the P.Pole v.2.1

5 reasons why this week is adding up to be a bottom-feeding one:

• walked rather stupidly into a math quiz on a section whose lesson I happened to miss
• got smacked by my math teacher for leaving my answer as a vector (I didn’t see the magnitude signs/absolute value brackets)
• wrote a biology test with next to no preparation because, not uncharacteristically, I forgot about it
• answered a chemistry homework question on the board (not having done the actual homework beforehand) and had to correct the damned answer six times in front of the class
• got hassled by my math teacher for scribbling on my desk and was subsequently forced to erase the tops of many other desks as well as my own

As you can clearly see, all these are to do with school. I think after hitting some pretty good peaks in my mental health/strength cycle, I’m now on the downside of that hill. If you didn’t happen to already know this, your body and mine both run on biological cycles. There are three main ones, I believe, which are our emotional, physical, and mental cycles (I’m not sure about this but I learned it from a matchmaker quiz scam that my school ran last year). Each one runs on a different period length. Not surprisingly, the physical cycle runs on a 28 day period (my female readers above the age of ten should know what I mean instantly). The other two run on periods lasting approximately 22 days and… I don’t really know, so we’ll say X number of days.
Anyway, the point is that at different times, your “performance” will peak and you’ll hit some pretty remarkable clocking speeds (yeah I’m a nerd). Half a period later, you’ll be at the trough of your biological cycle and you’ll basically be getting massive ping. So let’s take mental performance for instance (as this is what I’m chiefly concerned about at the moment). At some point in time, you’re going to get maybe a week or so of awesome responsiveness from your brain. This is the absolute best time frame to have loads of tests and assignments as you’ll fly through them and be able to make all the necessary connections to totally pwn. Awhile after, however, you’ll notice your mind slowing down. You’ll notice sluggishness and hardcore brain-death if you’re anything like me. You’re also going to become more and more scatterbrained, lazy, and generally stupid as you progress into this stupid period.
And this stupid period is where I’m hoping I just passed. Generally my peaks and troughs aren’t quite as long as an entire week but sometimes they’ll last longer. Either way, I don’t like feeling/ being stupid. I don’t think anyone does. It’s not really about marks here. It’s more about getting things together and not being so unresponsive to stimulation (i.e. lessons, conversations, pretty stuff). Just yesternight I whipped out my bass and tried playing. And just as I suspected, I could hardly string together a coherent Hysteria (the one here I recorded just now).

I’ve got an addiction to a certain anime series called The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya that I’ve mentioned before. Well, having been linked to a Haruhi YouTube video from Tim’s blog the other day, I’ve gotten myself hooked on the soundtrack too. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the soundtrack even before then, but I’d never bothered to grab the actual lyrical tracks (as in non-background music tracks) until now. Here are two tracks for your J-Popping pleasure.

• Aya Hirano - God Knows
  
• Aya Hirano - Lost My Music
  

Do excuse the Japanese Engrish (more noticeable in the the second track) but Aya Hirano is the actual voice actress for Haruhi, and she’s uncharacteristically decent at singing so I’m impressed. There are a few other YouTube Haruhis (notably God Knows w/ Gundams and the recording of Lost My Music) that are pretty fun too. There’s just something about the dynamite combination of awesome anime mixed with Gundams (haha, the actual Gundam series episodes aren’t the best IMO) that makes for fun times.

EDIT: Some more YouTube searching has yielded some beauties by Kurikinton Fox. He did covers/instrumental versions of “God Knows” and “Lost My Music” and both are ridiculously good. This guy’s a monster.

