Showing posts with label macbook pro. Show all posts

I feel like recently I've been half-assing the entries here. Random posts from Flickr, little blurbs about random things, etc. I feel kind of bad, although I don't have that many readers. But still, for my own sake I feel bad as this is supposed to be a place where I record memories and such for posterity's sake. Especially when my memory fails (as it is slowly doing nowadays).

So why this lackluster, half-heartedness when it comes to blogging? Well, it's not just blogging, I've realized. I haven't drawn anything in the past month. I actually did start a Christmas-oriented one the day before I left for D.C., but it's sitting in my moleskin unfinished and untouched currently.

For a while, it was because I felt like my slacking off during the semester was catching up to me, with all these assignments due before the start of break. In between panicking and actually doing the work, there wasn't any mental energy left to do anything besides watch CSI or catch up on Numb3rs. :P Terrible, I know, but got to find some way to let the stress out, no?

Then we (classmates and I) realized that there actually wasn't that much, especially with one of our papers' deadline pushed to final examination time (phew!). So instead I asked the girls if they wanted to go into Brussels to check out the Christmas Market (since I heard about it last time JC was here, but didn't get the chance to go). More bonding with the girls these past few weeks thanks to the presentation meetings and coffee breaks between classes.

After realizing that all my classes for the last week were canceled since materials were all covered, and there was no reason to meet, I decided to, quite last minute, find a flight and fly out earlier to D.C. Why not right? My last assignment due Friday is turned in via e-mail, so no worries there. Although since landing here last night, I've felt no motivation to do anything but play with the new macbook and ipod touch, so that's not good. :P

So now I'm here. The last two days in Leuven before flying here, I was trying to finish all my perishables which made for very weird meals. My last dinner consisted of salami and fried egg sandwich (which is a really weird combination. Note to self, don't do that again) plus leftover ramen soup with corn and mushrooms. Then I OD'd on oranges. I also didn't get a chance to do laundry, so I brought all my dirty clothes here. Wahahaha. Plus a lot of chocolates and some Belgian waffle biscuits. For the mom.

The flight here was long with many delays. Having woken up at 5:45 am to get to the airport by 7:30 am (thankfully I had a ride), I was exhausted throughout the flight even though I couldn't really sleep well (I hate flying. Hate it.). My period also decided to grace me with its presence halfway through the flight (perfect timing as usual). But, my luggage and I got here in one piece, so all is well. ^^ I also raided the supermarket that very night (pancake mix and chocolate chips, POM juice, cheetos, Pepperidge Farm chocolate chip cookies ...). I am ready to EAT.

My first full day in D.C. was spent at Montgomery Mall (now known as Westfield Mall, but will always be Montgomery Mall in my heart) at the Mac store. I thought I would have to check in my laptop for like seven plus days for them to fix it. But after sitting at the Genius Bar for a bit while the Genius attempted various ways to get my keys to work (unsuccessfully), he checked to see if they had the part in stock (which they did, PHEW!), and after an hour, my macbook pro had a brand new keyboard with the fan not making funky exploding noises. I also had a brand new Aeropostale jacket (it's FURRY!) and Body Shop Shower Gel. Exciting!

Fixed computer (it's a laptop once again!), new jacket, new iPod Touch, new Macbook (although not for me, but I have made it my own - all the setup/configuring/softwares are pretty much identical to my MBP, just on a better computer than mine *tear*). Then there's the parents (and sister and cousin soon), Maryland (it's kind of like coming home after all these years - trying to re-orient myself and remembering bits and pieces), vacation time (although still have to do hw/study). What a perfect holiday season. :)

Typing that last sentence makes me scared because whenever I type something about how I'm happy or things are going well, things tend to go south. But. It is what it is, and I shall not spoiled my content entry with pessimistic thoughts, so I just want to wish everyone (anyone?) reading this, Happy Holidays! And a Happy New Year. Hopefully 2009 will be a much better, healthful, and happier year. :D



Last thing - new Stanley Huang album that's out (We All Lay Down in the End) is pretty friggin fantastic. I've had it on repeat all day long. Now I need to get my some Tyrone Wells and the Wong Fu DVD Picker got me, and I'll be an even happier/contented poo. ^^

I've been accident prone and stupid lately. What with falling flat on my hands and knees on the stairs or hitting my head against the upper bunk or oversleeping class, but I think today's takes the cake. It's so stupid and ... stupid that I don't even know what/how to title the entry.

