chrissy-and-joachim.com

 In a much needed break of E.E., here are the new uploaded of pictures of before Winter Formal during our lovely dinner at Jade on 36.  While these pictures are little more than cam-whoring, perhaps that Joachim is in a tuxedo and I am in a vintage gown they are slightly redeemable. 

Together, we have eaten as some pretty outstanding restaurants, yet Jade on 36 took our breath away in a way which no other had accomplished.  You can faintly see the large glass light "vases" behind us, which adorn the walls, and under soft lights and smooth music the place is near surreal.

We were quite enamored with the view: the Pearl Tower was close enough to touch, the river appeared only one step away, and nothing is quite so lovely as the Bund, with all its twinkling lights, at night.

Its an view which everyone who lives, or who visits Shanghai should experience.

- Chrissy and Joachim
 
Cameras fail at capturing our Bund view:


Joachim:


Joachim looks like Jay Gatsby in a tuxedo:


The view:


The view - we can't get enough:


Chrissy:

As you can most likely tell from the previous post, Joachim has been more than excited for this year's new computer/video game releases.  He would show me weekly little updates via Steam, talk to me daily on gmail, and nightly on our cellular devices.  I would always listen, happy to know I would be playing them eventually but not share the same level of enthusiasm.

But then it all changed. 

While Steam was doing it's slideshow of video games, a picture of Bioshock 2 came on.  I was enthralled.  And it's quite embarrassing why, actually.  The "Little Sister" (the little girl) in the picture with her big eyes reminded me of GIR. 

Invader Zim is only my favorite show.  I was the very special little kid that never missed an episode, I would have my parents record it if we were out of the house during the year in a half it was on air.  If I missed it, I would cry.  I would quote the show constantly  and pretend to be an Irkin invader.  I even went through a period in time where I would only answer to the name "Zim". 

I wasn't a very popular little girl. 

Anyways, the picture of Bioshock reminded me of two thing I love:
- a dystopian world
- general creepy weirdness.

And just like that I was sold.  I kept pestering Joachim "can we play Bioshock? can we play Bioshock? can we play Bioshock?!" And we have, or more likely I have yesterday and today.  Its addicting.

It's a beautiful game, its visually stunning art deco underwater cityscape is breathtaking.  I wonder around the game, just too look at the old advertisement posters splattered in blood, the dead bodies swimming with fish. (Yes, I know I sound like a creepier. A total freak show one-on-one.)  The music is lovely, and sets up the atmosphere perfectly.  The mortality-based storyline actually is compelling, it's intriguing and makes you both think and feel. 

I am hooked.  Completely, Bioshock is a drug - and I don't want to be sober.

And, purposely, I have not spent a whole post gushing about my love-at-first site.  You see, dearest reader who most likely wants to see our Winter Formal pictures, I am going to draw out my love of Bioshock.  Small posts, followed a massive love-fest, much like Joachim with Dragon Age.  Its good. Its just that good.

Poor Joachim, he has so much patience watching me.

- Chrissy

Its the year 2010, the year of the video game...

Mass Effect 2:
One of the most promising releases of the year comes out in a matter of hours for gamers in North America, and a matter of days for gamers in Europe and the rest of the world. Mass Effect 2 continues the legacy and legend of Commander Sheppard with all new party members, an impressive voice acting cast including the Martin Sheen and Seth Green, amazing soundtrack, a new RPG experience and an all new menace to the human race and their place in the galaxy.

And as an avid trailer viewer myself.. check out the awesome trailers!


images from http://masseffect.bioware.com

Bioshock 2:
Big Daddy and Little Sister are back and the doors to Rapture are open once again... Bioshock was one of the most praised games to date, scoring nearly as high as the best video game epic of all time, Half-Life. Just that fact alone merits a re-visit to the series. 
image from http://www.bioshock2game.com/

Dragon Age: Awakening (Expansion Pack):
Still my favorite game at the moment, Dragon Age, is set to once again shock the RPG community with another amazing game and this time as an expansion pack to the award-winning original. In Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening you can decide to import your own Grey Warden or create an entirely new one from country of Orlais, and have to opportunity to meet new characters, and the return of one of the original party members. The archdemon has been slain but there is more work for the Grey Wardens, and an all new enemy to fight.



images from http://dragonage.bioware.com/

Star Trek: Online:

I was fortunate enough to be able to play during the open beta of Star Trek Online, and I must say, as a Trekkie it was an absolute thrill. From the combat style, to the sci-fi of Star Trek accuracy, this game holds promise to be an amazing sci-fi MMO and possibly even rival EVE. Chrissy and I have both bought the game, and plan to play it whenever we can. And here is a quote to get you started:

""The best diplomat that I know is a fully-loaded phaser bank." - Montgomery Scott




images from http://startrekonline.com/

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm:
While I myself am not a fan of World of Warcraft, just due to its undending popularity its worth a mention. And yes, it looks like Blizzard is once again ready to entertain its 10 millions players once again with an all new expansion pack. One can only wonder what they have in store for us next.





images from http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/

Star Wars: The Old Republic:
A Star Wars MMO.. who would have thought it possible? And it certainly looks like it will not disappoint. Currently still in development, and towards its final stages, Star Wars: The Old Republic has gotten a lot of attention especially considering that Bioware, the RPG super-developer, has decided to also help in its production. Features include a wide variety of classes possible, a fully voiced MMO, team based combat and much much more.

images from http://www.swtor.com/

Other titles to look forward to:
Assassin's Creed 2
Medal of Honor
Portal 2
Crysis 2
Battlefield 1943
Stargate Resistance
Command and Conquer 4
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
R.U.S.E.
Starcraft 2
Fallout: New Vegas
Gears of War 3
... and hopefully.. Half-Life 2: Episode 3!!!

