Fishin' in the dark

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Fishin' in the dark

Lazy yellow moon coming up tonight
Shining through the trees
Crickets are singing
And the lightning bugs are floating on the breeze
Baby get ready

Across the field where the creek turns back
By the old stump road
Im going to take you to a special place
That nobody knows
Baby get ready
Ooo ooo ooo

You and me going fishing in the dark
Lying on our backs and counting the stars
Where the cool grass grows
Down by the river in the full moon light
We’ll be falling in love in the middle of the night
Just moving slow
Staying the whole night through
Feels so good to be with you

Spring is almost over and the summers comin'
The days are getting long
Waited all winter for the time to be right
Just to take you along
Baby get ready

And it don’t matter if we sit forever
And the fish don’t bite
Jump in the river and cool ourselves
from the heat of the night
Baby get ready

Ooo ooo ooo

You and me going fishin in the dark
Lying on our backs and counting the stars
Where the cool grass grows
Down by the river in the full moon light
We’ll be falling in love in the middle of the night
Just moving slow
Staying the whole night through
Feels so good to be with you

And me going fishing in the dark
Lying on our backs and counting the stars
Where the cool grass grows
Down by the river in the full moon light
We’ll be falling in love in the middle of the night
Just moving slow
You and me going fishin’ in the dark
Lying on our backs and counting the stars
Where the cool grass grows
You and me going fishin in the dark

Good Motivation!

My very hilarious professor (as depicted in my wonderful drawing)

Rie and I were doing research for the report, and we take turns sending him emails because we cannot find much information..

Here's his reply to me:

(SO FUNNY!)

Hi Nikki,
It seems that you guys are enjoying research. This is awesome. Really, I mean it.
I would definitely encourage you to collect data from other sources. If you can do that will be really great. I am very interested to see the results. Because, honestly, this is a learning process for me as well. I am looking forward to learn from all the reports from the students. So, I will really appreciate if you provide data from some other sources as well.

However, you may not get poverty data for Singapore at all. I remember something was mentioned about poverty data in Singapore in the miracle paper. As far as I remember it is not available for long enough time or something. Nevertheless, give it a shot. One big quality for a researcher is to use data in a way which is not very obvious. Using other social indicators' data if poverty data is missing, is a very good idea. You are thinking in a right track. I am impressed. Keep it up.
Best,

(name removed)

We have good motivation to keep doing this paper now! =)

Need You Now

Lady Antebellum - Need You Now

Picture perfect memories,
Scattered all around the floor.
Reaching for the phone 'cause
I can’t fight it any more.
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind.
For me it happens all the time.

It’s a quarter after one
I’m all alone and I need you now.
Said I wouldn’t call but I lost all control
And I need you now.
And I don’t know how I can do without
I just need you now.

Another shot of whiskey
Can’t stop looking at the door.
Wishing you’d come sweeping in
The way you did before.
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind.
For me it happens all the time.

It’s a quarter after one
I’m a little drunk,
And I need you now.
Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control
And I need you now. 
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now.

Yes I’d rather hurt
Than feel nothing at all

It’s a quarter after one,
I’m all alone and I need you now.
And I said I wouldn’t call
But I’m a little drunk
And I need you now.
And I don’t know how I can do without
I just need you now.
I just need you now.
Oh baby I need you now

My Heart Is Open

Keith Urban - My Heart is Open

I thought I was doing alright being alone
I swore I’d never let somebody get close again
I was never gonna let my guard down, not for anyone
But there’s a light in your eyes and it’s got me movin' in
And tonight these walls are all coming down

My heart is open
I’m letting you in
Cause you give me a reason
And the faith I’ve been needing to start again
And your love is healing
I’m finally breathing
I’ve been waiting so long hoping for this moment
My heart is open

These days it seems like
Everybody’s just walking away
Like there’s no forever
And love is just a game
But don’t you know you can believe me
When I say that I’m your man

My heart is open
I’m letting you in baby
Cause you give me a reason
And the faith I’ve been needing to start again
And your love is healing
I’m finally breathing
I’ve been waiting so long hoping for this moment
My heart is open

I can’t wait anymore, no no
Because I’ve got nothing left to prove
And I’ve got so much left to use
That’s why I’m tearing out the walls
And baby I’m kicking down the doors

And your love is healing
Baby, I’m finally breathing
I can hear you calling,
I’m ready to fall in love again
My heart is open
My heart is open
My heart is open

Salt 'n' Pepper

I don't wanna name my dogs Basil and Cilantro anymore..

