I really love garage and yard sales. People have such interesting things they want to get rid of. There are places online like Kijiji and Craigslist that makes the items a bit more accessible to find and buy but it takes the fun out of going to a garage sale.

This past weekend, my neighbourhood had a community garage/yard sale. Over 30 houses placed items on their driveway and lawn for their neighbours to peruse and buy. My family decided to join the fun, and it certainly was fun.

For a total of $22.60, we got:

• a lawn mower
  
• a shelf with CD rack
  
• rollers for the fridge/stove
  
• a glass lantern
  
• a few decorative glasses and ceramics
  
• a few books
  

I was extra excited about the shelf. I turned it into a display case for the origami and other paper crafts that I've made over the last few years. They finally have a home. There are a few shelves left. I guess I should continue filling up the shelf.

A few weeks ago, I went to Kyoto for a business trip. A week of meetings where I really only needed to be there for approximately the morning of each day. It's supposed to be a full day every day, so I guess I was lucky that it turned out I got a lot of time for sight seeing. I went to Kyoto in my previous trip to Japan so I really didn't have that much sight seeing left to do. So, this time around, I focused on the food and shopping.

The hotel I stayed in was half a block away from a giant shopping district, which made things a lot easier in terms of shopping and food. They definitely have a ton of stores. They had a different mall at each corner of an intersection. But the weirdest thing about shopping in Japan was the size of their clothing. I remember the last time I went, I had to buy a large sized shirt in order for it to fit. This time, all of their clothes were too big for me. And for some reason, their clothes only come in medium and large sizes. So strange. I asked the sales person and she said it's like that all over Japan. A bit strange to wear such large clothes but it didn't look too bad.

I went to some really popular restaurants and some out-of-the-way ones. I was trying to find some of the fast food restaurants that we had gone to during my previous trip to Japan and I just couldn't find one. I really wanted to order food from a vending machine...

While Mount Koya was my favourite part of my first trip to Japan, I think that my attempt at making Japanese art was my favourite this time around. I found a place close to my hotel that let you try your hand at various Japanese art techniques. I chose to do the one where you get to carve a design into the box (or whatever souvenir item you choose to do it on). You get to create your own design of what you want to put and then you make it. I made mine rather complicated, so it took a heck of a lot longer than I thought it would. It didn't turn out as good as I wanted it but it was still pretty good. If you want to give it a shot, here's the link to it: http://kyotedukuri.jp/english/index.html

My second favourite thing was that I finally got to try on and buy a kimono. It's just a summer one and not very elaborate but it's really nice. I wonder when I'll get to show it off.

Not bad for my second trip to Japan. I wish it was longer and that I didn't go alone. I can't wait for my next trip. I'll have to go to different cities next time.

Oh, if you want to see pictures, you're gonna have to ask me for them. =)

5 years ago, on this very day, my bestest and closest friends got together to celebrate our 5 year journey known as undergrad where we were guinea pigs with so much power that we managed to remove a course from curriculum and had courses created JUST for us. 5 years of school, then work, then back to school. 5 years of late nights, road trips, and fun. Who would have thought it would be such a life changing experience.

On our 5 year anniversary, I decided to go through our humongous yearbook. Seeing pictures that I'm sure if remembered, people would kill me for putting them in the yearbook. hahaha. Reading messages to each other and to ourselves. For the first time, I'm reading everyone's messages. I'm sure I've read many of them before, but it feels like I'm reading them for the first time. And the final page of my yearbook, where I got everyone at convocation to sign my yearbook. Now, if only I could figure out who each one belongs to.

And of course, how can I forget the valedictorian speech that day, when my friend Chris Porter announced to everyone in the auditorium that it was my birthday. It couldn't have been a bigger birthday party. I sometimes watch the video of our convocation and still can't believe he did that.

It's been 5 years and I have yet to go into the "real world". Just like back then, the idea of going into the "real world" is still scary and frightening. Somehow (despite what I wrote in my yearbook blurb), I managed to avoid the real world for another 5 years. Good thing? Bad thing? Who knows. This academic world isn't much easier.

So, to celebrate this day, I will re-post my gift to the SoftEng Class of 2006:



*poke* *runs away*

I've been on a Hong Kong TV kick for the last week and found a pretty good show. I can't type Chinese but the English name is "Be Home For Dinner". In one of the episodes, they had a pretty sentimental "moral" to the story.

It was (and this is me translating it to English) "The people who you make happy will be the ones who will be with you when you cry." I never thought of it that way before. I mean, who really thinks that far ahead? But it did make me wonder how many people do I actually make happy such that they would want to be there for me when I cry.

Just something to think about.

What have I got myself into? hahaha. I am so obsessed with making crafty and working with my hands. First, it was origami, then friendship bracelets, then paper models, and now, chain mail! hehehe.

