when i first saw my grade for my Chinese paper (written in English) my first instinct was that my prof was being really harsh and that i probably really didn't deserve that grade... and i even asked how the class fared... and later tried to justify my grade with the knowledge that even with 4 grad students in the class there was only one A-.... shifting blame to him... but on hindsight, after going for office hours to talk about it, i concede that i really didn't do a good job. yes, he might be a little strict, but not unreasonable... and after reviewing some errors i made, i figured i really did write a mediocre paper... which reminds me how it's so easy/tempting to grow complacent if one receives good grades consistently... there's always room for improvement but we don't always consistently progress in that direction, whatever the reason might be... and so my next challenge is to try to get an A from him (instead of secretly cursing how evil and harsh he is; in fact, on the contrary, he's actually a very approachable and friendly prof)
also didn't do too well for history midterm.. i almost failed my IDs!! haha. i just am rather bad at giving these nitty gritty details. and so i have to work extra hard to churn out a good response paper on Saturday. seriously i'm so tired from doing work all week... but sigh. just two more days and i can finally rest on Sunday. it helps though that we are starting to read texts on Mao Zedong, which i find really interesting. =)

after turning in my prob set and reading through my notes i feel like at least i kinda understand my 142 class material... only that i prob wun ace my exams. it's actually pretty cool stuff, just not really my cup of tea. can't decide if i should change it to p/np though. let's see how my MT goes on thurs. and decided to drop in at KC's office finally to ask some questions... i went in at 420 and before i knew it it was like 530 and i think i learnt the answers to 2 econometrics questions, along with what hormone replacement therapy is, how to deal with ppl who just BS, how sharp KC's doctor has to be given that he knows all these stats about all these health studies etc....and when i checked my watch and got a shock how he actually went on for like an hour, think he noticed my expression and coudln't help laughing at himself either... and so i happily trotted down to MLK building at around 540, thinking that i prob shouldnt' be too late for the talk on poverty by Senator John Edwards (doors open at 530), only to be greeted by this snaking line that reached right up to the Dwinelle courtyard... but still managed to get in =)

hmm. actually i'm so tempted to share some really funny things KC said in class today... but i guess i shouldn't. my turn to practise self-control. anyway, this is random, but a couple of days ago, while reading things related to still-up-in-the-air thesis, i came across a blog with a pictorial summary of some of the issues i care about.... and such injustice probably isn't an isolated example. actually, it's prob not just limited to China, either...

for the very first time, before getting into bed himself, Kai ran to my door and said precociously, "Go get into bed!". aww.

i think i'll go mad soon. spent half of yest and half of today trying to figure out my econometrics prob set 2 rather unsuccessfully. 142 shall be the BANE of my already low econ GPA... and i'm past the point of no return (cannot change to P/NP anymore!!!) can't believe i took a fatal class that i dun even need just cos prof says amusing random things in class.... aaarrgh. but still maintain that KC is a good teacher and have to admit i have been neglecting class material the past few weeks...

can feel that i'm finally getting better and so feel really thankful =P but it also means that i'm gonna start binging again cos the precious eat-too-much-will-feel-uncomfortable feeling is starting to subside.... sometimes i wish the stomach wasn't expandable; that way when you finish your proper meals then it says... uh-oh... i'm full. then i can't eat anything else. haha. but then if that really happens i'll complain why stomach so rigid, dun give me space for dessert... =P
was really excited when Telebears started on Tues cos i thought i could sign up for this digital animation art class... unfortunately i misread the prerequisites... and i only fulfilled 1 out of 3. =( but i signed up for Visual Studies 181, which is Introduction to Photography.... unfortunately that gives priority to students from College of Environmental Design so i might not get it in the end either.... ASUC art studio actually offers a class on Digitial Video come this Oct 26, but it's like 100 something bucks for think 5 lessons! too poor to afford it. must save up to travel this Winter =P