Lunatics!

Wow, it’s been like six weeks since I’ve been here. Wow, that’s a long time. And, boy, does it feel like a long time.

And yet, it isn’t.

I can’t say that I’m too close to anyone yet. There are some that are very hopeful potentials, but not quite there yet. It’s kind of odd to think about such things. Last night, I talked to Em for about an hour. Yay! It was really nice to talk to someone that you already have such close bonds. But I spent a large part of the time trying to catch a skunk. It just seemed sooooo very soft. I think that last night was the first time I have ever seen a skunk in real life. (it just trotted right past me on the ground from one bush to another.) And guess what! Emma was there to experience my reaction to my first experience of seeing a skunk. Then……came the badgers and black cats with white streaks…………….but that’s for another time.

Well, the infamous kissing event at Stanford called Full Moon on the Quad occurred on Wednesday. I was there for about one hour and a half. It was very interesting indeed. I think it is also the first time I’ve seen about thirty completely naked people together……in flesh. Of course, it was kinda cold, so the only logical thing to do would be to paint their bodies to keep themselves warm. Which they did. Bright interesting colors – tamarisk orange, typhoid yellow, bruised red, etc………. It was very odd at first. But, I don’t think it elicited any reaction from me – too vulgar I think. (they were not shamelessly ugly people….these streakers were mostly attractive, athletic people…..yet nothing.) Oh well. I think it’s the context that throws me off. Too many people, too cold, not very sensual…….anyhow. I think I’ll stop talking about the nekkid people. Other than that, there were bands playing all through the event. They played songs like “Rollercoaster” to “Go Fuck.” There was also a burlesque show that started every so often. It had feathers and everything. (and was much more seductive) There were fire dancers and lots of loud music. But……don’t forget about the one most important detail. There was a lot of kissing! (fyi. – I was not part of the kissing crowd) The sponsors of the event even passed out flyers on different types of kissing with manuals teaching everyone how to perform the kiss. It was very odd to think that college students really devolve down to such carnal creatures of the flesh. (and at THIS school…..I don’t know, maybe especially this school……either way works) So, that was that. I came by myself and left by myself. I was about to walk to The Gates of Hell. But, it was too far and my legs were hurting again. So, I just sat under a really large tree near the Quad. I sat there for like thirty minutes and thought about things. Then I went home and to sleep.

Oh….yes, my injury. Well, Tuesday was TKD practice night. And this last Tuesday was the first day for sparring. It was a shadow spar but, I was kneed in the thigh by a lower belt. That night, it didn’t hurt. But, boy…oh boy, did it hurt the next morning. Hence, I’ve been limping around for the last three days. I go at record slow speeds. But, now I can watch the environment that I’m in. OH YES, stairs are a bitch. (very much so)

Then, last night my house played capture the flag with the house next door. Serra v. Casa Zapata. (I’m in Serra) In the end, they cheated, and thought they won. And we knew that they cheated, so we decided that we won. It was generally a win-win situation.

Then, I wake up today. I’m planning on going to a French party tonight. (not really party) And I think I will be limping to the local Satellite Dish on campus on a very high hill tomorrow. It is a three-four mile trek. I’m looking forward to it very much so. I’ll be going alone (a friend bailed out today because of lots of work they he had to do). I’m still happily looking forward to it.

Well, I think I’m done for this week. Stay tuned next week. (or even earlier?) (suspenseful, eh?)

This is a view from ontop of the tower. You can even see the San Francisco Bay.  

This is a view of the Hoover Tower. 

Purple Balloon slowly deflates....

Another week finally over……

Well…..geez…..what has happened?.... Oh yes, I finished my first ever round of midterms in college. I think that deserves a good pat on the back. I only had one, so it wasn’t too bad (along with an essay for my humanities class) I’m more insane now then ever because I’m taking two math classes at the same time (one officially and the other unofficially) so that totals about 24 hours a week. YAY! (not.) Add about another ten hours of extracurricular activities and you a have a tree deprived of sleep (………yet again.) I distinctly remembering that I thought college would allow me to sleep more because I wouldn’t have to wake up so early (i.e. 6 AM). However, I still get about the same amount of sleep. (DAMN you, interesting dorm-mates) It’s also not fun to have a 9 o’clock every day. In relation to high school, that would be so awesome. Yet…. It’s not. (???)

