I couldn’t make this stuff up.

Yesterday:

After class, a bunch of people line up to talk to the professor. I wanted to ask him a question also about homework due (lent it to a friend to copy so asking if I can turn it in “late” because I “forgot”). Professor tells others around him, “no class next week, I forgot there was some holiday.” Students go, “Oh really?” Professor affirms with a nod and some affirming gestures. “Why no school?”

I was besides the professor and said “It’s Veteran’s Day”, two or three times aloud. But I felt no one knew what the fuck that day is.

Today:

Two Caucasian couples ride the bus. The bus goes through Chinatown, which is pretty damn apparent with all the Chinese words and Chinese people around. One guy, with girlfriend on lap, asks the old Chinese lady next to him, “is this the Chinese district?” Chinese woman is freaked out, but nods and hurriedly mumbles out “Yes”. Guy continues to question. “So is the supermarket cheaper than Wal-Mart?” Chinese lady is quiet, probably doesn’t know what the fuck Wal-Mart is. Guy persists on trying to make some small talk but Chinese lady is not interested in chatting. Bus continues through the long stretch of road in CHINATOWN. The guy asks the Chinese lady again, “So this is Chinatown?”

I wrote back a month or two ago that I wanted some good jeans. I tried the J. Crew Vintage slim but those aren’t slim at all. At least with the waists they’re stocking.

Back then, the 484 slim was a new arrival. Back then, I couldn’t fit my legs into them, but now for some strange reason (malnourishment and toning exercises), I can glide into them. They’re tight at the calves, but not skin-tight everywhere else. I think it’s a real nice silhouette of my now meager and frail legs.

On me, they’re just “slimmer than what people are used to seeing on me” jeans. I don’t think they count as skinny yet, since I still have the excess fabric at the thighs. They’re not attached to me like leggings, nor are my jewels turning blue from anything other than the indigo dye.

There’s a good reason why good jeans cost more. I have a pair of STF 501’s, but the legs fit around me like parachute pants. I tried the GAP 1969 denim, but one dreadful rainy day, the colors were erased! It could happen to my 484s, but I’m prepared for the weather next time, I hope.

The J Crew 484 and the vintage slim are pretty light denim, so it would suit well into spring. I chose indigo over black because I find black harder to pair stuff with. And it was that white-speckled material I find to be cheap and not worth the price.

Right now, it’s almost black. This is as close as I’m coming to capturing the color. My photography skills are floating away.

I can’t cuff a lot, but I don’t like cuffing anyways. If I feel like it, it will give me a little cuff and that satisfies me just fine. If these hit $50 during Christmas, I’m stocking up. I highly doubt it, but you never know. If these last 6 months, it’ll be an investment worth the $91. If I wear them constantly for a month, it’ll have redeemed itself in value.

Edit:

About the fit: it’s pretty narrow. When I first picked it up in store, I first thought they were made for women as it looked smaller than anything in their store. Nonetheless, it sits at my waist pretty comfortably. I can breath fine but I got one 1 size bigger than normal. The thighs are not as tight as the knee and below. For me, I need to put on socks before pants.

Remember that you need a kind of physique to fit into slim fit jeans, especially these. If you want a tapered jean but have fuller legs, try their vintage slim fit. Same basic design, except the 484 is slimmer. Same quality denim with more room. I liked the dill, but due to the cut, I would need a size 28 or so, which they don’t make.

Best suggestion: try them on in store. I didn’t think I could fit but it worked out well. Not all stores carry all 484 slim or vintage slim jeans (bigger, popular stores will, but the more localized might not).

Last word: After a day of wear, they’re settling at the hips. Taper not too extreme, skinniness not too skinny. Denim is light, but it is quite soft and comfortable.

I haven’t bought anything from them since 2007. But their aesthetics look pretty good to me right now.

I’m not buying their shirts due to the logo, but they do have some nice trench-coats and jackets without any logo but the tag inside. With their clearance sales, it’s a damn steal. I pay more than that for J Crew and Gap and aren’t content with those purchases.