That was printed in bright neon pink on a sign I saw for a clinic in the Finch and Yonge area. I happened to be on the return trip from this badminton season’s first match (against Earl Haig of all schools–they were exceptionally good last year). Henry and I faced off against two mostly nondescript opponents today in Boys Doubles B, and lost. Score-wise, it was a terrible showing (the best score being 15:8 for them) but in terms of the actual rallies and overall skill level, I’d have to say we were on par if not better than them. They were… consistent. It’s funny how consistency is my problem with my badminton game too.
We played a good game and held our own, but gave up our serving opportunities (and thus, points too) far too easily (which explains the ugly scores).
On another note, my talk with Arthur went poorly enough (as I’d predicted awhile ago). Without boring you with the details/flaming Arthur here, I’ll just say it was an unpleasant ordeal that I won’t be making the mistake of willingly subjecting myself to again anytime soon. A part of me (the less angry/bitter/brooding part) actually realizes the great tragedy that lies in a pastor being unable to connect healthily with his… what the hell am I to him? A “pastee” (or maybe a prospective paycheck… okay, too cynical)? Well whatever I am, I can’t find myself being able to trust this person fully with my anything.
Sure, I’ll hear what he has to say about Scripture (God knows he’s spent more time studying it than I have). I’ll even assume his reasoning/logic processes are valid before he even speaks if I’m in a good mood. But time and time again I find that we’ve been unable to connect properly (like a Pokemon Silver to a Pokemon Red) and this wreaks havoc on our “discussions”.
I think Gob from AD said it best when he flipped out at Annyong with, “Augh–! Would you just –! Gaugh, this f–’n kid!” Then again, maybe I’m just a sarcastic, bitter, and unbalanced teenager who has got some major character flaws.

This happened a few days ago: I got up from bed and I was two bites into my breakfast when it decided to get up from my stomach. I threw up and I was confused. I thought I was pregnant but I didn’t know what to feel. Was I supposed to be something similar to happy? Babies sometimes do that to people. But a mother at the tender age of sixteen and a half? It was too much to stomach–I like raunchy puns. I also like misusing yellow adjectives. I felt uneasy and so did my stomach. Whose baby was it? Who was the father? Of course I was. Who else could it be?! I couldn’t ever digest the thought of my significant other being unfaithful. I was still bent over the bowl. Then I remembered something and a quick visual check confirmed my suspicion. Everything seemed to be in its place. Still intact I see. Good. I’ll need you in a bit. I flushed. My day was beckoning. The end.

