My pianoforte

When my dad first bought my piano I was excited because my dad owns a lot of musical instruments that were at the time off limits to us. But at the same time I dreaded the fact that I was going to have to take piano lessons. Sadly, my lessons ended after a year of practice because my teacher decided to move on into another chapter of her life. My parents asked me if I wanted to continue and I said no because I thought I hated playing the piano.

It turns out that I actually love music more than I thought I did. My dad continued to buy music sheets and I continued to play them. And now I'm blessed to be able to play whatever song my heart desires.

One of my favorite habits is picking up my favorite songs from a movie I just watched and playing it on the piano afterwards. I've recently watched the remake of Pride & Prejudice with Keira Knightley and fell in love with the music from that movie. So in my free time I've been practicing a couple songs from there. I also switch up the music a little bit by going back and forth with romantic songs from Asian dramas and such.

Life at home is wonderful when beautiful music surrounds you~

Summer reading

Despite last night's reality check, I feel a little better after a restful night. I've been following a strict bed time schedule, which is really hard for me to do, but I need all the sleep I can get for my 8am class.

Anyway, I checked out two books online from the Orange County Library and I am so happy right now because I came home and found the books sitting on the kitchen table. I've been dying to read leisurely these past couple of months. But I wish the books arrived last weekend when I had more free time because now I have exams to study for these next couple of days! :(

On the other hand, I should be glad that I was even able to get a hold of these books because they are all checked out and on hold at all the Orange County Library branches. I've heard good reviews so I'm very excited to start on them soon after school is over. I feel like reading helps put my mind at peace because I'm not talking and just listening to the words in my head.

stick to the B.E.A.T.

If you like hip & fresh new music, then you'll love my current playlist! Here is a mix of indie, soul, pop, funk.

1. Sara Bareilles - Gravity
2. A Fine Frenzy - Almost Lover
3. Keri Noble - Look At Me
4. Lykke Li - Little Bit
* love the Swedish accent.
5. Justice - D.A.N.C.E.
* caution: listening may cause you to get up & D.A.N.C.E.

3 Oddest Words

When I pronounce the word Future,
the first syllable already belongs to the past.
When I pronounce the word Silence, I destroy it.
When I pronounce the word Nothing,
I make something no nonbeing can hold.

- Wislawa Szymborska

Heidi's hair

I watched the first episode of Project Runway from season 5 last night and I absolutely love the length of Heidi's hair.It's not too short and not too long. Perfect for an indecisive person like me.

11am coffee break

Picture from Elle.com

Last night my sister & I had a conversation about music and fashion. And we came to the conclusion that just because it's not your style, it doesn't mean that it's not music or fashion.

I've had that conclusion about fashion for a while now. A lot of people think they understand trends and what is fashionable or not. But they really don't. I've heard of the most ridiculous theories, coming from people who are only familiar with one type of style: their style. So...I've learned to not listen to these people.

That is all. :)

Five Lessons About How To Treat People

-- Author Unknown

1. First Important Lesson - "Know The Cleaning Lady"

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello."

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.


2. Second Important Lesson - "Pickup In The Rain"

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.

A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home.

A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."

Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.


3. Third Important Lesson - "Remember Those Who Serve"

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "50¢," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "35¢!" she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.

When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.


4. Fourth Important Lesson - "The Obstacles In Our Path"

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand - "Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition."


5. Fifth Important Lesson - "Giving When It Counts"

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save her."

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?".

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

Rainy days

It's currently raining outside and I'm sitting here on my bed looking outside my window. Unlike most people, I love the rain. I emphasized the word love because I truly do love the rain. The only time I despise rain is when I'm walking to my next class on campus without an umbrella or when I'm driving and I cannot see anything. But other than that, there is so much that you can do when it's raining. Like go out of the house dressed in a nice pair of rain boots or a cute trench coat. But one of my favorite things to do when it's raining is to do nothing and just watch the rain peacefully fall on the ground. The only thing I'm missing right now is a good book.

And since I don't have a reading book, I'll just check LOOKBOOK.nu for now. Lookbook.nu is a source for fashion inspiration from people around the world. Sometimes I think I belong in a bigger city with those kinds of people.

Gravity

"Something always brings me back to you.
It never takes too long.
No matter what I say or do I'll still feel you here 'til the moment I'm gone."

Clean up on aisle four, please