Anyhow, last Friday, I went to the Okada party (Okada is the Asian theme house) which was suppose to be cool. We showed up to a party with ten motionless people staring at the wall while an asian student raps to (I think) karaoke. So………we left. It was the only natural thing to do. And me being the party-animal that I am, it is assumed that leaving was the only course of action. Afterwards, the intention was for some people to go to a frat party. But, again, my party instincts kicked in and I didn’t go. Imagine all of this excitement with a throbbing headache. (I did try sleeping off the headache….but, the junior next door plays very loud pop music that possesses a pounding quality that I didn’t really help with headache.) But, I finally went to sleep. So, I was all better the next day.

Sunday, Johnny and I along with my roommate Hari went up the infamous Hoover tower (this tower is known as the largest phallus on campus – rising up to about 300 ft. – I don’t think very many guys can compare……as in no one) Anyhow, the wind was very nice and stuff. I could see the San Francisco Bay and water. It was nice, but excessively windy.

Then, it rained for the next three days. Imagine this: collages of colors from red, yellow, and green sprinkled with an assortment of brown in every direction; cloudy and tranquil mornings that convey a sense of solidarity; gentle breezes that glistens your surroundings because of the fluttering leaves and branches in the afternoon sun that comes out after the clouds fade………………….and quiet and peaceful nights in under a blanket of passive stars. Of course, I’m always running to classes and buried in work so I can’t thoroughly savor every juicy piece of image presented to me here. Yet, I try real hard to take it all in even if it’s a cursory one. Plus, the frequent rains here make me SO HAPPYYYYYYYYYYYY !!! !!! !!! It really compliments me! Or at least I feel it does. I love ambling around on campus when I get the chance. It really gives me a peace at mind to think things through and stuff of that sort……..or not think at all.

Happiness really does come down to very little and simple things. (well, to me right now it does) i.e. this last week, I rescued a balloon that was destined to be trashed and gave it a home on my backpack (very conspicuously). I was so irrationally happy with it always on my backside. I named the thing “purple” (guess why?) and wrote “U Suck! (smiley face)” on it. It made me oh-so happy inside. I decided that it represented my happiness. Yes, a fickle thing that could pop at any moment. And the world is full of edges. (indeed) But, it’s still alive right now. So, I’m still relatively happy.

This weekend is Stanford’s homecoming. So, I got and get to meet so many people who used to go here from ten years back all the way to sixty years back. It’s very interesting. It makes me think of my future self – coming back to visit a place where a sequence of memories occurred; events so full of emotion and thought that would enrich the final composition of who I am. Huh………….I feel nostalgic already……….is that even possible? But, right now I’m just moving with the current without much time to contemplate or wonder. It’s always pushing. I just keep on floating. (why resist?)

Anyhow, last night after my last midterm, I was in a dorm-mate’s (Gene) room with other people (about a total of ten people) having fruit and melted chocolate. Then we listened to old music and danced. I’m serious (I even danced). I was extremely happy (for that moment – and I guess that’s all that really counts – moments that are happy). So, I went to bed at two and took a test this morning in French.

Oh, my group for the scavenger hunt won the contest with the best pictures. YAY! So, I’ll post some of those pictures soon.

Well, this finishes my week.

(I wasn’t too melancholy this last week. However, I’ve been preoccupied with death since class started (I’m taking a class on mortality in philosophy and bioethics). So, it really does put things into a more real perspective. I’m not personally melancholy, but I am definitely in a state of worldly melancholia.)

Look forward to my comments on "Full Moon on the Quad: the Stanford Kissing Frenzy" that will happen this next Wednesday.

It's Chelsea, me, and Max on the Beach. It's our beach attire. 

The FIRE! With some of my dorm-mates and their college spirit on their sweatshirts. There's Libby, Kirsten, Johnny, and Matt (and others). 

Guitar-ing on the beach. Riaz, Eric, Drew, and Kirsten. 

