I'm back to DA.

I write for many reasons. One of them is to communicate. After seven months, I return to communicate to all you who visit me here.

I want to communicate the things I have realized, the journeys I've undertook, and the experiences I've suffered. For you to be entertained, illuminated, and perhaps to achieve greater understanding who we are and I am.

I miss reading, viewing, and sharing discussion on your expressions. And I also miss receiving the rare good critique of mine.

Hopefully I will use my time here well.

And hope you enjoy.

Best wishes,

Shengzhi

EDIT: I moved over to [link] . Anyone interested in continuing to read my work, go there.

After over a year on DA, I have finally decided to leave. I'll probably be on every so often to look at art or writing, but I'll no longer be actively posting.

Initially, I wanted to post on DA to show more people my work and to receive feedback. I want to thank everyone who gave their support, especially Meaghan who has commented on nearly everything I wrote. Thanks Meaghan! And thank you everyone!

I have felt for a long time that though though DA encourages me to write more, it's not really improving me. In terms of reading, at this stage, I think the classics would be better; and in terms of improving my writing or discussing, I think finding people in my college community (anyone at Dartmouth here?) would be better, mostly because of the proximity.

This last part is what I will be focusing my energy (writing-related-wise) on after leaving DA. Please wish me the best of luck in finding kindred spirits

Having said that, if anyone wants to contact me, please email at shengzhi1 at gmail, or drop a note (I won't be disappearing tonight). I would be more than happy to discuss writing, arts, or just life, etc. with you.

Again, thank you to everyone who commented for your encouragement, and everyone who posted deviations for your inspiration and enjoyable work, which made many of my days livelier and better. I hope that I was able to help someone through my writing, even if just a wee bit of further insight.

It is truly amazing how we, of so many differences--place, age, creed, and more--can all connect through the web.

Thank you all, and good day.

Random story of the day:

So, I've recently ordered a text and a metronome from Amazon.com. Today, I pick up the package from my university mail depot. To my shock, the box looked like a rabid dog mauled it. Inside, the usual board+plastic wrap+advertising was non-existent.

My text has a few "holes" on some pages. Well, small holes, so that was okay. Annoying, but usable.

But my metronome wasn't there. For a second, I felt my fate directing me to not play piano.

Whatever. I was not too pleased about that.

So I called Amazon customer service. I said I didn't receive my metronome and that their box was incredibly beat up.

And the lady said "We'll send you a replacement ASAP."

Wow.

There were no questions, no harassment, just no shit.

That's pretty cool customer service.

Amazon.com CS +5

Happy New Year everyone!

Here is my list of my 6 best and worst things of 2008 and 6 resolutions. Feel free to share yours or discuss in the comments!

6 Best things
Got back into playing piano
Started learning Chinese
Still keeping in touch with some good friends from high shcool
Become a lot better (?) at stuff after being inspired by the smart kids and high standards at college
Tutoring business [link] tha friends and I started is bearing the fruit of hard work
Still writing poetry

6 Worst things
My college's Mock Trial team totally lacks teamwork
Still not good at socializing with strangers or acquaintances
Software business [link] has not budged... :'(
Procrastinated lots on assignments (though this has gotten a LOT better since college)
Wasted time, with PC games, overindulgence in drama series
Haven't really made any good friends in college yet

6 Big Goals (Resolutions)
Make two (or more) really good friends in college
Savor (yes savor, not just read) a thought-provoking book every two weeks. I've been reading so little these past couple of years--and I remember I DEVOURED novels in middle school.
Exercise at twice a day, every day.
Be vigilant for and enjoy eye-opening things. You know, the feeling when you see something, and it's like, "Wow! That's really cool!" I like that feeling, and I feel it opens my perspectives and makes me into a better person.
Refuse to procrastinate!
Stop wasting time on useless things!

Wow, so I just realized 4 of my 6 big goals are to counter 4 of my 6 worst things.

By the way, you'll notice it's 666, which though symbolic of the Devil (?) in the West is super lucky in China (and the Far East), indicating prosperity.

Any tips for me on my goals or outlooks? Have similar or different resolutions or lists? Please share

I am looking for people to give some general comments on how I can improve my poetry writing. Anything goes. I am interested in both how I can become better in what I am doing now and what I am not doing now (so, both deepening and broadening my skills).

If you want me to give you comments (of this or other kinds) in return, I will (provided it is on writing, since I don't really have the know-how to comment/critique on other things).

And, you are awesome whether you comment on this or not

Thanks!

And Merry Christmas to everyone!