Belated

December 31, 2009 Neighbors' house

I would have done this picture a while ago, but they stopped turning on their Christmas lights after Christmas. But they are on today. Fancy. :)

If my camera hadn't been demented today, we would have had a nice picture of someone or some people ice skating. My camera enjoys malfunctioning though...

Well, the end of a decade is upon us, and it leaves me to wonder what will happen in the next ten years. I'm nervous. I used to love planning, but now I know there are too many things I can't predict. Oh well. Unexpected events can be good, right? I met you.

EDIT: Igor disagrees that a decade has ended, but being my philosophical self, I'm redefining decade. :P It's the beginning of the 10's IMHO, and therefore, a new decade, by my definition of decade. The Gregorian calendar can suck it.

Panera

December 31 | Panera in Redmond

We came here after ice skating at Kingsgate. We are still here.

This is my last post in 2009. I will wish you a Happy New Year when it comes. That will probably be around 1am tomorrow.

Ingrish

December 30, 2009 A deterministic fortune cookie

This was not my fortune, but I thought it was fantastic. I've never seen worse grammar in a fortune.

Sky

December 30 | UW, CSE Atrium

This is the roof of CSE, and the sky on which we looked as we studied, I - my qMech, and you - your mCats. You should be on your way home now. Right?

It's been two days since you took me to your house, and we baked cookies. Two pictures from that day sit on our blog.

Collection

December 29, 2009 Collection of rocks

I'm slowly running out of things to take pictures of, although my house is full of things...And you've been to my house, so you have seen many things.

Well, you have a collection of rocks sitting on your windowsill. I have a collection sitting in a box on my shelf. :) Oh, I also have one of those pet rock things (painted as a ladybug). I wonder where it went. I think it is strange...it was a gift from my neighbor. A rock as a pet? Hmmmm.

Microsoft

December 29 | Microsoft Commons

Today my dad took my sister and me here for lunch. Ok, so I'm still not anywhere with quantum. I'm going to UW to study tomorrow. There'd be a lot more food too.

Together

December 28, 2009 Igor and Jessica sitting on Jessica's bed and taking a picture together

Baking was tiring and difficult. So, we needed to take a break. Mmmm naps. Here we are in our poor-picture-quality, happy-and-smiley goodness. If you look closely enough, you may or may not make out hands being held. Whoa. Today was a good day.

Baking

December 28 | Jessica's kitchen

We baked these today... what are they called again? We baked two dozen, actually, but four of them disappeared before I could take the picture. They were good cookies.

Sugar

December 27, 2009 Before the beautiful disaster

Sandra came over today, and we made crème brûlée. This is before torching. After torching was not so beautiful, the brown sugar was catching on fire and not glazing the way we had expected. So, after torching most of them (7 of 8), we went back and removed the brown sugar layer to replace with a white sugar layer instead (an excuse to consume burnt sugar and burn more fuel).

Progress

December 26

This is the puzzle as we left it. I worked on it some in the evening and expect to work on it more in the coming days. Strangely, my parents aren't helping. But it will get finished, certainly.

Globe

December 26, 2009 So painful

This was sitting under my bed, and I looked in the box. I thought it wouldn't take long to restore because it was already in strips. It took me around 2 hours! I'm just glad there weren't any missing pieces. Let's not ever do these. :) Countries and seas kept collapsing on me. Not very encouraging. But the numbers on the back make it so much easier.

Christmas

December 26

It's the day after Christmas, and we are taking a break from puzzling. On this Christmas season, the best and biggest present has been you.

Parents

December 25, 2009 Bonding time

When my parents aren't fighting (...or sleeping), they're bonding over Chinese TV. I think my mommy looks adorable and warm. This couch was not here when I was home during the summer. The TV wasn't either. Things change a lot around my house.

Lights

December 25

"My house just got bigger." The phrase has several very distinct meanings, and in my case, none of them are true. I'd like to get better at making these patterns with my camera. At least, the lights on my house will stay at least until New Year's.

Happy Christmas!

Holiday

December 24, 2009 Hot pot dinner

Here is dinner. Raw food + pot with meat stock. The bowls aren't set in this picture because I hadn't gotten them yet, but everyone needs one. And everyone needs chopsticks and an extra pair to be sanitary. And everyone gets a little dish for sauce making. It's like a little game. You put in what you want cooked and grab it later without stealing someone else's food. Or you could take other people's things, but that would be confusing when they go fishing for their things.

Shelves

December 24

My father and I put new shelves into my closet today. I'll spend the rest of the day trying to figure out where to put everything, and where to put the stuff that doesn't fit. So much for thinking about quantum.

