Opening Remarks I. What does the name say on your Birth Certificate? James Sean Hsiao II. What's the name that all your friends call you by? Hsiao[man] III. What day of the year do you blow out the candles? August 11 IV. Which country authorized your passport? The US (Gotcha, didn’t I?) V. What are your Zodiac and Chinese Signs? Leo, Hare VI. In terms of politics, do you sit on the left or the right? Centrist, but if I had to choose, I’d go right VII. Look in the mirror. The color of your hair is? Black VIII. Look in the mirror one more time. The color of your eyes is? brown IX. Hop on the weighing scales! How many pounds did the numbers jump above zero? 157 X. Stand up straight! How high up is the top of your head from the ground? 5’7”
Home Sweet Home I. Who are all those other people living in your house? Mom, Dad, Clemens II. Do you get along with Mom or Dad better? Dad III. What do your parents' friends call them by? Hongwei and Michelle IV. Any siblings living outside the house? nope V. What's the name of the place you live in currently? Morgantown VI. You love it there, don't you? Why/Why not? The number one small town in the US VII. If you could live absolutely anywhere on the Earth, what locale would you choose? Eh, gee, I dunno VIII. Out of all those who share your blood, immediate or otherwise, what single person would you list as your favorite? NA IX. Who is the one you wish you didn't share blood with? NA X. Overall, you like Mom's side of the family more, or Dad's? no particular preference
Knowledge Is Power I. First things first? Private or Public School? Public, no prep school for me II. What's its name? Mascot? Colors? Morgantown High, Mohigans, Red and Blue. III. What is/are the class(es) you can't wait to get to? Jazz Band IV. How about the class you consider Bedtime? AP English Lit V. The name(s) of your favorite teacher(s)? none in particular VI. The name(s) of the teacher(s) who put(s) you to sleep? Hohmann VII. Are you an English/Art, or a Math/Science person? Math/Science, even though I totally owned everyone (except Greg who got an 800, bastard) in Verbal SAT and bombed the Math section VIII. What sports do/have you play(ed)? Soccer in elementary school, Tae Kwon Do in middle school IX. When the teacher checks the homework, do you mostly get a "0" or a "100"? 100, except in physics class… X. If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be? Rednecks. No further explanation needed.
Confidentiality & Beliefs I. What's your worst fear? Have you ever experienced this fear? Failure, yes numerous times II. Have you ever acted troubled, just to get attention? I can’t really recall a time when I’ve acted troubled even III. Do you believe in God? Yes IV. Do you have a secret that you'll take with you to the grave? No secrets here V. Have you ever told anyone you loved them, when secretly you didn't at all? I’ve had situations where I did love them and didn’t say, which got me into trouble, but we’ll save that story for another day VI. (Friends, God, Politics, Family, Education, & Relationships) Organize the previous five in order of your personal preference in life: Family, Friends, God, Relationships, Education, Politics (What can I say, I’m honest) VII. If you could change one thing about your physical looks, what would it be? Less acne, a little more muscular, reminiscent of my swim team days VIII. If you could change one thing about your personality, what would it be? I need to be more outgoing; everything else pretty much stems from there IX. Have you ever cried in front of someone, and felt ashamed of it? I don’t recall ever crying in front of anyone in recent history X. Have you ever done drugs? Are you on drugs? Do you plan to take drugs? HELL NO
The Hills Are Alive, With The Sound Of Music I. If you had to pick, what's your favorite song at the moment? Eh, no favorites II. Do you get most of your music off the Internet, or from the store? DL, baby III. Even though you can download music, do you still buy CDs just because of the CD-case, CD itself, booklet, & general authenticity? Occasionally, and there are also those songs that you can’t get off the internet (i.e.: classical, old school jazz) IV. What lone genre of music do you prefer above all? Jazz V. What genre of music would you never be caught dead with? Country, Rap
The Small & Silver Screens I. What's your favorite movie? The Matrix (first one) or The Incredibles II. Generally, what genre of movies do you jump at the opportunity to see? Action or Sci-fi flicks III. Who is the actress you most admire? Who is the actor you most admire? No actress in particular; Sean Connery is the man V. Do you cry during/after certain movies? no V. What time of day do you prefer to see movies? (Morning, Noon, or Night): night VI. What is the TV show you never miss? Look, kid, I haven’t had cable TV in 4 years VII. What is it that you like about it so much? NA VIII. What's the one TV show you can't stand? Couldn’t tell you really IX. Do you think you spend more time watching to Television or using the computer? Computer, most def X. Do you personally think that you spend too much time watching TV? Eh, no
Bon Appetite I. What's your favorite meal? food II. How about your favorite dessert? No real preference, just has to be good lol III. When only a kid, did you eat your vegetables? I’ll eat most anything IV. Do you still eat vegetables? See above V. Are you a poor, average, or excellent cook? Eh, I need practice VI. What type of food do you prefer? food VII. Pepper or Salt? Salt VIII. Ketchup or Mustard? Depends on what kind of mustard IX. Do you prefer going out to breakfast, lunch, or dinner? dinner X. Do you eat to live or live to eat? What am I eating?