- Joachim.

p.s: I will keep you updated as the games near their release dates.

Winter Formal.

More to come.

- Chrissy and Joachim.

A visual masterpiece by Rainbow.

Thank you so much,

- Joachim.

Today is Winter Formal.
Big cheer. Yeah.

I leave soon to get my hair done.  My dress looks like the one bellow, only peach in color.  Well I don't know, maybe Veronica's dress was peach - I can't read black and white.  I am asking Donald, my hair-man-with-a-plan, to get my hair done in her signature lux style.  She is an icon.



If I could die looking like Veronica Lake I would be quite happy.  If I don't look at all like her, in dress and hair at least tonight, I think my mission will fail.  My mom thinks I am too intense and high strung.  Maybe she is right.  But honestly:
Is there really a point in Winter Formal if I don't look like Veronica lake?

No.

... back to Chinese.


OH! Joachim is wearing a tux. 

This was last year at Winter Formal.  I didn't realize we were matching until someone pointed out that Joachim's tie matched my dress. I am tired. As you can tell my language.  ANYWAYS. its so silky and oh-so-glamorous, hah!  I was bigger then, so I don't look as good...but no worries!

Anyways, I am wishy washy about going to this years Winter Formal on Saturday.  Maybe I have a bad case of senioritus, but Winter Formal seems a bit cliché, to dress up and act much more glamorous and special than we really are. I have been there and done that - TWICE!  Realistically, I am just tired. As I said earlier.  Joachim is also exhausted, the IB is catching up to us.  We are tired of school and moreover tired of work.  We are in the middle of our IOCs, EEs, and TOK essays (for anyone in the IB out there - GAH!!!!...AP and non-IB kids won't understand the subside).  Along with everything else, I would almost rather stay home.  That being said, while my dress may not be CK (like last year) and is a vintage dress of my mom's part of me is still happy to go.  Getting my hair and nails done maybe the kind of thing I need...maybe. 

- Chrissy

Joachim bought me this shirt, from my favorite store: Tough Jeans.  It was a total surprise! We went to see Avatar, but its sold out for the month of January in China.  So we went shopping for Joachim, because the boy needs more clothes.  Or at least, more clothes which I pick out.  I have holier-than-thou taste and am very picky

THE BEST PART IS IT HAS MY HERO (AFTER RICHARD BRANSON) ON IT!  NATALIA VODIANOVA! I LOVE HER TO THE POINT OF OBSESSION! AHHHHH! TO HAVE HER ON MY SHIRT IS SUBLIME. If not creepy.


But! How Lovely! He thought I looked great in it, and so he bought it! I was so happy! I wore it the next day!

- Chrissy

Haha, I was talking when this was taken.  It looks like something from Valley of the Dolls:

 

My favorite still from SATC.  And Carrie is in my second favorite dress of the whole show.  Who doesn't feeling like jetting off to Paris and pretending to be French via wearing long camel hair/cashmere goat in blacks/grays/dusty blues with pastel gloves.  And tea cup dresses like Carrie. Sigh. 


My favorite tea: Harney and Sons' "Paris".  You can't get it in Shanghai, and you can only get it in a independent coffee shop in my hometown.  But then again, there is only one other coffee shop other than Starbucks.  And we all know Starbucks' horribleness is highlighted with their lackluster, sub-par tea's.  Here in China, I can't even get a Green Tea.  Oh no.  It has to be a Green Tea Latte... We are in CHINA! Isn't this a tea capital? And yet, there is only Earl Grey and English Breakfast Tea....and I think its Twinnings. (Moment of silence for Starbuck's failure.)

The "Paris" tea is great for the cold months, its a white tea.  And its notes are sublime.  I love tea.  I take a thermos to school each day and must drink around 9 separate cups of tea ( I keep the spare bags in my backpack) during school.  I miss the tea.  I need to go tea shopping, I am not a big fan of that which is in our house at the moment

- Chrissy

My all-time favorite TV couple.  My heroes.  It makes my heart go "awwwwwwww":



If you haven't noticed, I am quite tiny.  And Joachim....isn't. He is built like a man, not like a teenage boy haha.  Anyways, I am obsessed with the show Sex And the City.  I have watched the entire series....multiple times. (If you like the movie, it is NOT SATC.  Don't talk to me. Just DON'T do it.  SATC is about ... sex and modern life in NYC. NOT cheesy love and friendship.  Plus the movie had bad fashion, not special like the show.  Vivian Westwood was right to walk out!)  Last year I had an epiphany: our body ratios were the same a Carrie and Big.  And it weird ways we are sort of similar.  I flit about Joachim (like Carrie) and talk about shoes, when he acts as an anchor of logic and calm maturity (like Big).   But mainly, we have the same body ratios.

And it my book thats a good sign.  The best sign, a gift from the stars, really....right?!?

- Chrissy

P.S. There are more Carrie and Big pictures to come, haha.  And don't worry, I am sure this one will make its presence again.