10K

*updated ish - 715th out of 1853 people, 14/23 in my division, 57:28 to run 10k*

Ran a 10K charity run this morning. The marathon was 42K, I would perish and die in some horrible manner if I attempted such a feat.

It took me about 57:xx minutes to run the 10K (I can't remember exactly right now, they might post it online later). The highest speed today was ...30:xx minutes. Wow. That's around twice as fast as I ran, and then some. That's just too intense for me. I think I could've ran a faster time if i wasn't waiting back for my friend, but that's quite alright, friends first.

712th out of 2000ish runners.
14th out of 19 people in my age / gender category running the 10K.

Got a new red sports tshirt, some silver medal thing, banana, apple juice, two oreo cookies.

Slept about 2 hours? I've been having trouble sleeping lately. I wonder what's the matter.


In other news...

I laugh at your whole creeper story, it's just hilarious.

The photos that were shot turned out really nicely. But then again, they can't not turn out brilliantly, it's that genius photographer that can do anything and everything.

I got a hair cut. Finally. It's a bit short. I'll start to like it within the next two days.

Pay more attention when you're walking in the mall, the bottom of escalators hurt.

Hm, the frequency of posting seems to be decreasing lately. But the lengths of the posts would probably add up to the same thing, regardless. I was planning to post something on wednesday, but it just kept dragging on, stuff to do, apparently.

Finished a drama called Kurosagi. It's about a guy (played by Yamapii, he's so cool) who makes a living by swindling swindlers. He does this as a sort of revenge thing because his family died after a sort of swindling incident, so he's devoted his life to becoming a swindler and destroying all the swindlers in the world. Ironically, the person that he gets information and help from, is the person that sold the plan that swindled his father. Female protagonist was cute, was also the lead in Nobuta wo Produce.

Been folding stars recently while I'm watching dramas and such. I'm out of strips of paper. Perhaps I should buy more. Keep my hands busy.

Didn't jog all week. The horror of it all. Possibly doing some sort of squash in the coming weeks, shall see how things work out. Haven't made any specific plans yet.

The package is now in transit. I sure hope it comes soon. Very soon. For all the trouble i went through, it better turn out incredibly awesome, otherwise, my heart would shatter.

Midterm for anthro coming up next tuesday. Majorly screwed, I think. None of the information is really sticking. She also keeps mentioning how we need to know the random stuff she's mentioned in class, but it's hard to hear what she's saying since she doesn't make eye contact, nor does she write these things on the board. Also, we're apparently doing Japanese marriage and wedding customs for our group project, hopefully things turn out okay, it is 50% of our mark.


Wednesday was pretty fun stuff. Went to play badminton and catch up with some friends. We were all horrible. Well, I've never been good in the first place, but still, wow. Went downtown to eat some pho, haven't had that delicious stuff in a while. Got a raspberry kiwi bbt, delicious also. Forced to buy SC (that's Starcraft for you other people). Still haven't opened it yet, i'm considering returning it, I really doubt it's something that I will play. J/R Choo came over afterwards and we played some multiplayer Noby Noby Boy. Single player is messed up enough, add two more Noby Noby Boys? That's just mindblowingly weird.


Thursday, midway through class, got a text from a friend asking me to go watch her dance competition thing. It was a lot less formal than i thought it would be, since it was basically a competition between the individuals at her club (the name i forget), where they can perform solo, duet, or in group. The dances were all choreographed by the dancers themselves, so it was pretty neat to watch. I've never had any experience with dance, so i can't tell if something is good or bad, so I'd classify it all as awesome.

Speaking of thursday, thursday was so much fun. Found out that you were also going to watch the competition, I wonder if she told me that on purpose to ensure that i would go. I would've gone anyways, but you going was a total bonus. Due to the circumstances of not knowing ahead of time that i was watching this, i didn't have anything planned for dinner. Thanks for making me dinner =), it was super delicious. Another unfortunate thing turned into awesomeness when that stack of chairs slipped and scraped off a good centimeter of skin (disgusting, i know, but it wasn't too bad, just bleeding profusely). It was in such a difficult spot, hard to apply the bandaid by myself, heh. Among other things, that's for me to know.


Final part here (yes i know, long post). Photo shoot today. Model? Me. o_o. Hardly a good one, I know =_=". It was an interesting experience to be sure. I've never played my saxophone at the top of a hill, nor see an airplane on fire o_o. Also random posing on rooftops. I'm really hoping the rooftop photos turn out well. The poses weren't anything special (none of them were), but the rooftop was just so brilliant. Also ate McDonalds, haven't had that in a while. Fries weren't that good this time. Thanks for slipping the $5 in my bag, jerk >_>.