Basically I was enjoying my hot ramen for lunch because it's a cold day here in Leuven. Mmm, warm, steamy, hot soup. Good stuff, right? Until I decide to share it with my laptop. Yup! I spilled my soup all over my desk, in the electronics area. Basically my laptop. My Mac. My baby!!! Ahhhhhh, I think I nearly had a heart attack and proceeded to have an emotional rollercoaster ride for the rest of the afternoon.

So as soon as it happened, I turned off the computer, unplugged everything and started wiping and cleaning. It was a mess because it was all over one side of the table, had to wipe my speakers, save my white printer paper, etc. and it was on the floor as well. I didn't realize it was on the floor, so I was tracking it everywhere in the room with my slippers. Well, long story short, it was a lot of cleaning and cursing and thinking, what the hell was I doing?! Even now when I try to think back to what happened, I can't remember how it happened. It didn't fall out of my hand or anything, it just tipped and spilled. But how did it tip? Why did it tip? I have no recollection. Sigh.

Anyway, so after that I called my sister to try and figure out what to do with the laptop because I had no one else to call (sigh). So after hearing that I should either air dry it or take it to an Apple service center, I decided to take it to a center just in case they had better advice. There's an Apple Reseller downtown near the train station, so I walk out in the cold (AND RAIN) to wait for the bus. I get to the Reseller, and the salesman tells me I have to take it to their service center, which is a 15 minute walk away. 15 min. Ok, not so bad, so I take his directions and head out into an area I have never been before. It was also where the Stella Artois and assorted other manufacturing companies were located. They even had a port-ish area with a canal and boats! I have to admit, I was a little sketched out and scared because it was kind of desserted and didn't look so ... um ... friendly and clean and happy like the rest of Leuven.

After wandering around a bit in the area (because salesman just told me how to get to the area, but not where the shop is actually located), IN THE RAIN, I finally find the service center. Turns out what they advise is pretty much the same thing, use a blow dryer to dry it for 30 minutes and hope it turns on. If it doesn't, then I take it back to them, pay 70 Euros for an inspection fee, and wait 5 to 7 days. Definitely not the alternative I wanted - expensive and long and no guarantee on how much more it'll cost to fix it (what if I had to replace the logic board?! AHHHHH). So, I trek back home and proceed to blow dry my laptop.

And pray pray pray that it would turn on. After 30 minutes of drying, I plug in my battery, cross my fingers, and hit the power button. Wow, hearing that startup chime has never been sweeter. Seeing the password screen has never made me happier. Then I tried to type my password. Nothing. Nothing came out. Well, technically not true. One or two keys actually worked, but everything else was dead. !@#$@#$!#$%! Ok, I told myself not to panic. It turns on, right? Just the keyboard's not working. I can go and get an external USB keyboard, plug it in, and all will be well (for now), right? So, I head out to my local computer store (which is pretty close by, thank God) and get the cheapest USB keyboard I can find. I come home, plug it in, turn on the computer, and type my password. IT WORKS! Yessssssss.

Then I realized I needed to plug in my ac adapter because I was using my crappy battery. *Plug* Why isn't the light coming on? WHY ISN'T THERE AN ORANGE LIGHT?! I unplug, replug, clean the plug area, plug, nothing. I couldn't believe it. By this point I was so frustrated at the computer, angry at myself, and all this negative shit, that I just couldn't take it anymore. It's like up and down, up and down, up and down, all in the matter of 2 hours. The soul cannot take it, at least not mine. So I call my sister and BAWL like no tomorrow because I'm just so mad and angry and UGH, and suddenly, mid-bawling, the light comes on. AHHHHHHH!!! I stare at it for a few seconds unsure if it was a fluke or me hallucinating or it really came on. And after it stayed on for a few minutes, I proceeded to bawl with relief.

Sigh. So right now basically all is well *crosses fingers* except the keyboard. And since it's my fault, it won't be covered under warranty. Since for now I can get by with an external keyboard, I think I may wait till I get to the States and hope it's cheaper there to get it fixed. But yah, that was my stupidity for the year, I hope. I am keeping liquid away from my computer from now on. Ahhhhhhh. SO STUPID. Why am I so CLUMSY?!

And of course this has to happen in a totally foreign country where I don't have the computer store and employees to help me out. Sigh. Just my luck. Woo.

