has the tag Black Cats because it symbolizes unluckiness or misfortunes bestowed upon my body, or nearly almost happened to my misfortunate self.)

I was done classes for the day and just about reached home, took out my keys, when a tabby cat suddenly came up to me.

A little background: I am a dog person. I have always been a dog person. Although, there was a very short period I became a cat person. I can't remember how and why, but just that it happened and there's a cat poster somewhere to prove it.

Anyways, now I know after this incident, I will forever be a dog person.

This is the nice, wandering cat that came to me and did what cats usually do: rubbing up against your leg.
(I will add picture later once I'm home and have access to a computer.)

Edit: This is the culprit and its horrifying crime. (The red scratch on my pinky)

Due to my lack of knowledge about cats and their personalities and behaviours, I had no idea what that meant, so I just pet it, hoping that it'll be enough for it.

But, while I was petting it, I noticed that it didn't have a collar or any mark of ownership. Then, I remember seeing a poster on my way to the campus of a missing cat.

So, I wanted to confirm so I tried to pick up the cat to bring it to that poster to see if it matched, but if it didn't, I was planning on carrying it to an animal clinic, and if there was none, then campus security at least.

Anyways, it didn't like being carried so it struggled and I let go.

I gave up and walked up to my place, but it followed me. So, I spoke to it and played with it some more.

Then it flopped onto its belly, and me being ignorant of cat behaviours, thought it would want a belly rub (this knowledge I gathered from reading Garfield). I put my hand forward and barely touching it, it bit me.

Needless to say, I walk to the campus hospital, only to be told it was full for the day and they directed me to the Urgent Care next door.

And here I am, two hours later, still waiting to see a doctor.

Now, I understand when people complain about the long wait times. What's the point of a national health care system if it's going to take so long to see a doctor anyways?

Plus, I'm starving.

It's 5:35pm as I write this and the last meal I had was at 11am. And it was not a large meal at all.

I hope I'll be able to go home soon. And that it's nothing serious in need of a shot but just some antibiotics.

Please.

I can't stand shots....

Update:

Basically, after three hours, the doctor finally saw me and checked to see how deep it was. Thank goodness it was just a surface scratch so he told me to apply Polysporin, add a band-aid afterwards, and take the prescribed antibiotics.

But, I think I could have figured out what the antibiotics for myself were because apparently he needed to reference a protocol sheet (because I'm allergic to penicillin, which is in more than half of medicine) that I can probably find online given today's technology.

Oh well. I definitely learnt my lesson: do not go near any cute things aside from dogs. And even for dogs, only my sweetie, Winston.

97. Deer, Gardens, and Fortune Cookies

Recently, I went out for dinner to a place I haven't been to since middle school, which would be roughly six years.

This particular restaurant, called Deer Garden, has several branches around that I was surprised to find out about.

The one that the family had always went to (up until middle school anyway) wasn't that good. So, I didn't bother to ever visit there with friends when we went out to eat. It was never really an option.

But, that day, my friend told me how amazing the food was - especially their noodle combo with the delicious fish broth (no MSG either!), so I was bought and decided to give this restaurant another chance, but at a different branch that was located a bit closer to the University.

Here's what I had...

After that, we walked around the mall nearby, and went to Daiso to buy some things. But, of course, because Chinese New Year is coming up, we had to take some pictures of the decorations!

96. Years Later...

... I will look back on a certain Thursday and laugh.

Heck, I laughed day of I committed such... how should I say this? Airheadedness. Yes, that's it.

Three classes to start the day with an hour break in between each. I also have class an hour later than my roommate, but I usually just get up the same time as her and head out early for my first class.

That morning, she was in a rush and forgot to bring her lab materials for her lab course, so I brought it to her class before mine started. It wasn't that much hassle since I needed to lose the Christmas and New Years weight anyways.

Then, I headed toward my class. The thing is about this class is that it's on the complete opposite side of the Arts area on campus... Where the med students study.

I don't know what kind of sick person would put an Arts course so far away from the rest of the Arts building, on the other side of the campus.

But, anyways, I walked there and arrived well early before class started.

After class, I had to rush to a professor's office hours because I wanted to review my final exam and oral to see how I did. His office is, of course, on the other side of campus.

So, I speed walk there hoping I'll still be able to have time to eat lunch afterwards before the next class started.

Nope. Didn't happen. He was late, so I only had 10 minutes left to gobble everything up as if I haven't ate for days.

Then, I rushed towards the nearby building for my next class with a few minutes to spare.

And this is where it all began - after class.

For some odd reason. One or the other. I'm not really too sure what happened. But. I thought I was done for the day. So, I walked all the way back home.

Now, imagine this: if first class is located in the far west, second class is located in the far east, and home is located far south, and remembering right when you get home and turn the laptop on that you had to walk back to far east because you had one more class left.

Yes.

I blame the lack of sleep. Insomnia is not a friend anybody should associate with. Unless, you know, you like those kinds of things. Then by all means, I wish you a happy future together.

But, for me, I don't think so.

At least that day I had well over an hour of just walking back and forth. Daily Physical Activity - check and double check.