This is my Valentine’s Day post. Yes, I’m surprised I acknowledged such a fluffy special day too. First off the bat, some Bible reading from 1 Corinthians 7:1-40 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>1 Corinthians 7 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F46007001-46007040" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F46007001-46007040" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2> <div class="esv-text"><h3 id="p46007001.01-1">Principles for Marriage</h3> <p id="p46007001.04-1"><span class="chapter-num" id="v46007001-1">7:1&nbsp;</span>Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: &#8220;It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.&#8221; <span class="verse-num" id="v46007002-1">2&nbsp;</span>But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007003-1">3&nbsp;</span>The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007004-1">4&nbsp;</span>For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007005-1">5&nbsp;</span>Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.</p> <p id="p46007006.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v46007006-1">6&nbsp;</span>Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.<span class="footnote">&nbsp;<a href="#f1" id="b1" title="Or 'I say this:'">[1]</a></span> <span class="verse-num" id="v46007007-1">7&nbsp;</span>I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.</p> <p id="p46007008.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v46007008-1">8&nbsp;</span>To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007009-1">9&nbsp;</span>But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.</p> <p id="p46007010.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v46007010-1">10&nbsp;</span>To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband <span class="verse-num" id="v46007011-1">11&nbsp;</span>(but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.</p> <p id="p46007012.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v46007012-1">12&nbsp;</span>To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007013-1">13&nbsp;</span>If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007014-1">14&nbsp;</span>For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007015-1">15&nbsp;</span>But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you<span class="footnote">&nbsp;<a href="#f2" id="b2" title="Some manuscripts 'us'">[2]</a></span> to peace. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007016-1">16&nbsp;</span>For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?</p> <h3 id="p46007017.01-1">Live as You Are Called</h3> <p id="p46007017.06-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v46007017-1">17&nbsp;</span>Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007018-1">18&nbsp;</span>Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007019-1">19&nbsp;</span>For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007020-1">20&nbsp;</span>Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007021-1">21&nbsp;</span>Were you a slave<span class="footnote">&nbsp;<a href="#f3" id="b3" title="Greek 'bondservant'; also twice in verse 22 and once in verse 23 (plural)">[3]</a></span> when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) <span class="verse-num" id="v46007022-1">22&nbsp;</span>For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007023-1">23&nbsp;</span>You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007024-1">24&nbsp;</span>So, brothers,<span class="footnote">&nbsp;<a href="#f4" id="b4" title="Or 'brothers and sisters'; also verse 29">[4]</a></span> in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.</p> <h3 id="p46007025.01-1">The Unmarried and the Widowed</h3> <p id="p46007025.06-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v46007025-1">25&nbsp;</span>Now concerning<span class="footnote">&nbsp;<a href="#f5" id="b5" title="The expression 'Now concerning' introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1">[5]</a></span> the betrothed,<span class="footnote">&nbsp;<a href="#f6" id="b6" title="Greek 'virgins'">[6]</a></span> I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007026-1">26&nbsp;</span>I think that in view of the present<span class="footnote">&nbsp;<a href="#f7" id="b7" title="Or 'impending'">[7]</a></span> distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007027-1">27&nbsp;</span>Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007028-1">28&nbsp;</span>But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman<span class="footnote">&nbsp;<a href="#f8" id="b8" title="Greek 'virgin'; also verse 34">[8]</a></span> marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007029-1">29&nbsp;</span>This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, <span class="verse-num" id="v46007030-1">30&nbsp;</span>and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, <span class="verse-num" id="v46007031-1">31&nbsp;</span>and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.</p> <p id="p46007032.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v46007032-1">32&nbsp;</span>I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007033-1">33&nbsp;</span>But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, <span class="verse-num" id="v46007034-1">34&nbsp;</span>and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007035-1">35&nbsp;</span>I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.</p> <p id="p46007036.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v46007036-1">36&nbsp;</span>If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed,<span class="footnote">&nbsp;<a href="#f9" id="b9" title="Greek 'virgin'; also verses 37, 38">[9]</a></span> if his<span class="footnote">&nbsp;<a href="#f10" id="b10" title="Or 'her'">[10]</a></span> passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry&#8212;it is no sin. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007037-1">37&nbsp;</span>But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007038-1">38&nbsp;</span>So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.</p> <p id="p46007039.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v46007039-1">39&nbsp;</span>A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. <span class="verse-num" id="v46007040-1">40&nbsp;</span>Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> <div class="footnotes"> <h3>Footnotes</h3> <p><span class="footnote"><a href="#b1" id="f1">[1]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">7:6</span> Or <em>I say this:</em> <br /> <span class="footnote"><a href="#b2" id="f2">[2]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">7:15</span> Some manuscripts <em>us</em> <br /> <span class="footnote"><a href="#b3" id="f3">[3]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">7:21</span> Greek <em>bondservant</em>; also twice in verse 22 and once in verse 23 (plural) <br /> <span class="footnote"><a href="#b4" id="f4">[4]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">7:24</span> Or <em>brothers and sisters</em>; also verse 29 <br /> <span class="footnote"><a href="#b5" id="f5">[5]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">7:25</span> The expression <em>Now concerning</em> introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1 <br /> <span class="footnote"><a href="#b6" id="f6">[6]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">7:25</span> Greek <em>virgins</em> <br /> <span class="footnote"><a href="#b7" id="f7">[7]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">7:26</span> Or <em>impending</em> <br /> <span class="footnote"><a href="#b8" id="f8">[8]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">7:28</span> Greek <em>virgin</em>; also verse 34 <br /> <span class="footnote"><a href="#b9" id="f9">[9]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">7:36</span> Greek <em>virgin</em>; also verses 37, 38 <br /> <span class="footnote"><a href="#b10" id="f10">[10]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">7:36</span> Or <em>her</em> </p> </div> </div>
(longish passage). This will be the passage Hosanna will be digesting and working over this week at the church so perhaps it would be good for any attenders to read it over before coming. It has relevance to today since well, it’s got to do with marriage. Since today’s the day that many hopeful boys will be popping “the Big Question” to patient girls, I figure it’d relate.

