Those of you who know me personally know just how big a fan I am of Chinese food. And that's big. Tonight I went to Walmart for medicine and to get my oil checked, and Roo asked me to pick up something for dinner as well.

I'd been craving Chinese [as usual] and decided to check through the frozen food selections to see what Boise had to offer. Tai Pei is an inexpensive brand and the Boise store had a wider range of products, including [apparently New] pork or chicken egg rolls and pork or chicken potstickers. I chose a box of chicken potstickers, a box of orange chicken for myself and Bourbon Street chicken for Andrew.



The sauce in the orange chicken was decent, but the serving size is small compared to the box [what isn't, now days]. There were three nuggets of chicken, and despite heating for the instructed time, I still had to heat further so the chicken wasn't cold in the middle [yes, microwave temperatures vary. I know]. Andrew said his was mediocre, but at least the "farmers market" of vegetables weren't squishy :P



However, I was very pleasantly surprised at the quality of the potstickers. They weren't tiny; same size as those you'd get at a Chinese restaurant. It's recommended to cook them in a skillet but I wasn't looking for a long prep time so microwave it was! After heating them [in the box, but with some water added per instructions] the ones on top were still frozen. I was disappointed and just knew they'd be like wet cardboard.

A dipping sauce is included in the package, so after it thawed I poured it over the potstickers and heated them another minute. What resulted was in one word: Delicious. The potstickers were *full* of veggies and chicken, and actually had more meat than vegetables. At less than $2 a box, I'd gladly buy these again. We'll just see what different main entree will accompany them.

Watch this video. It's real.
Then watch this video. I think it's a bit more simulated.

This is... epic.

December 11! [click pic for trailer]

Andrew thinks he can get out of debt [I guess I should say "we"] if we move to Idaho and live with his folks. They wouldn't charge much in rent [from $325 here to around $50 there] and ta-da, money problems solved!

Except I won't be happy, and he probably still won't have the job of his dreams, and we haven't solved anything except that now we are mooching off someone else. Oh, and he doesn't even like Idaho. He moved here because he didn't want to be stuck there.

I'm so frustrated with this situation. Apparently it's my fault, and I know good and well I haven't been ideal; I'm schluffing through school and I don't do much around the house and I don't have a job, but still... and no, he wouldn't say it's all my fault. My poor Nana blames herself. Come ON.

I have cried and cried about this. I don't know what to do. I don't want to move, and I don't think it will solve the problem of money, and even if it helps, we won't be any happier.

[facepalm]

Link 1
Link 2

Link 1 is what I saw on the front page of Fox News' website. Link 2 is to Perez Hilton's site containing the interview he did with Larry King.

So, Hilton gets airtime for being controversial. And Prejean's answer probably costs her the crown [both sites admit to that]. So, if she had answered that everyone should just legalize gay marriage, she would have won? What. The. Freaking. Freak... I hate people. I hate the double standards that go on.

I'm tired, I'm not happy, and this is MY blog, and this is what I think. I hate beauty contests. I hate them. I hate pageants. This girl was beautiful, of course. She spoke her mind, but she was very polite about it, and started off by saying she was glad we live in a free country where people can choose. She just stated that in her house, marriage is between a man and a woman. She didn't down homosexuals. She says in the Fox interview that she doesn't hate homosexuals or anything of that sort.

Freaking aye. Gay rights, gay rights gay rights! "Let us do what you can do!" Well, when we try to do what "you" can do, by saying what's on our mind, we get attacked for it.

I'm sick of it.

I have nothing against homosexuals. I have friends and family who have that orientation; the end. They know how I feel, I know their stance on it. But come on people. I'm so... gah.

I'm so beyond frustrated with everything that I can't even speak intelligently. My mind is muddled.

I'm getting married tomorrow.

Deleting everyone from friends' list.

Nothing personal; but I figure it gives everyone a chance to start anew, including me. It's basically so those who wanna have me on their FL can have me and those who don't, won't. Not hard feelings meant or taken!! I'm making this public so please reply to this entry if you would like to be added. I appreciate it.