FIRE.......my precious fire!

It is me again. The last week has been a tough one. Lots of stress and stuff of that nature.

My first essay was due on Friday for my Mortality class and mid-terms are coming up next week. The week's math problem set was again just as stressful and frustrating like every other week. But, that pain may come to a closure soon................

But, putting aside all of my problems and complaints. I WENT to the BEACH yesterday. (literally.....no puns intended) It was about a forty minute drive to Pacifica Beach where bonfires are allowed. It was very dark and pretty chilly, but the trip was worth it. I saw some exceedingly brilliant stars last night. The entire sky was very artistic indeed. Because of the coastal range of mountains along the Californian coast, all the precipitation from the ocean never past these first ranges. Therefore, the fog and clouds hung out right at the beach. However - luckily - last night, the clouds did not cover up all the stars. But, it kinda made a boundary for the tapestry of the constellations. The stars were extremely bright.

With nice lights from above and a soothing crashing of the waves onto the beach, it was a very tranquil. When Daniel, Drew, and I got there, there was already a fire started by Allison. So, we just sat right in. It was chilly, but the fire made it go away.

Then came the s'mores.

Then came my withdrawal from the crowd. I had a nice time to myself last night. I screamed into the sea. With the strong oceanic winds, it was nice because no one would know what I was screaming or singing. I just let go for awhile and shouted things I needed to get out or to sing things without any inhibitions or constraint. It was extremely cathargic.

Is this solitude? - I asked myself. I don't know. Am I really a social creature at heart or just a hermit taking on new airs of gregariousness? But, regardless of whatever it was and whatever I am, I was happy in a very melancholic way. I was a very personal happiness (I think).

I must comment that beach restrooms are very interesting. (I'll leave the rest of the discussion to personal experiences.)

Then came the police.

We were completely innocent. Yet, there were dogs, bright flashlights, and loud cops. The curfew for beach fires was ten. And it was exactly 10:01. So, the cops took up the chance to act like the bullies that they really were at heart - as if this was their chance to avenge on some childhood injustice or even a grown-up injustice. Imagine if one of those cops found his wife or girlfriend with another guy that afternoon. With the authority that they have, of course they will exercise and even borderline abuse their power. We do live in a Macho-istic society. So, it's bound to happen. Restraint is nothing when it comes to questioning your machoism. "My wife is my property! IT'S MINE!" So, then he unleahes his rage on us innocent students full of optimism and vivacity. I mean, they were even threatening to lock up the gates to the parking lot if we don't go immediately. Then, they waited for us to leave before they left. I mean what a bunch of beaches.

But, we got back to the dorm at about 11 PM. Then we had one of my dormmates play popular songs so that we could sing to it. (He was a live karaoke machine). Then, another dorm-mate played Chopin's Barcarolle. (He studied piano for four years in Russia and just came back) It was a AMAZING! Then, after midnight we had the entire dorm sing Happy Birthday to my roommate Hari. He was very happy.

Then, I stayed up until about one reminiscing about childhood books and shows. i.e. Berenstein Bears, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Thomas the Engine, Reading Rainbow, Roald Dahl, etc. The conversation was so intense. Everyone was extremely into it. I had a really fun time. Then I woke up at noon this morning.

That brings things up to date. Here are some pictures of the Bonfire. Keep yourself updated about me.

Emily and me - she will write musicals that I might be able to sing to. Yay Emily. 

Hunting for Lingerie........

Last Saturday, I went to SF again. This time with almost all the frosh at Stanford. It was indeed the notoriously crazy yearly scavenger hunt!

I woke up at about 8 in the morning to walk to the Caltrain. We got to SF at about 11 PM. That morning I relapsed into another state of melancholia. It really was unpredictable. I think it was triggered by one comment that really struck me to the core. How odd that things like these can happen. But, I went through a very quiet and reserved morning only commenting when directly asked anything. It was a chance for me to gloom and observe my fellow companions in a different filter. My natural outwardness does inhibit the receptance of certain dimensions of people. But, through a sephia tone, my surroundings with its people do take on another shade.