That is all. Dinner time. Whee.


Oh right, I'm running in a 10k marathon ish thing this weekend. Hope I don't embarass myself.

I'm tired. Mind's a mess. I hope this remains coherent. I doubt it.

Couldn't sleep last night. Why? Not like it was excitement for today. It wasn't anything that was incredibly strong on me.

I can't believe I sat through another graduation ceremony. 615 names. I think i knew about maybe 30 people, but that's pushing it. There's a difference between knowing someone and knowing someone. The new principal guy wasn't as cool as our principal. He sounded really dead. Lacking in energy. Unmotivated. However, that guy after him, he had a pretty good speech, that board of education guy. Also, it's quite sad that I know the marching pieces by heart. It's my fourth year in a row listening to that piece, so maybe it's actually not that surprising.

Your valedictory address was spectacular by the way. I liked it more than ours. But that might be unfair, I don't think i was listening that my valedictorian. Or if i was, he didn't keep my interest for long. The usual inspiring words about yesterday, today, tomorrow, and what not. I mean, what else would you be able to talk about? It'd be the same principle, but said in a different manner no doubt. I am glad that you were able to incorporate your beliefs in Christianity into the speech, I knew you'd be able to somehow. Good show.

Helped move all the band equipment onto the trucks. I seem to help Ms. Wish put stuff away. A lot. Well, it's okay, i was killing time anyways. And apparently, I enjoy helping others. Or maybe I was just hoping that there'd be some way for us to talk after. That never happened.

Left. Went to North Hill, ate some Koryo. The chicken wasn't that good this time. Blah. Afterwards, purposefully missed a bus, and went off to some place on a hill with a singular bench overlooking an old folks home and parts of downtown. Brings back a lot of memories. Less snow, no food, more grass, you weren't there obviously. Took off my headphones and just sat there for half an hour. Much contemplating occured. Or maybe none at all. I don't know when i'm contemplating or just thinking or imagining things.


and that's that. Sort of.


In response to something. Maybe. Not sure. Or maybe not. This is up to you to realize. I don't know what I was thinking at the time. I was afraid. Scared of what would happen. Of what could, would, should happen. I didn't know if what i was getting into would be right or wrong. I just stopped completely. I didn't know how to respond. Curling myself into some sort of ball, I didn't want to face reality. The end result? I don't even know. Did it hurt? Or am I just being full of myself here? Even now, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do. The awkwardness won't stop. But regardless, you're a talented person with a kind heart, two things that I can never compete with. These two years, I've hardly grown, have I? I'm still as cowardly as I was before if i choose only to apologize here. Does this even count as an apology? I'm... sorry. I really am. I don't hate you. I don't have the right the hate anything. The only thing I hate... is myself.

Magical Wolf Shirt

Lol.

Magical Wolf Shirt

That is all.

These 6 colors mock me. Sitting there, gloating. Their devious equilateral sides taunt my very existence. The white, blue, orange, green, red, yellow cast their gaze, a myriad of mixed hues. I'll solve you one day, as I have with your 3x3 brethren. Just you wait. When that day comes, I shall have the final laugh.

Speaking of which, I've figured out how to solve all the center 2x2 pieces, and place them in the correct locations as well. Now i'm stumped as to how to do everything else.


In other news...


Due to some, shall we say, unnamed influence, I jogged around the neighborhood since I couldn't after class yesterday. It took around 22 minutes, of which the final 1 was intensely trying as it was an uphill portion. The fact that it only took 22 minutes is quite vexing, as I am quite sure it takes the bus around 6 minutes to go around a pseudo loop. Even taking into account that the bus must slow down to pick up passengers, the 22 minutes is still sort of weird. Or is it? Maybe I'll think about it today when i'm on the bus.


Their graduation ceremony is tomorrow. Am I going to go? Not going to go? Still unsure at this point. Well, I have been formally invited to attend (wait, what counts as formal? A letter of some sort o_o?). Regardless, I also know several of the individuals graduating, so I might as well. Also, since you'll be the valedictorian, would it not be rude of me to not attend? Too bad Ms. Wish won't be letting us play in the severely cut down pseudo grad band.


More contemplating. Is there possibly a way for me to sneak into the Telus Convention Center? That would be quite grand if I were able to do so. Wishful thinking, no doubt. Or even if there was, would i have the guts to do so? Probably not.