By the way, if you Skype me, I can use my wireless headset. (I'm working on configuring it right now. So much for figuring out where to put everything.)

School

December 23, 2009 Back to start

Today we saw a play that I have been waiting to see for at least two years. :) And yes, I enjoyed it (Twelfth Night) very much. I think the addition of music, more so than was scripted, was fun and engaging.

Later, when we came back to UW and you want to the bathroom, I took this picture. It's a nice building. Nice open space. Clear-cut hallways and stairways. Nice couches. And unnecessarily large white boards. A screen that does...nothing, but kind of reminds me of a digital waterfall. Maybe that was the intent.

Oh, mother. Blurry picture. I had one with flash, but it didn't look as interesting.

Tea

December 23 | Tokyo Garden

For a short period of time, we are together. And today we've eaten at the two places that I missed the most. Except, why did everything change so much since 4 months ago? At least the tea was good.

So, I came back. Thank you for coming back also.

Chess

December 22, 2009 Chess/Checkers Set

Hey, it has checkers! I kind of like checkers a decent amount! I should play with it. I don't think anyone has ever used this set. I think my mom and I bought it for my brother once upon a time.

Roland

November 22 | Home

So much to do when I came home! For example, this is my piano. It's small and electronic, and the keys don't feel very real. I found that I have a hard time playing it.

My UPASS was waiting in the mail. It is active since Dec 11, so I can use it. In a few hours, I will return to the public transit system that I haven't abused in 4 months, so we may see each other again. And this time, for real.

Snacks

December 21, 2009 Mango cakes

I'm excited to try this! Tomorrow morning. I think banana cake and mixed fruit cake will be very interesting...Banana cake...hmmm...

Impressionism

December 21 | Budapest Airport

I took this picture through a small foggy airplane window. It is somewhat light, because the flight was delayed.

There. You can upload yours now.

Assembling

December 20, 2009 Naked, plastic tree

Ta-da! I put up the tree! Next step: decorating. Two problems: I need to search for my snowflakes/decorations and I need to study. Conflict of interest. I think I'll string the bead garland on tomorrow. Maybe the dangly Christmas lights, too (which are usually for the house, but my dad put it on two years ago, and it looked nice). And to finish, when I have time, probably minutes before the midnight of Christmas, I shall place a single wrapped present for one of my brothers under the tree. My dad bought boxes of pineapple and other fruit cakes home. I shall possibly wrap them for fun. :D

Budapesttől

December 20 | Castle Hill

Farewell, Budapest!

In a few hours, my plane will take off and I will (hopefully) have a last look at Budapest, where for the last four months I lived and studied. If nothing goes wrong, in less than 24 hours, I will be home.

I have said all of my good byes... well, except maybe my housemates. As such, the only thing left for me to do now is pack (1), take a nap, and start my journey back to Seattle, back to my family and friends, back to you.

(1) - I still haven't! Bad me.

BFFL

December 19, 2009 BFFL and me finding each other randomly

Ahhhhh, I love Sandra. :) I was at the mall today with some friends. And I saw Sandra and Helen, so naturally I attacked Sandra. And then we took a picture together. :) :) :) This is the second time Sandra and I have randomly crossed paths without scheduling (the other time was last year on New Year's in Seattle). That is because we are awesome.

Adieu

December 19 | Gogol Street by Lehel square

For me, the second-to-last day of farewells was today. I said good bye to several more people today, who are leaving tomorrow morning. Here (I edited the picture somewhat) a group of us are walking to a tea party at Madeline's (same apartment as this one) - the last tea party of the CCIX autumnal cohort of BSM.

Snow was sweeping through Budapest since about 14:20, and has not stopped by my return home at around 00:50. Tomorrow I'll post something representative, but you can see on this picture: a lot of snow.

Transformers

December 18, 2009 ROBOTS IN DISGUISE

Yes, that is correct. I shall be sleeping on these sheets until I switch back to my Snow White sheets. We don't have any normal bedsheets for twin beds in my home because usually full-sized people get a full-sized mattress or bigger. Except for me.

Fair

December 18 | Applied Art Museum

This was a Christmas market/fair in Budapest's applied art museum. Not sure what that means, but the merchandise was interesting. There were ceramics, earrings with eyes, earrings made out of keyboard buttons, etc.

We had another dinner party today. People are leaving, leaving continually. Sad...