To those of you who choose not to add me, that's great and I wish you the best of luck! I hope I never offended you. To those of you who choose to add me again, that's great and I wish you the best of luck! I hope I never offend you. :)

Peace out!

I have a Twitter now. Feel free to add me/msg me there. I know I don't use my LJ much, but I'll probably be using it more for vids and watching friends than anything else.

2012ad posted this in her LJ, so I shall do th' same. Let's see what hap'ms.

==+==+==

The first ten people to comment in this post AND repost this meme in their own journal will receive an original piece of artwork from me! I'll go out on a limb and say a dinky sketch of something [but be warned, I is teh suck on drawrin's]; a graphic [icon or banner; stills only as I cannot do th' animations]; or poetry, which some of you may or may not find useful.

It can be any image, but please no uber sex or something with cursing. Yeah yeah I know, but if you know me and want something from me, then you know I don't do that sorta thing :)

[steals from Aimee] You can provide the image yourself, or tell me what you want and I'll hunt one down for you.

(If you are not an artist, I'm sure you have SOMETHING you can offer to do for others in order to pay this meme forward.)

Keep it going, guys. Sharing is caring.[/steals]

==+==+==

So yeah, that's it. I'm sick, and I've been playing WAR like a mofo. I even made this li'l thingy in honor of my Witch Hunter:



I reapplied for school today. Maybe I'll be able to sign up for classes by next week and get this over with.

I've nothing else for now. My birfday is in 9 days! Har har har! I be 24. Seriously.

I'm now officially ENGAGED!

Yes, officially. Someday I'll have photos. We went out to Little Rock and then found the Old Mill [which Andrew looked up online and I, being a native Arkansan, had never been to] and he proposed there :) It was sprinkling rain, and a little chilly, and regardless of that it was perfect.

Then we went to see Bolt. Teehee! This is why he's the perfect man for me! We love food, and we love cartoons, and we love being nerdy, and we love each other. [/gush]

Anyway, I'm immensely happy and wonderful. Currently, he's asleep ^_^

Happy Thanksgiving all! Have a safe and happy holiday!
Hope you guys eat lots of goodies. I know I will.

I've read the Spiderwick Chronicles and Coraline; starting on James and the Giant Peach now. I've never read any of Roald Dahl's works, but I like it so far.

My birthday is about three weeks away; I'll be 24... and still without my degree. Garrrh.

A congratulations to the first biracial President of the United States.

I have mixed feelings; being that I voted Republican I am disappointed that the candidate I felt suited our country's needs was not elected. However, being of biracial descent myself, tears came to my eyes at such a monumental occasion. I had said more than once that I would not be so sorely disappointed if Obama won.

And now, the historical moment has come and will be for the next four years, barring any morbid events that I cannot help but fear. Humans, individual people, have dark hearts and ignorant values by which I am disgusted. I sincerely hope there is not a tragedy in our future as a nation. Something of that caliber would throw this country into a riot so severe the Civil Rights Movement would seem like a recess squabble.

I do continue [of course] to pray for this nation. I will pray for our president elect, and that perhaps anything I believe he is misguided in will be righted, and that he will be the Commander-in-Chief this country needs at this time.

God bless you all, and God Bless America.

1] Twenty years from now, he failed.

2] He would never see her eyes.


**

Blah.

You know how sometimes people on your friend's list post about stuff going on in their life, and all of a sudden you think "Wait a minute? Since when are they working THERE? Since when are they dating HIM/HER? since when???" And then you wonder how you could have missed all that seemingly pretty standard information, but somehow you feel too ashamed to ask for clarification because it seems like info you *should* already know? It happens to all of us sometimes.

If you want to play, just copy mine below, erase my answers, put yours in their place and then post it in your journal! Please elaborate on the questions that would benefit from elaboration! One-Word-Answers seldom help anyone out.


First Name: Julia. Yeah, I don't go by that. I rarely answer to it [exception being my sister, but she also calls me Valencia on occasion {dad wanted that as my name}].

Age: 23. Birthday is Dec 18th, the same as Steven Spielburg, Brad Pitt, Christina Aguilera, and Katie Holmes.

Location: Bradford, AR (Mediocrity Capital of the World FOR REALZ; we don't even have a Wal*Mart [ahem]).

