Little blue balloon

In the dreariness of a wintry and cloudy Berkeley, I saw one bright blue balloon bobbing up and down, and it made me instantly perk up. The wonders of a balloon! =D It makes me think of "Up" and how excited I am to watch it this summer, as well as Harry Potter of course!!!

Being back at Berkeley was really enjoyable; best of all was spending time with my ex-roommate and my future roommate. I can't wait to eat the Ferrero Roche chocolates that Charlene gave me!! I feel so dainty eating these chocolates because of the bright gold wrapping paper and the delicate layers of chocolate, nuts, hazelnut flavor melting so deliciously on my tongue. YUMMY!

I am currently missing my baby and thinking about us bowling in Albany just a few days ago. It was so funny when I realized we would be playing next to two elderly ladies, and I remember thinking how embarrasing it would be if my score was worse than theirs! But they turned out to be nice and friendly, and my baby turned out to be a bowling genius!! SO PROUD OF MY 4.0 BOY! =)

And also, it was fun movie-hopping in Emeryville, though we first had to make a dangerous journey across a bridge full of cars whizzing by. Part of me was nervous, the other part was mesmerized by the speed of the cars and the height of the bridge and the wind rushing in my face. But it was fun fun fun! =)

Laughter

Cute, no? =) Makes me think of the movie my sister and I just watched, and how we laughed so hard that both of us were curled up helplessly on the floor in desperate giggles. That kind of laughter is so refreshing and so very necessary!

It has been a sleepy, quiet, all-around-good day. Combination of short stories, chocolate chip cookies, and a banana-with-honey sandwich. It almost feels like a dream, or a movie in slow-motion. =)

Simplicity

Any darn fool can make something complex; it takes a genius to make something simple.

- Pete Seeger

A traveling writer

via bliss

This reminds me so much of my own travel journals, bursting with childish excitement and scribbles, stuffed with airplane ticket stubs and restaurant receipts. I want to continue this tradition for the rest of my life and fill books and books with observations of people and places. =)

Dreaming in Pastel

via decor8

It's true -- I am a big fan of white and pink. =)

Dreamy colors, and I can already feel that this is a start of a dreamy day. =) A perfect day to curl up in the sun with a leisure book and a plate of chocolate chip cookies. And a perfect day to dance with happy abandon to bubbly music in an empty house!!

I already miss walking and the familiar pathways and the wind in my hair.

But home has its secrets and luxuries well, and I am always captured by the lingering scent of soap and green tea.

Currently listening to beautiful music and contemplating an end-of-the-year reflection entry. =)

Arabel's Raven

I like wet leaves on the ground, especially the crimson imprints of star-shaped leaves against dark concrete. =)

Today I saw a big black birdie hopping about the grass, and watching it filled with me such child-like delight. It reminded me of Arabel's raven, Mortimer, and all its silly adventures. I recommend this children's book to anyone who loves quaint descriptions and pictures!

Nervous!

I feel so incredibly nervous for my two finals coming up. Deep breath, deep breath, take a deep breath. It's incredible that 40% percent of my grade depends on a 3 hour exam and that one test is supposed to measure weeks of accumulated knowledge. I can only hope I studied the right things!

Recipe for yummy Yogurtland cup:

Mango and Strawberry with mochi and chocolate chips

MmmmMmm GOOD!!!!!!!!

Missing my books

I really, really miss my childhood books right now. I've read many good novels during my teenage years, but none can quite live up to the simple and poetic delight of The Little Prince", "The Secret Garden", the New Moon series, "The Old-Fashioned Girl", "Little Women", and many more -- books that taught and inspired life lessons so sweetly that I was touched each time I read and reread these beloved tales. Books which contained heroes and heroines captured in everyday boys and girls. Even today I still sometimes think of the Wind Woman when a strong wind is blowing down the street and scattering leaves left and right. I think of Chen-Chen-in-the-mirror. I think of the Little Prince and how such a very little boy could be so very wise. I think of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy singing with their mother, their heads bent together in a sweet picture of girlish affection and daughterly love.

Yogurtland looks very promising! =) Big pink cups and sleek silver yogurt dispensing machines!! I want to be the first customer! I wonder which one of my teeth is my Sweet Tooth. Perhaps all of them? Hehehe!

I am worried that no one will clap for my economics professor today. Usually professors receive applause after delivering their last lecture, but only about a quarter of the students in Econ 100A attend class, and I'm not certain if they'll clap for her. And I'll feel terrible if she doesn't receive applause... so maybe I will try to start the clapping!

Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
Everything you do

Yellow - Coldplay

The nostalgia that comes from listening to a song that one has listened to in the past, over and over again. =)

The happiness that comes from finding a clever solution.

The warmth of familiarity.

Honey Nut Cheerios

On the way to work this morning, I saw someone walking to class while eating honey nut cheerios right out of the cereal bag. Totally something I would do too. =)

A thought

I'm thinking about finals and how nervous I get when my answers on a scantron sheet line up! There is that growing suspicion and sinking feeling in the stomach when the first three answers are C, the next is C, the next is C yet again, until a long vertical line creeps down the sheet and you exclaim in your head, "This just can't be right!".

I'm sure we've all been through this before. =)

I'm so happy it's Friday!!!