Anyhow, how could I be gloom for long when we had to do such crazy task for the scavenger hunt. We started out by praying to a statue, jumping into a bay, and giving children flowers that we happen to find anywhere. We meet this European little girl (I think she was two years old) at a bookstore that accepted our little flower that we picked from the bay. She was shy and timid while being bold and courageous at the same. I don't think anyone would not have smiled to see the sanguinity and exuberance of such youth. That really cheered me up. Then we did more crazy things.

Such as: jumped into a public fountain and played ball, protested on the streets of the Haight, tried to sell our underwear, serenaded random couples, tried to apply to strip-joints (I think I went into about 7 places), bought lewd items (imagine.......), cross-dressed, kissed live seafood, etc....

I almost forgot about the extremely notorious Stanford crotch hand-shake. I was indeed an interesting time. However, we did not get into Victoria Secret to try on lingerie. When we enterd the door, two very large men in suits approached us and declared that "the police are on their way." It was trite but, very effective. As the afternoon bore on the SFranciscan knew that Stanford was there, so they became quite unhospitable. I got kinda sick after sitting in the back of a taxi van. And we ended our day at the Metreon shopping center. Overall, I had fun. But man.......J'etais tres fat-and-gay. That night I think I got about eleven hours of sleep. I slept like a baby on tranquilizers.

The trip offered lots of chances at nudity. However, our class of '08 didn't really take up the invitation. I guess we are just more shy in public. Usually, there is quite a lot of streaking on Haight Street. But, don't underestimate. Stanford students still do lots of streaking indeed. The all-frosh dorm next to mine does like at least two streaks a week. (Usually induced by drinking games or intense exuberance) No inhibitions at all.

I went to CHINATOWN. YAY. It was very interesting. I liked it. Hopefully I'll be there for Lunar New Year Celebration in February.

I got to know some new people better from my dorm. And saw some very colorful individuals. I did see some people that I want to know better. And I hope that it will work out.....

But.........

I spent the Sunday, doing very little work. I saw Spiderman 2 again. It was still very fun to watch.

I was melancholy last night. Probably on something trivial again (peut-etre involving some social relationship/interaction). But, c'est moi.

Johnny and Me at the SF technofest. It was pretty dark. (Again, I look high.....somehow...oh well)  

Shiny, Shiny . . . . .

Have you ever been stuck in a bag? Stuck and couldn't get out, and at the same time falling into a chasm of darkness......Struggling to get out, to stop falling, to free yourself?

Well, of course, you shouldn't have experienced this because it's impossible.

Nevertheless, life sometimes does seem to be very similar to this. It's sad that one can bag oneself up so easily and most of the time without even knowing it. Then, you just hope that you'll fall to a place where you can climb back up. The most wretched feeling is when you have no hope of climbing back up.......but, I guess sometimes I am too optimistic.

However, I'm the most realistic optimist that you'll find. I like to call myself layered. A thin blanket of cheeriness over a sea of realistic pessimism. But, if you go deep enough, under that sea is a bottom full with unexplained and unreasonable hope and optimism. (I haven't really reached deeper then this......I'm guessing that there is definitely more)

The layered me only makes me a bit more interesting to meet. (of course my friends will affirm to this)

Anyhow, this week is going much more fluidly then the last. I'm excessively sore today (mainly in my inner thigh and buttock) and am walking very awkwardly. Due to my first TKD class on campus, it was supposed to be only 1 and 1/2 hours, but it continued on for over two hours. The most interesting aspect of the class is the ever-so shiny head of the head instructor. I have never seen a head more bald and as shiny. It made me want to rub it like a bowling ball. I could see my reflection on his head. (I can probably go on and on........) Nonetheless, he was very agile and experienced - so it's all good. One can even conjecture that maybe a shiny head is the result of thirty years of TKD training.......??? But, there was about one hundred people there. It was pretty crowded with lots of awkward beginners. I started out with all the formality crap of being a new student and stuff. But, I got bored so I joined the old students in their kicking exercise. Everyone here seems to be quite self-conscious. (extremely self-conscious) But, all in all, it was moderately decent. I got sore so it was sufficient. I'll keep you updated on the shiny-ness.

