verbatim et litteratim

the picture I carry around in my wallet, my parents circa 2011

the picture my mom carries around in her wallet, her parents circa 1965

Reputation is an idle and most false imposition;

oft got without merit

and lost without deserving 

      Othello (II.iii.268)

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.

J.R.R. Tolkien

hmmm??
HAHAHAHAHA!
oh well…

these three will suffice

All that glisters is not gold,
Often have you heard that told:
Many a man his life hath sold,
But my outside to behold:
Gilded tombs do worms enfold.
Had you been as wise as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgment old,
Your answer had not been inscroll’d:
Fare you well; your suit is cold.
Cold, indeed; and labour lost:
Then, farewell heat; and welcome frost.

                   The Merchant of Venice (II.vii.66-76)

the caffeine levels aren’t high enough today…

the motivation just isn’t there today…

the pillow is trying to convince me to just sleep early today…

WAIT! the image of myself from the first month into my post-undergrad life whenever the wifi wouldn’t work in my house….

thank you my dear memory for always keeping me in check <3

the treadmill beckons!

brokenheartstesselatetonight:

If I see this car, I will destroy this person.

But seriously, send this around.

(Source: sh4wna, via djfotography)

I never realized this till now, but questions are built into the foundations of Korean mom-ness, along with perms, the love of Costco, Korean dramas, obsession over pale skin, the love of Korean School, force-feeding guests etc.  How foolish of me to never have realized it until now because if I knew earlier, then surely I wouldn’t be so nervous all the dang time when I see a perm in the distance, heading my way…

so, what exactly am I rambling about?  Korean moms and their questions!  About your life!  About your educational background, your GPA, your job, your salary, your goals, your failures, your credit history, your new pimple, your old pimples, the cool constellation that’s visible because of all your pimples, your lack of a boyfriend, your double chin, your skinny jeans that look like regular jeans that are two sizes too small, and your inability to get married if you don’t fix everything that was previously mentioned!!!

I now realize that I’ve been completely spoiled by having a mom that was full of encouragement which is probably why I sweat so much when I see one of her ahjumah friends approaching me with a motherly smile…. she’s gonna verbal diarrhea on me in 3…2…1…

do you like kids?  how many do you want?  how many do you think you can handle?  when do you want to get married?  wait, do you have a boyfriend?  because I have two sons…. you can pick… you look so healthy, I would love for you to be in my family…

NO!!!!!!!!!!!  this isn’t a pokemon game!  and “healthy” is the Korean mom way of saying that I’m fat!  I know what’s going on here… I see right through your perm!

And it doesn’t stop there… noooooo my friend.  There are no restrictions to these questions, even when it comes to strangers.  In fact, just the other day, I dropped by my mom’s store and because I noticed that she had customers, I quietly slipped into the back only to hear one ahjumah whisper, (and by whisper I mean pointing, raising her hand to the side of her mouth, and talking just as loud as before) asking my mom if she knew who I was and if it was okay that I was back there.  No, it’s not okay because she doesn’t know who I am because I’m actually a homeless girl that wanders the neighborhoods of Sacramento.  In fact, I’m going to UGM next month to get me a burrito.  SERIOUSLY?  WHY WOULD YOU ASK THAT?

maybe it’s a cultural thing.

maybe it’s a language barrier.

maybe I’m over-analyzing everything.

maybe I have hearing problems.

Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago.
In following him, I follow but myself;
Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
But seeming so, for my peculiar end;
For when my outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my heart
In complement extern, ‘tis not long after
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.

           Othello (I.i.57-65)