On another note. The Katamari shirts are in. Oh pure joy. I hope it's as awesome as I thought it was. I'll know when I pick it up. Although, the lack of news from my other package is disheartening. 6 to 8 weeks to deliver? That's just the first portion to. Bah. I hope it'll at least come before the end of June.

Walking down the halls of Tom Baines, I realized several renovations have occurred since I last visited. The library has expanded incredibly, and it has transparent sliding doors that employed a fantastic mechanism. Rather than sliding back and forth, the mechanism was a coil that expanded and retracted with the door. Going up the stairs, I realized there was a swimming pool to my left and windows on my right. The windows overlooked a gigantic gym with various fitness facilities.

Dreams are weird. The seeming reality of the dream is juxtaposed with the logical one that I exist in and looking back, I wonder: how could I have even given a thought to this being real?

I can't remember if I've talked about dreams in an earlier post, so lets do that (again?).
1. When one dreams, the dreams that they experience are actually the alternate embodiments of themselves in another reality. Therefore what we see, is the actions and thoughts of our otherselves.
2. When one dreams, the dreams are actually the excess thoughts that we have throughout the day that aren't important enough for us to thoroughly 'think' about, and as such, surface as our minds empty when we sleep.

Hypothetically speaking, if 1 is true, my other selves lead some truly epic lives. But then again, more than half of them end up falling off some sort of precipice and die. If 2 was true, my mind thinks of some really weird stuff, and wants me to fall off some sort of precipe and die. Well, we all know my mind thinks up some rather, shall we say, obscure things once in a while, but those dreams are pretty messed up sometimes.


Moving on...


After watching the Densha Otoko ED, i had a compulsion to look up other music by the Sambomasters. I immediately took a liking to their music style. I guess it'd be some sort of cross between rock and upbeat something or other. Listening for a while, i suddenly realized that the reason I liked them so much, was because their music, in several ways, resembles the music of The Pillows. Sweetness.


Finished an anime called Code Geass. I completed the entire second season in one day. It was just that epic. Nutshell wise: Boy gains the ability to give a command that the individual must obey with complete obedience, decides to use this ability to create a better world for his younger sister. Of course, it also includes mechas. Can't do without mechas.


Jogged again today. Was able to run 42 minutes. My legs hurt. Surprise.


No job yet.


That's about it for now.

Wow, it's been a while since my previous post. What's happened since?

Watched Star Trek with my bro. It was pretty awesome, despite my total lack of knowledge about the series. However, Kirk, was sort of annoying, is impatience and hotheadedness was a bit too much for me. Spock on the other hand, is extreme logical thinking is much better.

Spring courses started. Anthropology 203, introduction to socio-cultural anthropology. Sadly, the course hasn't been very interesting. Which is disheartening. It was only the first class though, and she only went over introductions and briefly went over the different streams of anthropology. I am hoping it will get much more interesting from there. Otherwise, this will be a difficult course to do well in.

Went jogging after class, haven't jogged in a while, I've already deteriorated, the sadness of it all. I must keep up somehow. Can't lose to those genius people that jog every morning >_>.

SWC Spring concert after that. I really miss band. Really. Really miss it. Band was such a rewarding experience. The cohesiveness of fellow band geeks, the mentality of being one with one another, waking early, leaving late, practicing together, playing together.... I miss those moments so much. Truly moments to cherish. Even if I were to get into the university band, I am quite sure it would not be the same, but we shall see, i'll know after i make it in...if i make it in.

The concert itself was pretty amazing. Actually listened to the choir for once, it was pretty good, considering how i usually don't like listening to choir much, not sure why. Blue jazz... I envy this year's brass section. It has so much more firepower than we did. Jto's improved once again with his sax skills, impressive. Since i missed the Winter Concert's Blue Jazz part, it's been a year since I've heard Erika's jazz trumpet skills, and she has improved a lot as well. Also, I told you that you could solo, but you never believed me. Bah. Symphonic band and Concert band stuff was also as amazing as usual. It's weird how the music that you don't play always seems better than your own music. Sigh. Band. I miss you so.

Oh, so i also went to another concert the day after. Video Games Live 2009 in Calgary. So much win. It was so much win. Had the standard fare of Mario, Zelda, Final Fantasy and such, what took me by surprise was music from Mass Effect, Metroid, Metal Gear Solid, World of Warcraft, and Chrono Trigger. They should've played more music from Chrono Trigger and less from Halo. Bah. Neatest thing was probably the 'real life' Space Invaders thing where they had an audience member wear a tshirt with the ship that a camera would register, allowing him to control the ship on the big screen by running across the stage. Too bad Hideo Kojima wasn't there.

