- Time to get out of Taiwan for probably the next four years, at least. Politics suck, majorly. I wish I could understand what people are thinking, then maybe I won't think they're all idiots.

- I hate it when people, especially those around me, criticize celebrities for their physical "imperfections," when they're not even imperfections. They can be what makes them unique, yet because it's different from the "norm" it's considered unacceptable for these famous people to have because they're a celebrity. So then they go and get plastic surgery because of all the pressure on them to fit in with people's expectations of what celebs should be. But then once they do, other people criticize them for getting breast augmentation or liposuction or whatever. They can't win.

Ok, granted, they are celebs and should know that that's what they're getting themselves into since it's become part of their "job," but if they're making good music, acting well, then aren't they doing their jobs of providing entertainment? Why do we have to be so judgmental about how they look? It's because of all this societal pressure that most of the ladies on the big and small screens have to look good 24/7 and be skinny and not have any glaring imperfections. If they do, then they get criticized like no tomorrow.

And people wonder why young people today have some sort of eating disorder or major issues with their body images. Is it really the media's fault? or is it society's? It's a negative cycle with constant reinforcement going on, and I don't foresee it going away any time soon.

It just makes me really frustrated when I hear people around me so critical about someone else's appearance. What's it to you?! Why does it matter? It's not harming you in any way, but it could be harming them in a major way.

- The latest fashion trend in Taiwan, well, Taipei at least, seems to be knee-high boots with short skirts or shorts and tights. Basically, it's skirt/shorts with tights underneath and knee-high boots. Taiwanese people sure love to layer things; they did it with shirts, now they're doing it with the lower body.

I don't really understand the short skirt/short with knee-high boots when it's like 10 degrees celsius out. No tights, just skirt/short and boots. Aren't they cold?! I also don't understand shirts that are long, but not long enough to be dresses with tights. That's not just a Taiwan thing, but it's becoming more prevalent here. Tights are not pants. That's all I can say.

Yes, I hate tights. I also really dislike those people who wear knee-high boots with neon-colored-knee-high stockings that are 2 inches higher than the boots. It's ugly! It doesn't look good, IMO anyway. Ahhhhh.


Image from A Bug's Life.

There's a store that sells glasses near our apartment where apparently six cats reside. I say apparently because I've never seen all six at once, but there's always one or two sitting/sleeping/playing in the store window. And they're so cute! I know there are two adults because we saw those two before, but then one day when we were passing by we saw SO MANY kittens sleeping on the little bench in the store window. I heard they were giving some of them away, so I guess there are only four remaining. They're growing bigger everyday! It's like watching them grow up. I wish I could have one. :( If only I didn't have allergies. BOO!

Anyway, pictures! There are like three pictures of the same cat because that one's my favorite - its fur has three colors! White, orange, and gray. SO CUTE. Enjoy :)












Awww, it looks so peaceful while sleeping. awwwww <3

I just finished watching the Japanese drama 一公升的眼淚 (A Liter of Tears), which I started watching back when I was still in LA. I caught the final episode on TV tonight, and right now, my eyes are so swollen and tired from all that crying. This is one show where I can actually cry through the whole thing. I think it's a good thing I kinda skipped a couple (like five) episodes otherwise my eyes would be way more swollen than it is right now.

It's based on a true story about a girl with Spinocerebellar Atrophy. Basically it's a disease where the cerebellum atrophies :P useful, huh? Anyway, they basically lose control of fine motor movements and eventually can't walk, speak, swallow, and most likely will die as there is no known cure for the disease. :( Anyway, although she goes through the part of asking why her and being in despair, in the end, she holds on and tries her best to help others. She writes in her diaries, which she publishes in a magazine for hospital patients, and she inspires other people with the same disease to continue fighting and living and not giving up. Anyway, I'm doing a bad job explaining it, but man, I wish I had her spirit (not her disease >.<). I don't know how she manages to keep fighting and her spirits high and continue to be selfless in the face of death. She doesn't give up and appreciates her family like no other.

There's this one scene, towards the end, where she's telling her doctor that if/when she dies, she wants to donate her body to science because she wants to be useful to the other patients with her disease and also to the doctors in hopes of finding what causes this kind of disease. And it's like, wow, even in pain and suffering she can still be so strong and selfless. T~T

And the last scene, when the parents and the doctor are standing at the grave of the girl, you see all the people she's touched in her life coming towards them, not just her friends, classmates, and family, but also others with her same disease who are in wheelchairs and look up to her for her positive attitude during her sickness. It was so touching.

Sigh. It's so sad and touching. Non-stop crying. I should probably stop complaining about my misfortunes from now on.