Time to ditch the brand mentality and looking towards fit and practicality. And I’m going to have some fun. $50 for a trench or jacket is more fun than another shirt.

Snagging this on Black Friday. $79.99 to hopefully $50. Or whenever the next 20-30% coupon is.

Put some boot polish, darken it, and it should turn out pretty good for the price. I’m hoping it gets to $30 or at least $40.

There’s a few more, but I have to see them in person first. The great thing is that the store is everywhere and in actuality, very few buy American Eagle over Hollister or Abercormbie.

I don’t really write anything down. Always have something in mind, get it usually before my December birthday or Christmas and call it a year. The holidays become just another day, the way I like’em.

Don’t have much on my list:

1. To embark on my journey to age 18, I figured that I should get a watch. Actually useful since I am a time control freak and am impatient when people are tardy even by being early. One of the Hamilton Khaki watches I was eyeing on Amazon just sold out at the $100 price. Hopefully there are still $100 deals around or else I would’ve made a mistake by not ordering right now as an early present.

2. Random books I wanted to order on Amazon but never did.

3. Might pass up books for DVDs. Complete sets of Sealab 2021 and Harvey Birdman.

4. Some more of those Moleskine journals or anything that has a good binding and plain sheets. Since my parents bought or actually, put a deposit on their new house, I’ve been thinking of ways to renovate it. Jotting down ideas in my little notebooks; incoherent marks that no one else can understand if I were to suddenly die. Even with labeling.

If college is useful, than taking Interior Design classes on Color & Design and Interior Drafting should allow me to design the house with slightly more ease. And heck, I’m using all of this as my design project for applying into the damn program. Reconfigure a floor plan? I’ll think of home.

Pretty basic stuff. I’m not into the electronics anymore, mainly because I have almost all of them. $250 total. Some grant money will cover that.

I didn’t find it scary. But I am watching it at home on my laptop screen.

The movie has its audience: the average person that doesn’t read ghost stories all the time. I don’t fall into that category and as I’m watching the film, I could see examples that are just too unbelievable. All of this is believable if one falls for the Hollywood view of the paranormal.

I’m not going to spoil anything. I’ll just say that this film preys on misinformed people, who aren’t really at blame since how many of us really keep up with the paranormal? The most people see are the occasional Youtube scam and the faked pictures. The most they hear are the “My friend’s cousin says this place is haunted…” type of stories passed on for fun. When they see these pseudo-amateur cam movies, they tend to believe it even more. The movie paid homage to The Exorcist. There’s an attic scene that is similar to an actual case footage, but the only similarity is crawling into the attic.

I’m shocked how so many claim this is the “scariest movie ever”. What’s scary is what you can’t see? I beg to differ. I’d rather not see a demon and embrace the invisible attacks. It must be the lack of good movies out there that leads people to overpraise movies that are mediocre but slightly better. Such exaggerated opinions. Such asinine and gullible people.

“OMG! What happened to them afterwards?? Did they die??” It’s a movie, and the MPAA would not showcase the demise of two people for profit. And do you remember any news stories about a couple being harassed by demons? I don’t.

I won’t have problems sleeping. Unless it’s caused by insomnia.

I never tried these, mainly because I didn’t know how they’d shrink.

But there’s some coupons going around and even without coupons, the $30 per pair of jeans that conforms to the body sounds like a good deal. I’m highly reluctant to pay retail for those J Crew jeans, nor do they fit me. If they hit $50 Thanksgiving, I’m in for a pair. But that’s the only time I’d buy it.

I’m in the market for the black, grey, brown, and maybe that knight (indigo) color. I wouldn’t get all four, so most likely the black and brown/grey. Indigo colors bore me. There’s also khaki, but I’d rather buy some real ones. All in all, two pairs will cost less than one of my shirts I bought at retail.

The brown does look better than the grey. Heard the blacks don’t lose any color so that’s good. I hate indigo running off everywhere. Shirts, pants, shoes, skin.

Don’t mind retail if it’s $45 or so. $50+, I’m seriously out. $5 difference which I don’t usually stretch but comon, it’s already retail.

