Goal: The Ass of a 23 Year Old. Random Loss of Key Function. Not-So-Random Recovery of Brain Function.

I've exercised for a week straight now. Rollerblading, jogging, ellipticalling.

• Wednesday - 30 min on the elliptical
• Thursday - 30 min on elliptical
• Friday - 1/2 mile and 20 minutes on the elliptical
• Saturday - 4 miles rollerblading
• Sunday - 2.5 miles rollerblading
• Monday - 2 miles jogging (1 mile on the track, short break, 1 mile on the treadmill)
• Tuesday - 1.5 miles jogging today (1/2 mile on the track, short break, 1 mile on treadmill)

It's been kind of fun. Rollerblades in the car, gym clothes in my locker on campus and of course at home. Since I quit smoking (almost a month now), I'm able to run a mile without feeling like my heart will explode. I think I'm in better cardiovascular shape than before I started smoking 3.5 years ago. But, I'll have to work on the weight machines and give the cardio a day or two b/c my knee is killing me after jogging today.

A few months ago, the letter "l" mysteriously stopped functioning on my laptop. Later that day, it was fine. Today, as I typed up notes for the International Environmental Law presentation (which went really well), 3 very useful keys (o, l, and .) decided to stop working. Now, they're fine. What can you do? At least the hissy fits don't last too long.

I think I'm getting my brain function back. Also, getting over my fear of public speaking a little.

Reasons Why My Friends Rock.

10. They don't ask me to pay up for their AAA membership even though I use it more than they do.

9. They compare me to Velveeta cheese in the best possible way.

8. They let me kvetch (incessantly) about the garbage I took out in late March.

7. They accompany me in the process of ass-firming and flab-losing.

6. They use their infinitely abundant powers of persuasion to help me remove late charges.

5. They don't laugh (much) at the fact that I'm afraid of ghosts.

4. They never refer to me and midgets in the same sentence.

3. They are my own personal Dr. Phils (e.g., the concensus is that I'm still sane).

2. They ply me with liquor and enable me to arrive home safely as I can simply stumble across the hall.

1. They fill me in on my life since I have the memory of a goldfish with amnesia.

The Week.

Monday

• Last Monday, Debbie decided to grace America with her presence again. On her vacation home from Japan, we ate some good 'ol American food at Cole's, kvetched about men, and did a little Internet research on Richard Gere and the Supreme Court (unrelated, of course). She brought me lovely presents - I'm very excited to own Asian dishware and chopsticks again! As always, we had a great time. That girl is a riot.

Friday

• Last Friday, Claire and I went to the Albright Knox Art Gallery to watch The General, a silent film by Buster Keaton. Keaton is pretty darned brilliant and ahead of his time. Also, he's like the Jackie Chan of that era - extremely dextrous and does his own stunts. The film was accompanied by a pianist who improvised the entire score. Very impressive. On Fridays the Albright Knox is free, so we walked around and viewed the art exhibit (Abstraction) afterwards. I've wanted to visit the Albright Knox since I got here more than 3 years ago, but didn't until Claire said the magic word: "Free." Abstract art is not my cup of tea, but it was still interesting.
• Coming from San Francisco, Claire voiced the common complaint of lack of good food in Buffalo. We drove down the Elmwood Strip (an eclectic and possibly my favorite part of Buffalo) and ate at Saigon Cafe. She remarked about half a dozen times that it was the best meal she's had in Buffalo. There's nothing like a truly satisfying meal at a reasonable price. I won't steer you wrong when it comes to food.
• Then, we hit up Hardware, a kind of artsy bar where a live band played a variety of music from Led Zeppelin to classical Spanish guitar. Quite enjoyable.

Saturday

• My roommate Amy and I tried to breed her Beta fish in the morning to no avail, studied a bit, then took advantage of the beautiful weather and went rollerblading on the Canalway Trail of the Erie Canal. I didn't know Buffalo had such a nice trail along the waterfront of the Erie Canal until yesterday, though it's less than a 10 minute drive from our apartment. We did about 4 miles of the 6 mile trail. It was so refreshing to see a large body of clean, blue water in Buffalo. I got a little nostalgic as it felt a bit like when my dad, my cousin Jimmy, and I used to walk around Lake Eola in downtown Orlando or rollerblade down Cady Way Trail in Winter Park.

