The Cutting Edge

Went ice skating with a group of friends tonight. Let me see, where do I start and how much do I share? Haha, it was alot of fun and I didn't fall on my behind at all. My mom paid for us to take skating lessons for a few summers back when we still lived in Houston during the 80's. Hmmmm.....that would be around the second grade I suppose? Anyways, I was never that great and hadn't touched the ice in all the years since those instructional days. By the end of the evening I didn't have to constantly grasp the wall anymore. =)

Imagine a crippled jet liner rumbling within a continuous holding pattern. Then focus in on the smaller support craft hovering around it to ensure that a potential crash wouldn't be unnoticed.

LIB Note: That would be Eek and CK....I almost took them both out with one swoop.

Finally, think of all the unassociated vessels that just routinely passed up the jetliner and left it in their wake. Some of them even doing axels and spins.

Yup. Only room for improvement I suppose.

Back and On the Go Again

*thud*

Plane touches down at Oakland International Airport.

People rise and scramble to collect their belongings.

Man behind me reaches out and pops open the overhead compartment directly above.....

*crack*

A searing heat races down my skull as the metal cane belonging to the elderly woman sitting to my immediate right falls out and hits me.

Man: Oh, I'm so sorry are you ok?
Elderly Woman: Son, I'm so sorry are you hurt?
Me: *rubbing the bruise*
Me: Nah, it's ok....no sweat
Man: Hey, I'm really sorry.....
Me: Really, it's not that bad....everything is cool
Elderly Woman: *look of concern*
Me: Really, the Lord gave me a super hard head so I'll be fine
Elderly Woman: *leans over and whispers*
Elderly Woman: And I'm glad that he made you that way too.....
Me: =)

Just got back and am about to head out to work. I tell ya what, that was one of the most peaceful flights that I've ever had the pleasure of returning on. A part of me is just relieved to be back in the bay area. Lots to muse about when time affords itself down the line. It's good to be back.....

That bay bridge view was so magnificent today. Killer.

Wrong Box My Friend

J*Nyce: no
J*Nyce: oops
LIB: No?
LIB: How come?
LIB: I'm not pretty enough?
LIB: You pig
LIB: We're through
J*Nyce: hehe
J*Nyce: wrong window
J*Nyce: no means no
LIB: Tis ok
LIB: I just ran with it
LIB: Hahaha

*LIB Note: AIM is funny that you never know when you might type into the wrongly intended box. Always good for a few laughs.

=P

Twenty Seven as Opposed to Twenty Two

Hot Damn!

Did that really just happen?

Tonight I realized yet again that my life continues to be an educational experience. God sure uses me in the most interesting ways....=P

Honestly, things are not entirely peaceful and rosy these days. Deadlines continue to loom in the not so distant future. Family issues still arise and stick out sorely. Old habits and insecurties always threaten to resurface and derail the foundation of the present. Thoughts are still taking precendence over action in a few cases. People are struggling all around me and sometimes it feels like there isn't anything that I can do.

*sigh*

It's when these things swirl about my mind that I realize there is so much more stability in being twenty seven rather than twenty two.

*grin*

God is so funny sometimes. What is he going to show me next?

Hot Damn! =)

Harry Wales goes to Sandhurst

I read an interesting article about Prince Harry Windsor of England tonight. It seems that he has recently concluded his "Gap" year after HS graduation and will be reporting for training at the royal military academy at Sandhurst very soon. For those of you out there who know me well, you know that the concept of royalty has always held a great piece of my fascination with life. Have I ever dreamed about being heir to a country's throne? Haha, you better believe it. I used to joke around with my uncle Rudy about living in the ancient days of China. My statement was that I could only do it if there were a guarantee in place for me to become the emperor one day. We would both laugh when my aunt would chime in with, "That means your uncle would be around too and you would have to fight him for the throne!".

LIB Note: Haha, I kind of miss those conversations at times.

Anyways, back to Harry.....a part of me really feels sorry for the guy. For starters, he is not and never will be his brother William. Despite putting up a great front in the public eye, there has to be some lower level of envy in knowing your older (and better looking) brother will inherit the entire kingdom one day. I read somewhere that his mother was highly sensitive to this potential early on and divided up her estate to heavily favor Harry in the event of her demise.

Man, I don't know why I'm writing about this stuff. Just saw that Harry was moving on and had a hopeful thought that he would do well and make something of himself. His mother would certainly have been very proud of him.

What Dreams May Come?

My sleeping pattern has been especially off the last few days. Aside from more work, it's been so cold that sleeping hamster style underneath a trio of blankets isn't effective anymore. Could that be why I had the following series of dreams last night?

Dream One: I was sitting in the middle of oblivion with a pair of turtles in my lap. Turtle number one was a typical variety that can be found at most pet stores. Its scientific name escapes me, but these guys are easily identified by red markings on the sides of their heads and necks. Turtle number two was actually a sea tortoise with a strange case of arrested development. It was the same size as the other one (sea tortoises are gigantic)!

