Purity

From http://xkcd.com:

HAHAHA!

Oh Sweet Coffee...

I'm currently reading "The Devil's Cup" by Stewart Lee  Allen. It's a delightful read that allows you to vicariously travel to the birthplace(s) of coffee. 

You can experience the arguably barbaric way we've changed the friendship symbol/source of worship/& more into a choice beverage that costs roughly $4.00 a cup, the sweet and creamy monster that hoards our love, devotion, and dollar. Go pick up a copy at a bookstore and browse it. I'm not finished yet, but I'd say that from what I've enjoyed so far, it's worth the read.

So... I must confess.

My name is Mary Choi, and I am a coffee addict...

I'm particularly weak for those wonderful beans from Starbucks and Godiva.

And... the only way to drink coffee, is black. 

At home, it's the lovely blends from Godiva that get me in my beat, made with my faithful French coffee press. My roommates can attest that they see this silver beaker slipped into the attractive metal framing, every day on the kitchen counter. If from Starbucks, then the Americano (thanks to my beloved B&N buddy, Yeji!) gets me tied in a delightful twist. 

Every day, when I leave the apartment to study, I make a quick decision in my head to either make coffee at home, and bring

 it out in the disposable cups my mom so lovingly bought me from Costco (with the lids!) or splurge some money and buy my delightful pick-me-up from the Collegetown corner Starbucks.

I always joked about my need of a daily "caffeine fix," but never even considered it to be remotely real.

I thought that I only just enjoyed the aromatic sensations I experienced with every sip... But I recently realized that without my daily one or two cups (OK, maybe 4-5), I can't get myself to function normally.

Sigh. Coffee addiction.... Is this serious?

Musings

I've always wondered how different my life would be if I were different. Be it in personality, mistakes I have or haven't made, career goals, etc. Sometimes even in simple physical appearance differences.

I always had the feeling that even the slightest change in me would reflect pretty major changes in my life course, including my relationships with my family, friends, and those I meet along the story of my life.

You know how when you try to make your two index fingers meet with your arms set in opposing horizontal positions... and you always miss if you're not looking? That's how I feel 99.9999% of the time in my life. Sometimes, I appreciate the spontaneity of life, and other times I wish I just knew what would be in the horizon if I just opened my eyes and actively planned a course of action for my future.

Just wondering....

A fond past and bright future

So just about 4 months ago, I had stepped into my masters program director's office to discuss my coursework load for the semester. It still doesn't leave me.

Disclaimer: Most of whom will read this following little story will not find it nearly as entertaining as I did... Don't complain if you don't laugh.

I sat down in that plastic chair across the desk from my director and we started talking about what my target academic performance is for the fall semester and how the average student performs in the program.

I asked, "Professor, what would you say is the distribution of the grades in most of the students in this program every year?" His answer was, "Well, it's distributed normally," and paused for a few seconds then chuckled to himself, clearly entertained by his (perhaps accidental?) pun. I walked out of the office, brimming to burst with an amused laughter... I still don't know if I was laughing at his joke, or at the fact that he made such a joke and laughed about it to himself.

Heh.... to be honest, I only write this out so that I will not forget it in the future.

It's one of my classic primary Cornell memories that I hope I will always remember.

On with the new year, yes? It's already January 7, and I don't have resolutions yet.

Oh dear.

2009 already feels like it's bursting in store with memorable moments.

God allowed me to climb so high and see a breathtaking view of His work in my life. I look up and see there's even so much more to go... I can't wait to see what blessings the year will bring - be it career routes, personal struggles and triumphs, old and/or new people, and much more.

Letting go of the grasp I have on my carnal desires in life,

I let God sweep me away with glorious strides of His blessings and grace.