Autumn

It's nearly the end of September and the weather finally started to turn cooler.

Today's weather is exceptionally great! I love this cool breeze, bit chilly but not too cold so that it'll make you think of having to want to wear a thicker coat.

The air, though it may be polluted, feels fresh and keeps you alert. It's those kind of weather where you want to go for a long walk, just go to places here and there without any destination.

Yes, it'd be nice but I do have my day planned out ahead of me and it's pretty packed..

It's one of those days..

one of my favorite days..

and I even though it's relieving, I am overwhelmed by the pressure of work that needs to be done.

ARRGGGGGG!!!!!

Metamorphosis

In our life time we probably encounter a variety of changes, whether it may be small or big... We go through those transformations and we have our own ways of dealing it. Some may like it and enjoy it, others may abhor it and try to avoid it as much as possible..

Me, well, I think I'm more of the former kind. Routine work just isn't really cut out for me. 

I can feel myself wanting the change but that doesn't mean I don't have any fear of experiencing the change.. life is about changes and challenges, and what comes in between. 

I do believe that I know how to adapt to those and I'm pretty quick at it too.. though the latest changes I've been experiencing doesn't seem like the ones that I'd like to be involved in.

I know there are many adjustments to be made and there are equally as many decisions to be decided on.. however, I don't want to be haste since I don't want to be stepping into something that I'll regret. 

New Shelf! It's about time!

Ok, so there still needs to be more organizing.. but bare with me for now... I will get on it as soon as I can.. and yes I'll have that book list ready =)

Before

After

and our baby in one of the shelf =)

I assure you that she was not harmed!!!

DILEMA!!!

HELP!
I've been wanting to do this for some time now.. but suddenly I realized I have a CHOICE!!!
and THAT is not good...
Yes, I know, it's a happy dilema.. but still a dilema nonetheless...
Well, I don't want you to be saying what in the world is she talking about so, here it is...

I'm a Jane Austen fan... and you can absolutely say that I practically am an English Lit. major because of it. (and.. yes, Shakespeare and several others did help me decide I wanted to become and Eng. lit. major.. but Austen did the most) So, I've been trying to buy this set for some time now, but I realized that there are different ones.. DUH! I should have known... many publishers... equals different verions of the same book.. so here's the dilema.
WHICH should I buy?
I've seen the Collector's Library version at a bookstore and I liked it's gold edges, ribbon book mark and the tiny size where you can just fit it in just one hand.. I found an Oxford Illustrated version which I'm leaning towards more regardless of its price.. It has the complete work.. including her minor works... and it's in an old style font.. mind you I haven't seen the actual book, since I don't think bookstores here in Korea has it.. I do have to order it.. anyhow that's not the problem.. which do you think it's better?

PLEASE help me decide which one I should get.. though it'd be nice to have both.. I am trying to reduce some space my shelf is taking up...

Ok, final summary...
Collector's Library version has : very thin paper (almost see through), cloth-covered hardcover, gold edges, ribbon bookmark, small size (almost like the size it were in Austen period), 6 of her novels in separate books.

Oxford Illustrated version has : illustrations(I don't know how it is.. since I've never seen it), hardcover, made up of 6 volumes as well[V1=Sense and Sensibility. V2=Pride and Prejudice. V3=Minor Works (Lady Susan, The Watsons, Sanditon). V4=Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. V5=Mansfield Park. V6=Emma], old typesetting

So which one do you think is better??

(the above image is the Oxford and below Collector's)

August 10th Meeting - The Tale of Despereaux

Book : The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Attendee : Amber, Matt, Susan, Mitzi, Amy, & me.

Location : Sadang St. (line#2&4) Cafe Hobby

This meeting's book was a children's story and a very cute one at that.

I'd totally want to read it to my future children for bedtime story. The story unfolds with a mouse named Despereaux that was born different from other mice. He appreciates things that ordinary mice wouldn't and falls in love with a princess, the Pea. It is a mouse tale where he goes through obstacles to finally reach his ultimate dream. It's a story of a very brave and chivalrous mouse.