But. Best thing about the concert? The youtube pianist guy. Martin Leung. Yes, that Martin Leung. The one that could play a lot of video game music. Blindfolded. At godly speeds. Those flamers saying he sped up the video? He did not speed up the video. Seeing him live was an amazing sight. I can't even move my hands that fast, let alone play notes. He was totally insane. Brilliant. Brialliantly insane. I was awestruck by his powerful piano playing powers.

Got bbt after. Try fresh pineapple lemon sometime. The sweetness of pineapple plus the tanginess of lemon tastes delicious.

Still can't find a job. The sadness of it all. Wonder when the packages will arrive. Hopefully soon.

Good afternoon.

Just finished watching Densha Otoko (meaning The Train Man). It was quite awesome and heartwarming. It's a drama based on a true story about an Otaku meeting this beautiful girl
on the train, and protecting her from this drunkard, thus starting an epic love story. Otakus (i think) is a term meaning a person obsessed with something, but in mainstream japanese culture, Otaku usually means those socially inept individuals that are obsessed with anime, manga, games, and anything surrounding those. The main character, Tsunyoshi, not knowing how to communicate with the opposite gender relies on a forum called A-channel and the people there gave him advice and encourage on his quest to win Saori's heart. Tsunyoshi's experiences, pure heart, and honesty change these people on the forum, bringing them new hope and a new lease on life.

Of course, reality is far from this (despite how this is based on a true story), i doubt many things would ever turn out like this. Ever. Most people on the internet are trolls and flamers, and you'd be hardpressed to find such an encouraging group of people. Also, i guess it's easier for me to connect since in a way, i'm an otaku as well. I'm glad i don't spend excessive amounts of cash on anime figures and such though. Games and manga, may be. Now i'll need to find something else to watch.


IN OTHER NEWS...

The ConoccoPhillips Youth of Distinction Awards was held yesterday at the Calgary Zoo. I wasn't able to work up the courage to go around introducing myself to many of the nominees there, but it was interesting to see all of these amazing people. Well, overwhelming really, to be in the same room as those that have done such incredible feats of humanity and self determination. It's humbling to know that I have never, and probably won't ever, be able to manage such acts. Oh, also, Ms. Teen Alberta 2009 was there. I didn't even know there was a Ms. Teen (insert province here) in Canada. She was asian too xD. Didn't get a chance to talk though. Not that it'd amount to anything.

Haven't L4D'd in a long time. Hope i'm not getting rusty.

Been meeting up with random friends these past 3 days, with mixed results of happiness and awkwardness. Catching up with people is fun, until you run out of things to say, then it's just awkward. Window shopping is sad since you never get to buy the darn things, despite how great they are. Distracting people from work is awesome, as long as they don't get in trouble.

Looking back, there's always things that I could've done better, after reflecting, you think that you wouldn't make the same mistakes again in the future. Wrong. Three times (if memory serves), i've messed up something of this caliber. Well, they were different in context, but quite similar in nature. Each time, I'v failed to handle things correctly. Oh wait, four. Each time i've responded differently, and they were all wrong: Lack of iniative, running from nothing, two, blatant ignorance, there's probably even more. I don't know how to remedy any of this, but the situations seem to be okay now. But then again, maybe not, I'm apparently not very good at picking up on these things. Perhaps in the future, I'll deal with these better, but i doubt it. I don't notice these things until i'm at an irreversible point.

Don't rely on me.

Final thoughts.
When is the point at which I should just give up? Dragging things on for so long, what does it bring if I can never succeed? Is it out of some sort of obligation? Maybe I've stopped long ago, but I'm continuing on due to the drama of it all. Even I'm not really sure what's happening. But if it's the latter, that's just awful. What do I want? I need to sort things out.

And it's morning time. Glad that I can wake up whenever I want. Wait, scratch that, not today, not tomorrow either. Blah. Stuff to do.

Continuing on with the trip, it took 4 hours to get from Toronto to Ottawa, and i slept all of it. Well, i woke up at random intervals, but their highways were pretty boring. I mean, even in Alberta there were at least cows every now and then...

Nothing much actually happened in Ottawa. Bored most of the time. They had some pretty good restaurants here actually xD. Tulip Festival here was pretty unique. Thousands upon thousands of tulips flown from....i forget. Honoring Ottawa for harboring the royal family during WWII. Also, there was a Beaver Tails stall there. Hadn't had one since Quebec trip in grade 9. Guess i forgot that those things are flaming hot when they're fresh, i burnt myself xD. But it was so.good. So.Good.

