Ups

My, Sean typed one night over MSN Messenger, aren't we chirpy tonight?

Oh yes, we are - and without illicit narcotics, alcohol, sugar, or caffeine too!

'Cuz this has so far been, like, a totally awesome day, and I'm, like, totally high from it (and, apparently, when I'm feeling high, I tend to put on my pathetic wannabe-Valley Girl-talk) ... well, at least until my Dad calls later to sober me up.

I have Christine to thank for laying the firm and fantanstic foundation of my terrific day. She'd returned our Old English projects this afternoon after our revision class, and I've got really encouraging comments on mine.

So encouraging, in fact, I think I've finally got a practical goal in life: to pursue a research degree in Old English (and/or O.E. literature). All because Christine had ended her comments with: "I would love you see you carry on and do a research degree! You clearly have all it takes for this kind of work."

(To be honest, though, I can't help but read the last line as: "You clearly have all the anal-retentiveness it takes for this kind of work." The project was to transcribe, edit, and translate, an extract taken from Anglo-Saxon manuscript facsimiles from Old English into modern English, with a commentary, a full glossary and an annotated bibliography. It's mostly a matter of being accurate, especially for your glossary. The sort of pedantic attention to details required comes free with every allotment of anal-retentiveness - and when it comes to anal-retentiveness, boy, do I have that in spades or what.)

I don't know about most people, but I thrive on encouraging words from people I love and respect. I'm easy that way - almost puppy-like: an encouraging word or two, and a warm smile, and I'm all yours - not forever, but for a long time.

I can't reiterate how much I love having Christine for a lecturer. There aren't that many lecturers and teachers in my life that I respect and love; Christine is one of them. She's generous with praise and encouragement, and very patient. I love the way she treats us all as equals, yet gives praise and encouragement like we're toddlers taking our first steps.

A lot of lecturers - nay, people, parents - are not like that; for them, it's as if people no longer need praise and encouragement when they're adult. That's so not true. In life, a sincere smile and a kind word goes a long way, no matter how old you are (and, I think the older you are, the more you'll appreciate them, and the longer they'll last).

It's funny though (funny-haha and funny-ironic, I guess), when I was young, I absolutely abhored being talked down to - though, if you were eight, that'd be quite inevitable; now that I'm officially recognized as an 'adult', I miss being talked to like a child. People tend to be more patient and gentle with a child, and more intolerant and brusque to adults. (Why?)

Anyway, I'd read Christine comments over and over again - for nearly a full ten minutes! - and I kept having to stifle my irrepressible smile. Because I was that happy.

I was so happy that even running into Liam (not literally - Goddess be thanked for small blessings) did and could not put a damper on my delight.

Actually, come to think of it, that run-in with Liam is a good thing too - even though it was eww to run into him near the Wai-te-ata Apartments, and even more ewwwww to find out he's "kind of" staying there now.

He was with a girl when we met - an Asian girl (Filipino, prolly). I suspect he's shacked up with her, because he's dropped out of his RELI classes, so there's no way he could've gotten a place in the Wai-te-ata Apartments (which are meant for Vic students).

I don't care - I'll take that as the confimation that he's got a fetish for Asian chicks. Hence, I'm exonerated: I don't (always) attract weirdos; and also vindicated: he was looking to get laid by an Asian chick when he hit on me. I can't be faulted for being born Chinese, so it's not me - it's him!



For this day, this moment, life is good.