Universal Studio has made it in to an animation and by viewing the trailer it seems pretty good. It's coming out this Christmas.. you might want to check it out yourself.

http://www.thetaleofdespereauxmovie.com/

Isn't he just ADORABLE?! That's baby Despereaux.. when he was born with his eyes wide open.

Birthday!

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

My 20-something birthday...
why does number matter? can't we just celebrate the day we were born? ;)

It's been a while since I had a birthday party.. I think maybe 2 years? anyhow, I had a great time with friends and family... though there were some that couldn't make it. It turned out to be a great dinner party. Thanks for coming!!!

Oh, and the cake, which was actually made by my sister's friend, was D-E-licious~!!! =)

May 2008

May is a Month for Family in Korea.
It's a month full of days of celebration- children's day, parent's day, teacher's day, family day, etc.- but May for our family, in the year of 2008, it was not so much about celebrating. May 8th is Parent's day in Korea there isn't any Mother's day or Father's day but rather it's in one day,on that day we found out that my dad has cancer.

A day when we could be having a good time, we were struck down with an earth-shattering news. We were hopeful, hopeful that it wasn't so bad, hopeful that it was just the kidney and anywhere else, hopeful that there are 2 kidneys in a human body. However, there were more tests to be done and more results to be heard and the bad news became the worst.. and left our family speechless...

Renal Pelvis and Ureter Cancer

who knew? and how could we have known?

Yes, I heard of cancer, I heard of people having cancer, but I never in my life thought one of the people I love and treasure would...
Maybe somehow I thought we were immune to diseases that we were disconnected to the world of sick... that we were safe.. and there could be no harm done to my family. I couldn't have been SO wrong.

The hard part is not knowing about it... but actually acknowledging it. It's really hard to believe that the man who was so healthy, taking good care of his health, and making stupid jokes is not so healthy and high spirited anymore. Another difficult part is how to be yourself in all this. How to react, to deal, and to be.

I still have to figure that out... I feel that I'm moving in slow motion.. I feel numb and like an idiot next to him. I don't know what to do or say to make him feel better. I can't ask 'how are you?' because I know how much in pain he is, well, may be not actually know.. NO, I don't think I'll really know how painful it is just to sit, or lie down, or even to breathe.. I don't know his pain but I know it's painful. I don't want to remind him of the pain or remind him he's sick by asking such stupid questions; How are you feeling today? How the hell do you think it'll feel if you're sick and dying? I want him to be happy. I want him to be able to forget the pain he's in and be happy. But I don't know how to do that... I really don't and because of that I feel so useless..

What is Renal Pelvis and Ureter Cancer?

Renal pelvis cancers are cancers that start in the middle of a kidney, where urine collects before going to the bladder. Ureter cancers start in one of the tubes that connect the kidney to the bladder. Cancer is a disease caused by a group of abnormal cells that grow and multiply without stopping. As these cells grow and multiply, they form a tumor or lump. The tumor cells replace the normal cells of the organ. Tumor cells crowd out the normal cells. This leaves fewer healthy cells to do the job of that organ. The tumor can also block passages that help the organ work. Tumor cells can grow from one organ into nearby tissues and other organs. They can also travel through the blood and lymph to other parts of the body and form more tumors. These tumors are called metastases.

Renal pelvis and ureter cancers start in the cells that line the inside of these structures. The lining tissue is made up of two types of cells, transitional cells and squamous cells. Most renal pelvis and ureter cancers start from transitional cells. Cancers that start from this type of cell are called, “transitional cell” cancers. Another name for renal pelvis and ureter cancer is urothelial cancer. Tumor cells grow in the lining tissue, and can invade through the layers of the renal pelvis or ureter, and spread to lymph nodes and other tissues nearby.

Renal pelvis and ureter cancers are not common cancers. When someone has one of these cancers, the person is also examined for tumors in the bladder. 30% to 50% of patients with cancer of the renal pelvis or ureter have or will have bladder cancer at some time.