Generally, whenever travelling around in Ottawa, I just opted for sleeping, or pretending to be sleeping anyways. I didn't really know how to respond to whatever they said, so it would've been easier to pretend to be sleeping and listen to what they're talking about, rather than having to figure out how to show that i was interested in what they said. It's not like what they said was boring, I just didn't have much of an opinion.

When to some specialty coffee selling place there to pick up an expresso machine for the guy's wife. 'The guy' as in the person we stayed with. He's another sensei. Blah. Too many formalities here and there. It was tiring. Those machines are freaking expensive. But so shiny. So many functions. Smelled so good. So expensive.

Went to this place called Pasticeceria Gelateria Italiana for..... breakfast. As in, i had coffee and creme brulee for breakfast. Sweetest breakfast ever, literally. This place, despite the construction in front of the building, still had a strong customer base, a testament to the food that they cater. Sigh... i wish i had time to try everything there. Also, the owner's name was Giuseppe. I laughed. No one knew why.


Adventures since i've been back.... not much. Went out yesterday with friends. Bbt. Chinook. Went to watch Monsters vs Aliens ... in 3d. It wasn't 3d for most of the movie though, so that was disappointing, especially since they made us pay extra. It was a good movie though, Wall-E was better. Oh, also, the theater had only the 7 of us. I don't know which was sad, the fact that it was a sausage fest... or that it was a kids movie and we were all over 18. But! The emptiness of the theatre did give us an opportunity for some racing. Up and down the theatre. Not using the stairs though. Vaultingover the chairs and such. Beat Ernie, lost to Leo. Fun times.


In regards to other stuff... I've been coughing like mad. Sort of ruined things abit, but I'll live. For a while anyways. We all pass away in the end. Inevitably so.

Also, it seems as if we've stopped trying altogether. Again. It just somehow seems to fail sooner or later. So why should we even try at all? Because we have to right? Or rather, should, or possibly due to obligation. But why resist? It's wrong? Probably because it's wrong. But wrong is percieved and up to interpretation. Honestly, it think it's okay. But that's obviously not enough. Nor will it ever be, under any circumstances. Sadly. ... I think some maturation of mind and self is in order.


Final bit here... Recent experience from whatever, made me think back to Death of a Salesman by....Miller? I think it was Miller? Arthur Miller. Right. Thanks google. It was quite interesting to see the whole situation pseudo-mirrored in real life. The whole man pretending he is successful, delusions of grandeur and self greatness. Refusal to accept reality as it truly is. Distortion. Illusion. Mirage. Facade. Whatever. It was an eye opening moment of sorts, an epiphany even. It just came to mind, and wow, it's sad. It's not like this is something I can do or work on either, but to just sit on the side and observe. I can't do much about anything, it seems. There was probably more to write about with the whole Death of a Salesman bit, or at least there was when it first came to mind. But that was a while back.

I'm back. Whee.

Lots to talk about. But it's kind of early (late). So i should sleep. Blarg.

Maybe later.

But. I'm back!

Okaaaaaaaaay~

So now I am in Ottawa.

I apparently flew to some place called Hamilton, then proceeded to another place called Burlington, which was close to, but not actually, Toronto.

The IOGKF (International Organization of Goju-ryu Karate Federation i believe) held the Miyagi Chojun Festival (I think this guy was the person that founded the name Goju-ryu, which was renamed from a previous style of karate).

Interesting experience. Changed my view of Karate, learnt a lot, met a lot of people, lots of bowing and shaking hands and names to remember and forget. Trained with some incredibly nice people. Saw women kick ass.

Morio Higaonna Sensei. 70 years old. By appearances, you'd think he was your regular elderly person, but once you see him move, instruct, fight.... intense. He apparently trains for hours on end every day, and he carries with him this immense aura of dignity and poise, it was an incredible experience to train under this man. It was also scary to sit at the same table for dinner along with 2 other sensei's and my sifu o_o.

Also, it was awkward at times because I do not practice karate, so it was weird doing their techniques and following a long... but also awkward because EVERYONE wore white except for me.

Two other senseis there, Tetsuji Nakamura Sensei and Kenzo Dozoro Sensei were also incredible. Nakamura sensei is a chief technical advisor for IOGKF and organized the MCF here, and his skill and power is something awesome to see. Dozoro Sensei, practices a different type of karate, and was a special guest instructor, although very small (um... a meter and a bit more?), his techniques were really powerful. He was a really nice guy and had a great sense of humor, despite his lack of english skills.

There's probably more to be said about these people, but that'll be for later.