2 weeks.name change.comedy club.lexis session.cesspool.

Well, I think I've done it. I've survived two weeks as a non-smoker! Woo-hoo! The first four or five days were kind of torturous, even though I was using the patch. Now, I only occasionally get the urge to smoke... maybe once a day, usually when I'm bored.

I've thought it over a lot and think that my J.D. diploma should have my American name rather than my Chinese name. Maybe I'll even change my name legally to Jenny. I had the chance to do so when I was 12, but didn't because I didn't want to lose my Chinese roots, but it's become inconvenient to have a legal name and a nickname that's really more like my actual name. Also, it's silly to think I'll be less Chinese just because I change my first name since I still have a Chinese last name and will always be Chinese as well as American no matter what my name is.

A couple of friends from law school, my roommate and her friend, and I are goint to the comedy club tonight. We're going to try to get there 20 minutes early so we won't be at the front tables - directly in sight of the comedian and easy targets.

I drove up to campus today for a Lexis training session at the law library on my only day this week when I didn't have to be on campus only to remember that it's next Friday. Oh, well, I'll be back next Friday. These Lexis sessions are pretty helpful for doing legal research and help bank points so I can get a free MP3 player soon.

In my Topics in Cultural History class, we talked extensively about plagues throughout history that have wiped out the better part of civilizations. It's a little alarming that New Orleans (and neighboring towns and cities) residents are moving back to their homes already when dead bodies are still floating in the water. It's terrible that so many people have died, and yet more people will die from whatever diseases may be brewing there.

What do you want on your tombstone?

Aristocrats. History of the Wife. It wasn't what it was.

Gary and I saw the Aristocrats yesterday. Really fascinating kind of documentary about making a joke your own. Immensely vulgar and oddly satisfying. It consists of the set up, the improvised middle, and the punchline. Another popular formula, though not a joke, is that the hero must lose before he can win.

Reading a very interesting book: A History of the Wife - Marilyn Yalom

Sometimes you reflect upon your life and realize certain people weren't who you thought they were. How they were a far cry from what you thought they were. It's a somber and humbling moment. But you probably could've known what they really were if you had been vigilant, if you had been your priority. You wonder how you gave so much and put so much faith into anyone when they didn't even try, then just kicked you in the ass in the end. It's worse than a slap in the face. You can't believe how stupid you were.

You didn't know they weren't who you thought they were. Or did you? If you did, you wonder how you could've "opened one eye, and closed one eye" - or knew what was going on, but didn't want to look at it, so pretended not to see, b/c acknowledging it made it so much more real.

Sure, it's great if they're a good person, but are they really a good person if it's not seen in what they do? I'd say they're just paving the road to Hell. Forrest Gump would say, "Stupid is as stupid does." Yes, I know I just quoted Forrest Gump. Or you can look at it this way - they did some horrible thing they didn't mean to do, are they off the hook? No, it's like manslaughter... they didn't intend to mow down a pedestrian with their car, but they did, and now there are consequences regardless of their intent.

Here's the kicker... they don't want to deal with the consequences, with reality, so they leave the burden with you - the person who tried so hard to help them. They don't even try to help dig you out of the hole that they put you in when you denied your own needs to help them. Serves you right for being stupid, right? You gave and gave, they took and took. You learn you don't always have to help people. That you can't stop anyone from drawing their own chalk outline on the driveway. That they took you down with them whether or not they meant to. Finally, you know what they're really like. Who they really are. You see a degree of selfishness that you didn't think was possible. You're astounded, indignant that they could pour alcohol on an open wound. You're so disappointed that this is what it really is. You at least wanted your memories, but even those are tarnished now. You're amazed by the hurt and anger that taints everything associated with them, and how it feeds something you've never felt before: hatred.

the friggin' alternator went again

i have no words to express my seething frustration. apparently, i'm not meant to drive. luckily, i have a lifetime warranty, so will get the problem taken care of for free. also, my connection cables are bad.

on a lighter note, debbie is coming home from japan for a few days. it'll be good to see her.

the friggin' alternator went

Dropping $400 on the Hyundai for the alternator and an alternator belt killed my day and any plans for a trip to Florida this semester.

Still haven't sold the Volvo either. It may be time to drop it off at an auction.