Update: Got a pair of the standard black ones. First shrink sucked, baggy as well. Second shrink much better, but I’ll need a longer inseam next time. I hated how the back pocket embroidery looked so I took it out. Also took off the red tab and that leather patch. It looks much better now, and for $28, it’s pretty good pair of jeans to break in. It was stiff earlier, but I’m going to sleep in it tonight (not commando of course) and hopefully break it down by morning.

Next time, I’m getting a pair of indigo and sun-drying it back in SoCal. But in reality, I think I’ll skip all this and buy the pre-shrunk. I have a nice old pair that’s been washed several times after I stopped wearing it 2 years ago. It looks pretty good.

Edit: I don’t like these very much. Too loose throughout the leg. Will be looking out for another pair of jeans this week. Well, at least it’s only $28.

My parents bought a house and I just found out today. It’s going to be built right now and ready for move-in next year. They didn’t find the old, pre-built stuff appealing.

I was never informed of anything until 10 minutes ago. Wonder what they did for the money matters. Fixed or adjustable rates? Will find out next week.

I think it’s that floor plan. Will confirm soon.

My parents think I am buying all these expensive clothing items left and right. Truthfully, I haven’t bought any item that exceeds my weekly food bill. One pair of boots recently, but that’s an investment for years to come.

This month so far, I’ve only spent $70 on clothing. $30 for a belt, which will last more than a year for me, so I discount investment purchases. One $30 shirt, $40 pair of pants, and two pairs of gloves for $5.

This week starting on Sunday, I’ve already spent $50 on food. $30 on takeout and $21 on Thai. Maybe $10 on fast food and 7-Eleven. Thinking of ordering in again this Friday or Saturday so add $30 more to that tab.

I’m not sure where these arguments are getting at. Even though I want a lot of stuff, I hold back on most of them.

Main part of withdrawals is $710 worth of rent. Bought NBA 2K1o so it counts as Entertainment. Hobbies are bookstores to BoA apparently. Healthcare is just Walgreens, which I usually buy $10 worth of candy from. But this month, it’s the flu shot and $14 worth of anti-bacterial stuff. General merchandise is Loehmann’s, the $40 pair of pants. Don’t know why it’s not under clothing automatically.

I can manage myself quite well.

Edit: What’s worse is that Gamestop doesn’t allow trade-ins until age 18.

I haven’t bought a game in several years. Until today.

And when I was buying games, I don’t recall any store or state law that requires photo ID to buy Mature games. Granted, I had my parents accompany me, but it wasn’t a big deal back then. Videogames tell kids to kill others? Bullshit. That’s called bad parenting.

So not knowing the state law, according to the cashier, I couldn’t purchase Gears of War 2 and Halo 3 without photo ID. The ID isn’t important, but the birth date is. Great. I had nothing with my birthday on it so one round-trip and 2 hours later, I finally got back with some ID.

It’s policy, and I’m not blaming the cashier. I blame the state, and presumably, the government. Who is out there passing these absurd laws? It’s easier to get cigarettes and beer than to buy a game.

How many people die from video games a year? Zero.

How many kill under the influence of video games? A few indirect deaths.

What’s the prolonged effect of video games? Obesity, addiction, but most gamers aren’t like that.

It’s nice to know where our priorities are. In a world with so many problems, we target games. It’s what I get when old bats run the government. Couldn’t even check their own email and they’ll telling me how and why games are bad?

One thing I hate about San Francisco: everyone’s unnatural eagerness to “green and eco-friendly” anything.

This eagerness causes the city to impose a recycling legislation, which means I have to separate trash into three piles. One for recyclable items, one for plastics/trash, and one for compost.

I don’t mind sorting, but I do mind the fucking garbage man complaining that there’s one piece of plastic in the recycling bin. And fining me (fines don’t go in effect until 2011). It’s trash. One piece of plastic amongst a hundred tons of paper isn’t going to mean shit.

I got a little warning from my landlord today. What did I throw away incorrectly that was recent? Cant recall. Maybe that can of spoiled salmon I didn’t bother to compost?

Id gladly pay the fines if living on my own, but living in someone else’s home, it’s embarrassing for them.