Ongoing

December 16, 2009 Packing packing packing

My room has looked like this for the past 6 hours or so-had a meal and a break for a while. Nonetheless, this is disastrous. I don't understand how Tiffany did all this in probably under 4 hours. I guess my problem is that I have to split my packing into three categories: things that I can store for a few months, things that I need for Catalina, things that can stay in the apartment, and things that need or can go home. There's the added factor of, if I put books in my luggage, will I still be under the 50 lb weight limit? compounded with the fact that I have a lot of clothes. Also, I'm running low on boxes. I want to sleep, but this won't get done in time otherwise.

Mural

December 17 | Szechenyi Hill terminal

This is a glass mural in the Szechenyi Hill terminal of Budapest's Children's Railway. Almost everything is supposed to be run by children - naturally, adults were everywhere, but we enjoyed it nevertheless. We talked to an old lady on the train, who turned out to have been a mathematician. And there was snow.

But in the Szechenyi Hill terminal station there was this mural...

RAWR

December 16, 2009 I'm a polar bear! Meow!

The Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History is very big. Unfortunately, the legit dinosaur exhibit won't be completed until 2011; so, Mel and I only saw a few replicas. There was a Dino Lab though, which was interesting because the paleontologists were on display working on getting to their fossils.

I couldn't not use this picture. I would have gone with a classic dinosaur picture or something, but sleep-deprived and brain dead, I've never looked better. Haha. Jk. My brothers and I really like polar bears. I do not know why. Well, I like polar bears because my brothers do, and they like polar bears because they have polar bear stuffed animals. Maybe it has to do with being from the cold state of Minnesota.

Snow

December 16 | Duna-part, North of the Palace of Arts

I told you about the snow. It snowed lightly through the day, sometimes more, sometimes less. But to the evening, quite a bit accumulated. It isn't expected to snow tomorrow. :( But it will stay cold through the weekend, so maybe the snow will stay.

Today was also Chris's choir concert. This is Chris, though not a very representative picture. After the concert, we walked North along the Duna, threw a few snowballs, and did a few silly things. The picture was taken then.

I go to the Buda hills tomorrow. More snow and more fun. The last days in Budapest are for experiencing it, doing the things that you haven't had a chance to do. It's strange how slow the first three weeks of the month seemed, and how quickly this last one flies by...

Fun-sized

December 15, 2009 Mini Christmas Tree

It's real! But it doesn't really give off much of a scent. Unfortunately, the tree is not our apartment's. It was borrowed for the holiday party we had on Saturday. Sparkly lights! :) I can't believe it's December...

Pedal

December 15 | College Intl. Lounge

The piano pedal broke again today, and another BSMer who plays piano said that he could fix it. Here, you can see three hands - others are helping. Someone else had a piece of string (it's a good idea to carry string around, eh?), and you can see them tying something up to something. He said later that the string didn't work, and that he fixed the pedal another way. So maybe string isn't as helpful after all. Or we just need more practice with knots.

Vacant

December 14, 2009 Tiffany has left the building...

Waaaahhhhhh. Devastating day. I lost both Alex and Tiffany today. I took lots of naps today though! And I talked to you in the afternoon. Although I did not get as much done for Genetics as I had hoped, I'm feeling great. I will take on two "finals", which are really just midterms, over the span of 4.5 hours.

Meat

December 13 | Restaurant in Prague

Found it! You know what this dish is called.

An exception, really. I usually don't eat meat off the bone. And too much meat, in my opinion. So I probably wouldn't get it again. But it was interesting.

Tea

December 13, 2009 Tea leaves

See? I have normal tea. I just prefer my powdered teas because they have more sugar...? Partially true. I don't know what kind of tea this is. It's very mild though. I can't read the box. My uncle, who owns a tea shop, gave me two box of tea leaves. Eventually, I will use them perhaps.

Monument

December 13 | Vitkov Park, Prague

First, correction: it's Vitkov park, not Victory park.

This park is off the main tourist trail, probably because it's separated from the center by a freeway. Quite big, though, I noticed it from the first clock tower that I climbed. See people on the roof? I went up there and spent quite a bit of time on panoramas. (Too bad my laptop isn't powerful enough to stitch them.)

The sun came out very briefly, while I was up there, and just long enough for me to take this picture. See?

Dino

December 12, 2009 | Pizza dough dinosaur/creature

I followed to Tiffany to our friends' apartment to make pizza. I had already eaten, so I just watched. This happy little guy was made of dough collected off Tiffany's hands. He was bathed and oil and then baked. :) He is still alive is what I last heard about him.

