People already think this day is scary enough without having to add ACTUAL fear for your life.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/28/black.friday.violence

It’s incredible how stuff like this happens. I was one of those (crazy/stupid/weird/awesome/cool) people who went shopping this morning (avec Donny, Junior, Maggie, and Laura), and seriously, no problems. There was a little waiting at Target but nothing too serious. I was more annoyed at the fact that people were glaring at me as I waiting for the HUGE LINE of people walking in the store. Seriously, I am not going to cut in front of you—but what does it matter? We are all going to the same place. So, you got here two hours before me. I doubt that my walking in with you will even matter. If I happen to sprint faster than you to the electronic section (because I uesd to work there and I know all the shortcuts), more power to me. Seriously, whether I have to wait 10 extra minutes or not, I am still going to get every single DVD I want.

It’s ridiculous. We ended up only staying in Target for 20 minutes (I got everything I wanted), and bolted. This Black Friday drama is so not worth it. That is, not to say I wasn’t happen. I came home LOADED with movies (and a pair of jeans from Old Navy), so I am very happy. I am just kind of tiffed at all the bad press and bad attitudes going around about Black Friday. It’s only bad if you make it to be.

Today is Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I know I’ve been kind of gloomy lately, but I do want everyone to know that I do realize it’s Thanksgiving and I am thankful for many things.

I am thankful for my weird family: my oblivious parents, my adoring sister and brother-in-law, my cutest niece, my regular brother, and all my imaginary friends. (that was a joke) I am also more than thankful for all my extended family: my friends who have put up with more whining than they should be morally obligated to, and the Vietnamese community (who acted like I’d  never been MIA for months now–due to work). This holiday is pretty much a prequel to Christmas, but it’s sweet and I appreciate it. I think it’s just harder to appreciate every little detail with the semester going as it has been.

But yeah. It’s been a week since C and I broke up…and it’s definitely been a difficult week, probably one of the hardest things I’ve gone through in a long time. I don’t know if I can really get into detail with it here, but I’m definitely working on it, on feeling stable. I gave myself about a week to wallow in self pity, but I kind of stopped at 3 days, just because I was more sick of myself than all these people who were comforting me. Not to say there hasn’t been a tear shed here and there, but I’m a progress. And as we say in Asian-American Association (AAA), Progress is a Process.

I don’t know. I definitely haven’t resigned myself to being a hermit for the rest of my life, that’s for sure. But I can’t shake this feeling. I know I’m supposed to surround myself with friends and parties and OTHER PEOPLE in general, but I just can’t do it all the time. It doesn’t feel right. I wish there was someone out there who didn’t feel obligated to talk to me, but someone who just wanted to hold a conversation with me. Maybe I have to find someone who doesn’t know me…maybe that was the problem the whole time.

Classes end on Tuesday, and I am just working hard to get there.

Thanksgiving break is only a few days away and I am stressed to the max. One paper, one Japanese oral presentation down. And only two more papers to go. I will be very relieved once it’s over. And I am working on it. Not just school work, other things, too.

Well, you know. I do what I can. For those of you who have been talking to me the past few days, I really appreciate your advice and sentiments. I am going through a pretty tough time, and I am thankful for your support.

And to you-know-who-you-are: I am still waiting for that call. :3

Drama. It’s this week’s watch word.

It’s that cute little thing that binds all of us together: socially, politically, personally. At least that’s how I’ve seen it this week.

We were supposed to have another guest speaker in JEM 200 today but he canceled. I was seriously hoping we’d get out of class early today, but…Stovall isn’t cool like that. Instead, we talked about the one thing Americans are all completely sick of already: the election. Not only that, but we discussed the media’s role within the election, bias, and other good stuff (way to be make it educational, prof).

But, seriously. It was a good discussion, really interesting. He allowed to class to comment on what they thought the election consisted of, what the media covered, the scandals, any information, and whatever else was on our minds. Now, that was all in good fun…but the best part was the chatter going on around me.

Now, it’s safe to say that EVERYONE has an opinion on politics. (And don’t lie. Even if you say you don’t care, you do. Not caring is an opinion. Letting the whole world rot is an opinion. It may not be a loud one, but Everyone. Has. An. Opinion.).

Before I go into what exactly the conversation was about, let me first describe this class. JEM 200. It’s the pre-requisiste for all JEM majors which includes: Journalism (news, magazine, science, sports), Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations. It’s basically an intro course, so in this class of about 200-250 students, there’s definitely a WIDE assortment of people. It’s probably safe to say that a subject like, I don’t know POLITICS, is going to be a big deal, especially with the Journalism majors. Everyone else may have an opinion, but oh, we REALLY care.

And I’m not sure if the two girls behind me and the girls in front of me were Journalism majors or not, but they definitely cared. Now, these two girls behind me were African-American, very pretty, probably sophomores just like me. And the row of girls in front of me seemed like very typical sorority girls–each sporting sorority t-shirts (in a bright asortment of colors), pearl earrings, leggings, and they were also very pretty.

The whole time, both sets of these girls were texting, chatting amongst themselves, and giggling, but they were also making REALLY interesting comments on the topics in class.

I. Coverage over the president: how the media portrayed/commented on different aspects of the president.

(1) the girls in front of me commented