But, other than that, I can't think of anything else now. I will link up a good SF picture soon.

Hope you enjoyed my rambling. C'est tout.

The symbol of California. I took this at Huntington Beach about two weeks ago. 

LOVE Parade!

I went to San Francisco yesterday. (That deserves it's own sentence.)

I was fun. (generally) We purposely (methinks) did not plan ahead of time about what we wanted to do. Therefore, we had ourselves a grand little adventure. (We is Me, John S, Chelsea V, Jamie D, Ellora K, Riaz _, and Eric B -- and grand as in interesting)

"We" had to catch the campus bus to the train station, Caltrain. However, we were late.....then we had to wait for thirty minutes in the sun for the train to come. So....compositely.....it took us about two and 1/2 hours to get to SF. And when we got there, we spent about another two hours trying to figure out a means of transportation to a place that we really didn't decide on. When we finally bought tickets and got onto a bus, we decided to get off after four blocks to head back to where we started. Some passenger persuaded a number of "us" that Fisherman's Wharf was nothing in comparison to the "debauchery" of a "kick-ass" party that happened to be in the exact opposite direction. So, the "we" (in its entirety) got off the bus and started on our way back.

Then, hunger came. So, we dodged it by hiding in a little (but very chic) Thai restaurant on 4th Street named Cha Am (I have a business card if anyone's interested). We had dinner. Yay.

Then, some of us decided to check out this "party." But, we also wanted to make it back in time for the 8 PM train departure. So we had thirty minutes. Weaving through crowds of drunks, potheads, and entirely shameless people; JS and I ran (almost) through the huge thing. It happened to be the annual International techno fest "Love Parade."

Everything was there: fire-dancers, belly-dancers, grinding dancers, bunny costumes, making out couples - of every combo, men in purple jumpsuits riding unicycles, horny ballerinas, freaky goths, the basic overweight American squeezed in tight, revealing clothing (quite a few of these), nerds of all types (from computer to book) dancing and hoping to catch an eye, and the people that you can't imagine in any other context except for going to one of these parties - people who seem to sustain life just to attend these debaucheries of craziness and anarchy with their vibrant hair colors, tatoos, and over-pierced bodies. (It was pretty awesome :))

The music got boring and the everything else got monotonous after a while (ten minutes). So, we (me and JS) left. And futhermore, we got back in time for the train and went home. We sang and acted drunk on the way back. Twas fun. In the end, out of our group, four of us all piled into a twin bed and talked until about one in the morning. (Clothed)

Then.....I passed out and don't remember anything. (just waking up all sticky)
(hopefully.....it is understood that this part is to make this journal entry more interesting. It's not necessarily true -- i mean the sticky part)

Overall, I must comment that the parade (with about 40 floats of extremely loud music) was a new experience that I observed. People in general are truly interesting.....I can't even imagine all the stories from all of these people that are floating out there. It's heart warming to see such mosaic and variegated humanity in such a context. However, JS and I did feel very (extremely) out of place.

But, me guess that college is about experiencing it all. So I did my part. (unlike some of my "anti-social" friends)

tha's all folks.

(I'll get some pictures linked up soon)

Commencing......

Finally..........

I finally found some time to do this thing call "blog."
I guess "je blogge finalement."

Et c'est tres facile.

But, HI.

I'm Tri (pronounced easily "tree"). I'm finding that it's quite a conversation piece at my University. I'm a freshmen this year (or in California....known as "frosh") and I'm clueless about my future. YAY! And my school's mascot is only a color.......it's odd.

I miss the comfort of familiarity in Texas. But love the chance to explore the newness of CA. People are generally interesting enough to talk to at least for the generic five-ten minutes. I'll be visiting San Francisco tomorrow. YAY!

Palo Alto is soooooooooo EXPENSIVE. College est tres cher.

Anyhow, I must leave you now. And let you make up the rest about me. Have fun.

(side note)......Emma! you can finally read me now. hahaha
I promise to be less boring.....even though I don't think I'm boring.
And I promise lots of dirt from my School. :)