Trdelnik

December 12 | Christmas market on Old-town Square, Prague

There were several stands making Trdelniki [Wiki]. I first tried one when I went to Skanzen, but I like this variant better. It was smaller and thicker.

I like Prague so much that I'd like to spend another day here. Today I've visited the citadel, the new town, the main street, and much of the old town. Tomorrow: Riga gardens, Victory park (there's a big monument there, probably to the Soviets), Jewish district, and the big castle park.

Broken

December 11, 2009 Awww, crap

I was locking up my bike, and then, my key broke while I struggled with my lock. Luckily, I was at my apartment. Initially, I was too cold to remove the broken end of the key from the lock, but once I had recovered my senses, I found to my delight that I would not need a new lock and key set because the broken end came out easily. I have a spare key. Still struggling with the lock all the time. I think I'll buy a new one.

Striezelmarkt

December 11 | Dresden

I've heard often about these Christmas markets, but this was my first time seeing one. It was amazing. So, that I spent at least an hour there, probably more. I already got tired of the ugly gothic buildings (there are more here, but at least it's Prague) and wanted to spend some time doing something interesting. The market was both big and interesting.

They had characters from folk stories in the corner, and a train for very little kids. The stands sold toys, ornaments, wooden puzzles, nuts in various forms, children's clothes, hats, wine, etc.

I will tell you exactly what I was doing in Dresden tomorrow. Try to guess meanwhile. (Hint: the train to Dresden goes through Prague.)

Tannenbaum

December 10, 2009 Christmas Tree!

Today, I saw a christmas tree in the lobby of the biology building. It looks better than my plastic, currently-resembles-a-box tree. I think it needs a tree carpet and pretty boxes with bows, and it will make the area look much happier. There was a biology department holiday party today! With lots of food! But I missed it because I wanted to go to my packing lunch thing.

Squiggle

December 10 | My RFM Notes

I'm leaving to catch the train, like, right now.

Today was the last day of RFM. So, while explaining a theorem, the professor drew a squiggle on the board, that represents a set. It was funny, so I copied it into my notes.

Sentiments

December 9, 2009 | Card

I made a card for a grad student in my lab. Having decided not to pursue a doctorate at this time, she is leaving this semester. I like her a lot, and she's one of my highlights in my lab. Actually, I like all the people in my lab. They are so helpful and laidback. Anyway, I'm going to miss her lots! Wait, I think I already told you about this earlier in the semester. Hmmm.

Nut

December 9 | College Intl. C03

I gave my talk on characters today. I don't want to talk about it in public.

And I'm done with this quarter! Well, except for three finals next week.

Philosophy

December 8, 2009 | Philosophy Library

Today, I finally found the time to go to the philosophy library. I think the set up is so cute. The chairs aren't very comfortable though. On one end, there is a fireplace (not in use), and the other side has stained glass. The little cubby I was in had the ethics and moral philosophy books. And evil/good and happiness. So, for a few minutes, I was pretty distracted reading the titles. I think ethics was one of the areas I was most interested in when I was taking PHIL 100. We didn't really go into it though, because it was an introductory course which stopped at moral responsibility.

Hungarian

December 7 | College Intl. 105

Yesterday was the last day of Hungarian. We shared our projects, played a shopkeeper game (for candy), sang annoying songs, and dispersed as usual. We'll see each other again periodically, and hopefully on the farewell party next Thursday.

One thing we did was write our favorite and least favorite words on the board. (Least favorite didn't go that well.) My most favorite were three, because of how they sound:

• Hozzám - up to me
• Velem - with me

But it is the roots I like. Equal are hozzád (up to you) and veled (with you). The third was:

• Legyen

It be.

Sprinkles

December 7, 2009 | Cupcakes

Wow, I had a chocolate cupcake, and it was intensely sweet. Sweeter than sugar, I swear. Alex, Jen, and Tiff got red velvet. In my past, I haven't had such a good experience with them (the cupcakes, not my roommates). But red velvet is, I guess, the company's signature cupcake. I think I'm going to go into a diabetic coma. It was good, but I could feel the oiliness and it was a bit soft. Better than from a box of cake mix, but it has made me realize that I don't think I like cupcakes that much...Muffins though, I do enjoy those.

Putnam

December 7

Saturday was the day of the Putnam. Most students take it during the daytime. For us, the time was 16:00 to midnight. I got home around 1am on that day.

This is the picture I wanted to post. Problems are officially posted now (link). You can see what the problem sheets look like. There is also my blue AMC pen.

Unfortunately, I won't see my scores for a while. Last year I learned of my score on March 31st. I'll probably forget about the test by then, and it will be a surprise.