All's Fair In Love & War I. Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend/crus h? Yes to gf II. Are you in love? Or are you using them? I would like to think I’m in love III. Do you find that most of the time you dislike the people who like you or vice versa? Difficult to ascertain in these uncertain times IV. In terms of relationships, are you loving or manipulative? A bit of both, in a playful sort of way… lol jk, of course I’m loving; else I’d probably be hanging from a tree right about now V. Do you live to love? Or would you rather just love to live? Whichever doesn’t end up getting me killed VI. Do you believe that sex should come before or after marriage? I say after, but no one ever listens to what I have to say VII. Do you plan to marry? If so, at what age? I’ll marry during or after grad school VIII. Do you plan to have children? Eh, not particularly inclined… but whoever I marry would probably disagree with me IX. Are your parents married, or divorced? married X. Do you want to have a big, spectacular wedding with everyone you know invited or a small, traditional, get-together with family and close-friends wedding? Let’s keep it simple
It’s the morning after and I feel REALLY stiff.It’s like a hangover, despite the fact that I had consumed nothing in the way of alcohol.However, it’s a good feeling because it’s attached to a sense of accomplishment.Yesterday was a long day, but almost everything was eclipsed by the dance.The only thing really worth saying is that I donated blood that day and I was kind of afraid that I would pass out at Ramada.But I didn’t, so it’s all good.
The flowers cost me more than dinner did.But it would have hurt a lot more had I gone to Oliverio’s like we had planned earlier.Instead, I took Katie to Jenn’s house for dinner.It was a very nice little setup, spaghetti, salad, home made bread (yum).
The dance itself really didn’t amount to much, so I don't even think I should bother going into vivid detail. Suffice to say that I spent pretty much the whole night with Katie after the rest of my senior friends bailed.
After we finished, I went to Eat 'n Park with Katie, Chelsea, Virginia, and Noelle. It was late, so none of us were really with it at all. The girls did their little Secret Santa thing, and we talked about random stuff the whole night.Food was good, milkshakes satisfying, and being exhausted, we all slept well that night.Before I left the restaurant, I kissed Katie goodnight, the right way.I believe everyone saw that one; and at this point, I don’t care. I’m good to go.
This morning I woke up wondering if any of it had really happened.Then I saw the rose lying on my desk where I had left it the night before.A smile crossed my face and I knew I had it made.
Okay, I'm working on a compilation, so here's a bit of a preview:
Video Gaming Halo (Microsoft XBox) “PENGUIN!!!” - Jonathan, said after each kill he made under the CPU name ‘Penguin’
“Hey look, it’s a Disco inferno!” - Shane, after he stuck a plasma grenade to Jonathan’s (CPU name ‘Disco’) head
“WRONG SEAT, ANDY!!!” - James, said after watching Andy die when he climbed in the passenger’s seat of the Warthog jeep instead of the driver’s seat
“It’s called a head shot, buddy.” -James, said to Brandon after he bad-mouthed him for making a kill in 3 shots from the pistol
Candidly Spoken Yamato137 (12:14:21 AM): well, we're both half asleep, confused, dazed, and otherwise unfit for conversation - isn't that just dandy - James
clumsy jennarama: or should i get a carnation or a rose? or something weird? clumsy jennarama: i don't knoooow clumsy jennarama: ahhh clumsy jennarama: im not good at being a girl! - Jenn
“Go to letter ‘D,’ guys. That’s ‘D’ like in DUMBASS.” - James
“I have resolved to cut down on swearing because if I slip, my girlfriend will hit me in the face with her purse.” - James
clumsy jennarama: kiss her damnit - Jenn
Sexual Innuendos (in bad taste) “Man, I’m really going to crank one out when I get home.” - Shane, senior skit
“He doesn’t want the buns, he just wants the meat.” - Brandon Mullins, said to Shane after the latter pulled the lunch meat out of the sandwich and ate it separately
“You have big boobs, Kim. Too bad you’re fat…” -Megan Loy
clumsyjennarama: hehe - i like molesting inatimate objects...jk
Chelsea: You’re not going to get anyone pregnant, are you Doyle? Doyle: Me?? No way! But, I don’t know about James over there… *wink* *wink*
Shane: Hey Hsiao, come here! I got something for you. James: If it’s a condom I’m going to punch you in the face.