Occupation: Unemployed. I'm finishing my [hopefully] last week of school, then I'm going to look for a job to hold me until the fall, when I will either sub-teach at Bradford and/or surrounding locations, or do MORE school involving the Non-Traditional Teaching License program.

Partner(s): Andrew. We've been dating for 2.3 years [approx] and will eventually get married, though not this year. I'm kinda thinking 'o9, but who knows? Maybe we'll do the '10 thing. That might have its kick in the landmark dirt.

Kids: None, but I do want kids. Only after we're married and have financial stability. And mental stability, for moi.

Pets: I technically have none, but I live with my grandmother and she has two dogs: German Shepherd/Black Lab named Joybelle, and a Yorkie named Heidi. Joybelle lives outside, Heidi terrorizes inside.

School: I graduated from Crowley's Ridge College with an AA, and I'm finishing school at Harding. I'll be lucky to graduate with a decent GPA, since I sucked it up royally while I was here. I'm not proud of that, but admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery, right?

Brothers/Sisters: A younger sister on my mom's side [Britt; 19]. On my dad's side... gah. There are many, not all of whom have I met. He's a man whore.

Parents: Susan Gay [named for her father, Gaylen Brian, which is were I get the Brianne from] and Julius [whom I'm also named after; see first name]. In 2001 I was adopted by my maternal grandmother, whom I've spent most of my life with. I still call her Nana, though.

Health: Aside from that freak appendix thing, I've been fairly healthy. I'm overweight, yes, and mighty lazy, but I've never broken a bone or bled from my skull.

List the 3-5 biggest things going on in your life:

1) I just got a car [2004 Chevy Cavalier]; it's blue and has hail damage, but runs well, has good gas mileage [which, let's be honest, is the biggest factor in getting a car these days], and had low miles [30K].
2) Finishing school via not failing these classes [which I'm not doing too well in at the moment].
3) Andrew. :)
4) A job someday.

I recently read a slam of Stephanie Meyer's book, Twilight. I dunno why I get sensitive about such things. Perhaps because I truly enjoyed the book, and for someone to hate it makes me feel I somehow have bad taste. I don't even know the person who slammed it, personally or internet-esque-ly [though I have seen her HP fan art and she does a wonderful job... even if she's a Malfoy fan ;)]. But there were a few things with her slam that bothered me.

There is a line when Bella says she is "part-albino" in a sarcastic manner. This girl, and others who hate the book, were like, "WTF, you can't be PART albino!!" But that isn't a good argument to hating something. She was being sarcastic. She wasn't even trying to come across as being such. I say I'm an albino oreo; no one has come up to me and said, "Uh, you can't claim that, because there is no such thing." That's kinda the POINT, people.

They said it was a bad fan-fic. I can see that, where people would think that. [shrugs] I'm not saying my opinion is important. I guess I can only say why I liked the book.

+ This book is probably the most innocent vampire literature I've ever read. This is one reason some people hate it. It's not true "vampire fiction". Andrew says that about Laurell K. Hamilton's take on vampires in society. But I don't see a problem here. Isn't the point of being an author one's ability to take something commonly known and write however you like? The reader may not like it, but at the very least, appreciate it.

+ Some people dislike [and in reading the slam, I can see where and why] the female protagonist in this series. I enjoyed that she was clumsy and not the typical exotic-looking beauty [she has brown hair and eyes, as opposed to the blue eyes and blond hair, or black eyes and black hair, etc]. The author of the slam said "Stephanie Meyer has to be seriously messed up in the head, not to mention a complete loser (Bella hates sports, cries a lot, and "falls down a lot when she runs") if Bella is a self insert, which it is painfully clear that she is". A: Since when is one considered a complete loser if one hates sports and falls a lot? B: I didn't sense an insert. Now, people put parts of themselves into a character all the time. That's why characters are so personal to authors. Meyer may even have been writing about her adolescence [minus the vamps, of course] and maybe she did fall and cry a lot [lol]. But I do not see any way the slammer could equate the two. The moral of course is to become more comfortable in one's own skin, which she does with Edward.