I wanna name them Salt 'n' Pepper.

Salt and pepper go so well together.. Oh well, maybe it might be hard for me to keep 2 dogs..

Maybe a pair of black and white hamsters.. That might work better ;)

Ok settled! I am gonna have one white and one black hamster...

- Appropriately written while eating salt-and-pepper potato chips

Heavy rain

I like it when it rains heavily... More atmosphere... When the rain falls lightly, it feels like it's trying so hard to rain but it's not scucceeding.. Almost raining like a wuss, I'll say.

When it pours, the sound of the rain drowns out your thoughts, giving your mind a break momentarily... The sound of the water hitting your umbrella calms you down, just like the ocean..

Being under an umbrella in the heavy rain also makes me feel very fortunate.. Fortunate enough to have shelter over my head... That I have an umbrella to keep me dry.. Also makes me feel that my umbrella is very useful, when the heavy rain soaks it till it drips.. The light rain doesn't give the umbrella this sense of satisfaction...

Even without an umbrella, light drizzles make you wet and cold but you are unlikely to do anything but let your clothes dry by themselves. With a good downpour, it soaks into your clothes right down to your insides and you will HAVE to take a shower, which you then change into warm clean clothes which always makes one feel warm and fuzzy.

If you are staying inside.. You see the rain hitting the window while you are safe and dry inside.. It makes you want to snuggle up with someone.. Sit by the fire with a mug of hot chocolate...

Rain is annoying, but a good heavy downpour can do wonders for your body and soul every once in a while. Especially with all this rain we get in Vancouver, it's about time we start thinking more positively about what nature is giving us...

The Closest Thing To Crazy

Katie Melua - The Closest Thing To Crazy

How can I think I'm standing strong?
Yet feel the air beneath my feet.
How can happiness feel so wrong?
How can misery feel so sweet?

How can you let me watch you sleep?
Then break my dreams the way you do.
How can I have got in so deep?
Why did I fall in love with you?

[Chorus]
This is the closest thing to crazy
I have ever been.
Feeling twenty-two, acting seventeen.
This is the nearest thing to crazy
I have ever known.
But I was never crazy on my own.
And now I know
That there's a link between the two,
Being close to craziness, and being close to you

How can you let me fall apart?
Then break my fall with loving lies.
It's so easy to break a heart,
It's so easy to close your eyes.

How can you treat me like a child?
Yet like a child I yearn for you.
How can anyone feel so wild?
How ca anyone feel so blue?

[Chorus]
This is the closest thing to crazy
I have ever been.
Feeling twenty-two, acting seventeen.
This is the nearest thing to crazy
I have ever known.
I was never crazy on my own.
And now I know
That there's a link between the two,
Being close to craziness, and being close to you

And being close to you

And being close to you

A Day of Many Birthdays

20 November (Vancouver time)
21 November (Hong Kong time)

- Anna
- Joty (last year's roommate)
- Camille (this year's roommate)
- Aunt Peggy
- Meaghan's dad and stepmom

A Day of Many Firsts:

- First time baking a cake for someone (frosting, decorating with fruit, piping words)

- First time getting bangs (in more than 10 years) -- Haven't had bangs since primary school I think..

- First time getting a haircut in Vancouver (after being here for 5 years)

- First time trying to change the notes when I am playing piano (apparently I suck at this)..

Observation over the last couple months:

Steps of Romance

In Asia:

Falling in Love --> Relationship --> Sex

In North America:

Sex --> Relationship --> Falling in Love

I'm not sure which one is better...

With the money I make from working at Vanier, it practically offsets my eating expenses.. I've only spent a net total of $20+ on food this whole year! LOL.

I like. Must. Work. More!