“Your Freudian slip is showing; it’s lacy and pink.” - Greg
Sexual Innuendos (in good taste) “So I can say that you’re a hot one?” - James, said to Tara she said her fingers still tasted like hot sauce from eating chicken wings
“That’s a really cute outfit, Katherine. Now can you walk without falling down?” - James, said to Katherine Schmitt (clad in plaid miniskirt) during band practice
NiNjATiKiMaN: we like our women like we like our food :wink: NiNjATiKiMaN: well I guess not, katis polish...damn
Bloopers James: Man, will Whisler EVER shut up?? Maybe I should telescope his head into his spine… Noelle: If you did that, I’d kiss you if it weren’t so awkward.
James: I really like you, Katie, and I think you’re a beautiful girl. Katie: Thanks! Hey, I think you are, too… er, I mean… James: *smacks forehead*
“We should do more.” - Doyle, in a botched attempt to ask Katelynn Rancjik out on a date
We be Edumacated… “Welcome to polynomial Hell…” - James
“The Point value of a test is indirectly proportional to the amount of knowledge you possess on the subject.” - James
“Logical progression equals DNE!” - James
James: So the only solution is genocide? Alex Beldan: No man, SERFICIDE! - AP Euro
I don't get many things right the first time In fact, I am told that a lot Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls Brought me here
And where was I before the day That I first saw your lovely face? Now I see it everyday And I know
That I am I am I am The luckiest
What if I'd been born fifty years before you In a house on a street where you lived? Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike Would I know?
And in a white sea of eyes, I see one pair that I recognize And I know
That I am I am I am The luckiest
I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you
Next door there's an old man who lived to his nineties And one day passed away in his sleep And his wife; she stayed for a couple of days And passed away
I'm sorry, I know that's a strange way to tell you that I know we belong That I know
Looking at the big picture may be the way to go to get things done in the long run, but It gets tedious at times. If that's all you ever do, you'll probably get depressed and want to kill yourself several times over (I know I have). So now that it's Friday (Thank the Lord God Almighty), I decided to look back on the little things that happened to be the highlights of my week:
1) I got away with wearing my wingtip shoes with my tuxedo at the Wind Ensemble demo concert at Suncrest Middle School.
2) Class rings came in! Apparently, I'm the only one with the Excel design (black onyx stone with cubic zirconium inset)
3) I was over at Katie's house for a few hours on Wednesday. Now that I know what color her dress is, I can figure out what flower to get with the corsage...
4) We caught a ride back to the high school on one of the South Middle School buses after the Jazz Band demo concert. We cheered for every other kid that got on and totally creeped out the others with silence in between. On the way back, we sang. And what did we sing? THE FIELD SHOW! I think we scarred them for life...
5) Today in chamber choir, Clark wasn't there, so Barry had the choir sight read through some music. However, halfway through, he decided to give them the day off, so people just hung out in Mr. Clark's room. Alex Beldan goes straight for the guitars, of course. I start playing piano and I happen to fall into the chord progression to Ben Folds' The Luckiest. Stephanie Lacagnin starts singing along, then Alex joins in with vocals and guitar, and pretty soon, we've got half the choir singing along with us. We finish the song and everyone starts cheering. It was awesome.
6) Next week we have 3 days and then the band dance. What a way to kick off Winter Break!
I'm still burned out from this weekend, but I'll have to say that it was well worth it.
Friday night, I went to see The Incredibles with Doyle, Kati, Katie, Chelsea, and Kenneth. I'd have to say that that was by far the best superhero movie I have ever seen. It's got the perfect balance between action and humor, and throws some interesting family and philosophical issues in there too. Tack on a rockin' jazz score and you're all set. I am sooooooo buying the soundtrack when it comes out.
The road trip yesterday wore me out. I probably would have been pulling my hair out if I didn't have Katie there to talk with. Sitting in the cold and then marching around on a contaminated field that was under water just 3 weeks ago really didn't make my day, but Katie made up for it :D. Ironically, I think that was the best show we had ever played. We had all the energy and excitement we needed and the seniors were pumped and ready to go, rubbing off on everyone else apparently. Of course, notice how I said it was the best we had ever PLAYED. Our marching and drill execution will always suck.
When we got back to Morgantown, we had to go straight from school to the Christmas parade, which didn't totally blow considering we were all tired and cold and wanting to go home. I have finished my last football game with the band and my last MHS Christmas parade EVER. It's sort of a bittersweet moment; I never have to march in that parade again, but I'm also moving ever closer to the day where I'll have to leave this place, my younger friends (and girlfriend), and my memories behind to start something new.
But hey, things are looking up, so why am I complaining? 8)
Opening Remarks