3 things in short supply today:

• Roses: Boys think girls like flowers, even though they don’t understand why. Girls like flowers, but don’t ask me to explain why.
• Chocolates: These tasty aphrodisiacs are no doubt going to be going like hot cakes today. I never could figure out the connection between buying a girl a box of chocolates on Valentine’s, but that was before I heard about this candy’s magical pant-loosing properties.
• Relaxation: What can I say? It could be a stressful time for anyone with any kind of romantic expectations. Will he? Won’t she? Rinse and repeat. I think we all know about that funny feeling you get in your stomach (not the kind you get when you’ve food poisoning and hardcore diarrhea for a week) when you’re with a special someone of the opposite sex… or of the same sex if you’re into that kind of stuff.

Today was an interesting day (not exactly full of romance… but the night is still young!). Okay, I lied, it was really quite mundane (at least up until now). Had a normal school day with a good but short badminton practice after school.
I’ve not posted recently, mostly because of school and Hosanna. I’ll be posting later to report on this Friday’s coffee with Arthur experience so watch out for that I suppose… I actually hate it when he’s the one to ask me to go out for a drink since I can never tell whether he has anything specific he wants to bring up or if he wants me to talk about my life (not my forte with most people). We’ll see what happens.

EDIT: And for the romantic musical types out there, there’s “She Is” by the Fray.

And as for Moyee’s request, there’s “Question” by Rhett Miller.

I don’t normally link to other blogs’ posts, but this one I thought you would be interested in (click title for the short, nerdy post). What I enjoyed in particular was this person’s (i.e. “chetho”) comment:

My girlfriend plays almost all video games with me…. That’s one of the reasons I started dating her. And no, she’s not a man. or ugly, or fat.

I think why he had to make sure to explain that this “girlfriend” was not of the highly undesirable (for a girlfriend) sorts. To find a girl who enjoys gaming as much as yourself (or at least enough to play with you) is indeed something very special, if not nearly impossible altogether.

In other gaming news, I thoroughly finished and refinished God of War and have moved on to Final Fantasy XII. It’s been slow to start but the game’s really picking up speed with me. I find myself actually working harder than normal just so that I have more time for gaming. Yes, it’s pitiful, but I count it as one of the few unadulterated pleasures I can enjoy.
I used to get hassled a lot by my parents (especially my mother) but after we had an experimental phase (consisting of mostly me playing a load of games and many tests over the same period of time), we found that my hours spent with my electronic mistresses had no effect on my marks. Nowadays, they abandon me to my games and I them to their… whatever they do for fun (television? clean the house?).
But to return to my original topic, I found it pretty awesome of Crystal to actually play me in Winning Eleven when she came over the other day (and not completely suck at it either!). I mean, I was creaming her the first few rounds, but she actually managed to score a couple on me near the fourth or fifth matches… Good times? Yes. Now all I have to do is find a way to get her to like Die Hard movies and we’ll be set.

It’s these substandard motels on the corner of 4th and Fremont Street,
Appealing only because they are just that unappealing.
Any practiced Catholic would cross themselves upon entering.
The rooms have a hint of asbestos and maybe just a dash of formaldehyde,
And the habit of decomposing right before your very eyes.Along with the people inside…
What a wonderful caricature of intimacy!
Inside, what a wonderful caricature of intimacy!Tonight tenants range from a lawyer and a virgin,
Accessorising with a rosary tucked inside her lingerie.
She’s getting a job at the firm come Monday.
The Mrs. will stay with the cheating attorney:
Moonlighting aside, she really needs his money.
Oh, wonderful caricature of intimacy.And not to mention, the constable, and his proposition, for that virgin,
Yes, the one the lawyer met with on “Strictly business,”
As he said to the Mrs.–well, only hours before.
After he had left, she was fixing her face in a compact.
There was a terrible crash! (There was a terrible crash!)
Between her and the badge.
She spilled her purse and her bag, and held a purse of a different kind.