Today, I took a class on making chain mail jewellery at Metal Designz. We made a specific style of bracelet today and it was so wonderful to work with my hands again and making something. It turned out alright, all things considered. hehehe. Definitely need more practice.

So, I've decided to buy the ever-so-expensive tools (hey, you have to invest in new hobbies) and bought more material to try out more designs. I've even borrowed a bunch of books to find new styles to try out. This is going to be one expensive hobby. But it'll be so much fun! Here's a picture of what I made today.



The colour choice probably could have been better but it's my first time. =) I hope the next one(s) turns out just as great!

I've been thinking about donating blood for a few years. I've seriously considered it ever since I found out my blood type about 4 years ago. But every time that the blood clinic was on campus, I was down with a cold or the appointments were full. So, I've never done it.

I finally decided that I would just go to the clinic in downtown Saskatoon one afternoon and get it done. A few friends tried to donate a while back but none of them were able to donate because they weren't eligible. So, learning from their story, I decided to check my eligibility before heading down.

First, I found out that I had to have a physician fill out a form before I can donate blood. I know that it would have annoyed me to finally get up the nerve to go (I don't like needles) only to find out I have to make another trip some other time. Second, I found out I'm under the weight limit. hahaha. I didn't know that there was a weight limit but there is! Makes me wonder if I should gain weight just so I could donate. hm....

So, even though I want to give blood, I'm ineligible. It's rather unfortunate that people who want to give blood, can't. As they say, "It's in you to give." Too bad they won't let me.

What a very common and frequent question I get. "Aren't you done yet?" "When are you done?" "You've been there forever!" I can imagine that it really does seem like a LONG time for those of you who are working and have change jobs a few times already. But really, people, it's only been 5 years since we graduated! 5 years for a PhD is not that long. Give me a break! =P

Just to clarify on "when are you done?", since I started my degree January 2007, I plan on finishing December 2011. Last Fall term (2010), I defended my comprehensives and last week, I did my thesis proposal. I must say that it was pretty brutal and I'm not sure that I'll be that prepared for the final defense but I guess I'll have to practice a lot for it.

Anyways, all that's left is doing lots of research, writing the thesis, presenting a seminar, and defending the thesis. Sounds easy, right? Piece of cake. Wish me luck!

Last week, at my Critical Thinking class (yes, I'm taking yet another one), the presenter asked each of us to do one thing. Give her our name and one word that describes ourselves. We've all been asked to describe ourselves before, but never in one word, or at least I never have.

Can you guess what my one word was? =) Child-like! hehehe. Not childish. Child-like. There's a difference. =P Someone else in the class actually said childish and I'm not sure that's really the word they wanted. *shrug* I suppose stubborn would have been another good one.

What would your one-word be?

This semester, I decided to take a critical thinking course that has been recommended to grad students (by grad students) here at USask. Given the number of critical thinking courses that I've taken in the past, why should I take another? It sounded like it was fun and interesting so I gave it at shot.

I must say, I'm having loads of fun in the course. Meeting new people, socializing, exchanging thoughts and ideas. It's great!

As part of the course, we were given the Myers-Briggs personality test. Last night, we were given the results of the test. Although I tested Introversion, iNtuition, Thinking, Judging, I think I'm more of a Sensing than iNtuition. I do understand why I got that result though. So I think I fit under both types.

That's not really the important part. The important part was the instructor's comments on the various types. Apparently, people who have the TJ type tend to be the leaders of the world. INTJ (which I was tested as) tend to be visionaries of the future and ISTJ (which I think I am) can be extremely stubborn once they've decided something. So, if you ever questioned whether or not I'm stubborn (and if you know me, you really should have no question at all), the test says that I am. =P

Do you know what your type is?

In my previous post, I asked for people's opinions between the Pre, iPhone, Win 7 Phone, and Android. Well, I was given an android phone for free from a friend so that kinda solves that problem. There's no doubt that smart phones are cool and touch screens are even cooler. The apps are great and really, these phones can make life a lot easier and more entertaining.

But while driving home the other night, I thought of one problem with touch screen phones. Now, it might never actually happen but you never know. And of course, I'm basing my hypothetical situation on TV and movies, but I'm sure it does happen in real life too. So, what if you were kidnapped or were in a dangerous situation and you wanted to call 911 or for help without the other person realizing that you're doing it? You'd probably have your phone in your jacket or pocket so it's hidden. But to actually use the phone, you'd have to look at the screen to see the buttons. With the older "dumb" phones, you can at least feel the buttons to know which number or button you're pressing. Again, I know this situation is WAY out there, but it can still happen.

I know that the iPhone (and maybe others too now) have technology that will read out to you what's on the screen and what's happening, such that those who can't see the screen can still use the device. But that would require the phone to make noise, which defeats the purpose of doing it in secret.

I still think smart phones are great and touch screens are great. I just randomly thought of this weird little thing and thought I'd share and see what other people think. Yes, I know it's random and crazy.