I've decided I have a love and hate relationship with Apple Inc. Why?! Because they produce such pretty things every year but at a high price. SO! I hate them for making me want to spend the money that I don't have, but I love because their things are so pretty. And good. And awesome. And ... yes, I am an Apple fan. Sigh.

Anyway, so Apple announcement today - New Macbook Pros, Macbooks, and 24" Cinema Display (FINALLY), and also updated Macbook Air. Wowees. Oh, and cheaper older version of the white Macbooks (although I was really hoping for an 899 USD Macbook). The Macbooks have pretty much become smaller versions of the MBP's - 13.3 in. screens but otherwise looks the same as MBPs.

I don't know. Maybe I need some more time to get used to it, but the black on silver on a laptop doesn't really do it for me. I still like how the old MBPs looked. All silver. Now everything kind of just looks like the iMac, as a friend pointed out. Even the cinema display (which looks really cool! I want!) looks like an iMac. Sigh.

But, nonetheless, I STILL WANT ONE, MBP that is. As the same friend pointed out, the macbooks can now outrun my 1.83Ghz even more (Ouch, that HURTS). Before it didn't hurt as bad, but with these new upgrades on the Macbook ... *Sigh* It's ok. I still <3 my mbp although Photoshop crashed on me three times today and and and keeps giving me the spinning wheel of death. Argh. But no! Actually, if my MBP wants to die on me soon, better do it before March 19th when my warranty runs out. Ahhhhhhh.

At least I'm over the Macbook Air. :) I just want a $2499 MBP now. HEEHEE. Just kidding. No, not really. Sigh.



End Apple Rave.

You never realize which keys on the keyboard you use a lot until it goes missing. I miss my "tab" key. It fell off randomly the other day. I DON'T KNOW WHY! And I'm too lazy to go to an Apple reseller to get it put back on because I might as well just check in the whole computer to get fixed (I have fan and logic board issues too). I'm also too lazy to back up my data (bad! bad! must! back! up! reminds me of this... teehee!) My poor macbook pro. Not even three years old and it's falling apart already. Well, maybe that's a good thing. I can take advantage of my Apple Care which I only paid 200 usd for! Proud of myself. Thank God I have friends who are cheap and would rather make money than warrantify their laptop. PHEW! I must say, though, this extended warranty has been well worth the money - fixed my fan, replaced my screen, fixed the isight ... and coming up is fixing the logic board, which normally costs hundreds of dollars if the comp's outta warranty. Nothing makes me happier than money well spent. :P

Anyway, IT'S SO HOT. Yes, I finally get to the point. I don't know what the temperature is, but it's humid and hot and ICKY. I miss dry hot summers. So Cal, why did I leave you? Well, it's not like I ever really spent a summer there, though. Always traveled back to Asia or Canada during my four years in UCLA. Maybe I wouldn't enjoy hot dry summers in LA. But now I'll never know! Unless I move there! Ha!

This is a random entry.

Who uses Twitter?! Out of all the gazillion friends I have (I wish), I only have one friend who uses it. And he just recently got it. And the last time he updated was four days ago. What's the point of following him if he doesn't update?! No point I say. So! Who else has got Twitter that I can follow?

Anybody else use Digg.com? I love it. Lots of good entertaining articles that people digg, although you kinda have to sort through them, but hey, when you've got nothing else to do, it's a good time killer.

I'm stressed. Tomorrow's THE DAY I tell the colleague who hired me and got me the full time posish ... I am afraid. Why? Because I feel guilty! Ahhhhh. I don't want to talk about it (even though I brought it up. ha!)

My cousin's getting married this Saturday. Yay.

This entry has become filled with my random train of thoughts.

I'm so tired. Mentally. Physically. Stressing is just bad for your whole system. Cortisol levels are HIGH! Immune system is LOW! Woo! Psych has actually taught me something!

Ok, I shall leave before I say something inappropriate.

OOOO. Speaking of which, funny (sick?) thought I came up with during a convo I had with my friend today (requires knowledge of Mandarin).

Me: it's ok, he can be your gan弟弟 (little brother)
...
Me: gan as in first sound gan(乾), not fourth sound gan(幹).

HAHA. Ok, the only reason why I thought of that was because when I used pinyin to type gan, the Chinese character it gave me first was fourth sound gan (which basically means f*ck!) when I actually wanted the first sound gan (where gan di di means God brother, kinda). So. yah. It was also funny 'cause the guy we were talking about is 17 years old. ooooo. So bad. :P

A little window into my weird little mind.