Now, and however, and other segues into the next paragraph: I did agree with some things she posted. The PDF I read was sent to me years ago [at least 2004] and was most likely text straight from the book. The errors [grammatical, typographical, word choice] are there, and she could improve on her writing. But everyone does that. I've heard people say how horrible a writer J.K. Rowling was in the first HP books, but she obviously got better with practice. Same with musicians [usually]. I do wonder if the PDF was a first draft sometimes; wondering if perhaps she or an editor revised it before the printing. But I doubt it because the e-version I was sent came with the front and back cover art, so yeah.

Anyway, I think I've wound down in my semi-rant. Bottom line: I should like the book because I do, the end.

The Victorian era, probably. I seem to fit in more with its ideals and morals. I would like to visit the more ancient times, especially Biblical times where I could see Christ speaking the words I read in red and black. But I wouldn't want to actually live in the era.

Talk with Andrew, and have it end on a positive note. I usually do this while in bed, but I can't sleep until we've talked and semi-concluded our day.

If town means "Bradford", then I did so today. I drove here to Searcy to spend the night with Christa while Jason is at EdgeFest. Other than that, the last time I really drove "out of town" was probably when I went to Louisiana with Nana. I actually drove from Jacksonville [I think] to Lake D'Arbonne, Louisiana, then I drove all the way back. So go me!!

*~*~*~*

I'd never done one of those Writer's Block things before; that was good. I'll have to do more. So I'm sittin' at Christa's for the above reason. I had a salad from McDonald's for dinner; I enjoy their southwest grilled chicken salads a LOT.

Andrew went to a concert tonight as well [Newsboys] and I'll find out in a bit how much he liked it. He also went shooting with his dad and some other people today, and I think he had fun. He thinks it's cool that I'd like to go to a shooting range when we get together. I dunno; maybe I shouldn't be around guns. ;)

Anyway, Andrew called tonight and my heart was so big for him. It always makes me happy to feel so elated to hear from him ^_^ I watched The Wedding Singer while ago; that movie is so sweet and kinda makes me think of Roo [mainly just because it's a romantic comedy].

I really have nothing else to post about; I get out of school the week after next [which is when my finals are] and then I do summer stuffs. Gah, someday it will be over!

Love to all!

~bri

+ Should I make a new journal?

+ I watched Prom Night and was happily surprised to see that it was not like the typical teen-slasher flick. Good plot, dynamic characters, good twists, and no nudity! Hurrah!

+ I might possibly fail some of my classes, due to my lack-of-caring when it comes to writing essays. The cancer that is my writer's block has spread from fiction and poetry to non-fiction and prose, and the all important RESEARCH PAPER.

+ I saw a SNL tribute to Chris Farley last night [not all of it, as Dancing With The Stars was on as well] but it made me happy/sad because he was so funny.

+ I want to go to the movies.

+ I need to get a job this summer. In a related note, I really want to take a break from school. The way I have the summer laid out [in my head], I'll be taking a class [or two, but hopefully one] to finish my BA, then do the classes for alternative-certification, then I'll be looking for a teaching job. That's school for the rest of my life! I haven't done anything. Sure, I traveled to visit Roo, but that doesn't really count because we as a couple never traveled [except when we went to ID]. I want to not have responsibilities [which, given, I currently have those now and am doing little/nothing with them]. I want a lip ring, and I want to be able to wear it for more than a few hours before having to take it out to do work/class.

+ I ate too much breakfast.

+ I'm considering dumping my friends list, then having all you guys add me back. It's not that I don't want some of you; it's just that I figure I have people on my list who don't want me there and don't read my LJ, so if I clear it out, they won't add me back and I won't have to go through and find them :S [this kinda goes with the first point]

+ Jim Butcher just updated his LJ with some good points on how to start your story/novel. Nelson, you might wanna check it out if you get stuck: jimbutcher

+ I wonder if I'll ever get to sing in a band [sigh]

I think that's all I can think of for now. I'm lonely and feel a bit like sludge.

Garfield Minus Garfield

GO THERE! NOW!!
You'll cry with laughter.

Epic* update later.

*not really epic.