Anyways, I remember trying in vain to get them to play together and interact. The turtle just kept moving away from each of the tortoise's advances. Finally, the tortoise got bored and turned around to walk away. Before I could even begin to react, as much as one can in the dream world, the turtle suddenly leaped onto the other's unsuspecting back. With one quick lunge it grasped the tortoise's head in its jaws and clamped down firmly.

Crunch!

Even in my hallucinogenic state of sleep, it was too much to bear and I can remember myself looking away in disgust. Soon afterwards the picture started to fade and my body slowly began to wake.

I remember thinking....Dang, that was a messed up dream!

It wasn't hard to fall asleep again.....


Dream Two: Now I was some kind of family member within an Italian crime family. My "father" was the Don and for some reason he was lying on this ornate twin sized bed in the corner of a room.

*LIB Note: This man wasn't the image of my real earthly father. He was a typical Vito Corleone looking white man. Donut....you crack me up. Too imaginative for your own good...=)

Surrounding him was a whole pack of lieutenants and soldiers. I was quietly working on some kind of project at the other end of the room. It could have been anything. Assembling a bomb? Making a salami sandwich? Rubix cube? Anyways, whatever I was doing was important and it filled me with a great sense of responsibility to finish the task. One of the senior officers eventually sent the rest of them outside for something. He then nervously asked me several times if I was anywhere near finishing my work.

I didn't trust him. The guy looked uneasy as he stared at the Don and then back at me again. He was up to something. When it was safe to do so, I somehow pulled out a Desert Eagle from thin air and cleverly camoflaged it underneath some scraps. The officer saw what I was doing. Crap!We both drew our weapons and flashed them at each other John Woo style.

*LIB Note: Overrated Chinese director and not handsome ski instructing SoCal pastor.

*LIB Note II: Desert Eagle is a powerful handgun that weighs like 10 lbs.

Mine wasn't cocked all the way. Shoot, I'm dead meat. Luckily my opponent had some kind of technical trouble as well. This allowed me to jump behind a large cabinet to fix my weapon. Once it was operational, I leaped back out and narrowly missed the oncoming bullet that he had fired in my direction. With a single shot I put one staight into his gut. The officer knelt down onto his knees and dropped his gun. My next shot went staight into his forehead and immediately made his face tighten up into a vacant stare. Feeling uncontrolled adrenaline at this point, I emptied the remaining ammo straight into his throat and the guy just slumped over onto the ground and didn't move again.

The Don had woken up at this point and began to realize what had just happened. It pleased him that his son had single handedly thwarted a lethal plot of betrayal. All I remember after that was how he kept telling me how I was a good boy and repeatedly pinched my cheek amidst an embrace. I woke up immediately after that and thought.....what the heck!!???

Analysis of events: Here are a few thoughts. I haven't dreamed anything this vivid in a long time. There was no blood spilled in either of the dreams. None....uncharacteristic for this type of manifestation. In my previous experiences, I usually wake up long before the climatic moments even unfold. So for me to finish the sequence and actually get to digest the events is a true rarity. Most of my prior dreams have been either weird of funny. Never dark like these two examples.

LIB Note: Monkey catcher driving the Sanford and Son truck.

Man, I'm kinda nervous about going to sleep tonight. Might try and read some scripture right before the sack is hit.

=P

What a Great and Meaningful Song

"Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson

Grew up in a small town

And when the rain would fall down

I just stared out my window

Dreaming of what could be

And if I'd end up happy

I would pray (I would pray)

Trying not to reach out

But when I'd try to speak out

Felt like no one could hear me

Wanted to belong here

But something felt so wrong here

So I pray (I would pray)

I could breakaway

[Chorus:]

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly

I'll do what it takes til' I touch the sky

I'll make a wish

Take a chance

Make a change

And breakaway

Out of the darkness and into the sun

But I won't forget all the ones that I loved

I'll take a risk

Take a chance

Make a change

And breakaway

Wanna feel the warm breeze

Sleep under a palm tree

Feel the rush of the ocean

Get onboard a fast train

Travel on a jet plane, far away (I will)

And breakaway

Buildings with a hundred floors

Swinging around revolving doors

Maybe I don't know where they'll take me but

Gotta keep moving on, moving on

Fly away, breakaway

*LIB Note: Just confirmed my final travel plans for the entire conclusion of 2004. I've always liked Kelly Clarkson's music, but this song just really hits home. In so many ways. It's totally stuck in my mind. Suddenly want to rent both of the "Princess Diaries" movies also. Oh well....Orange cats rule the world!

*LIB Note II: Thanks to my friend who let me have the posting rights to this song. I appreciate it bigtime!

The JBK Original Survey

1. Long hair or short? Let's just say long enough to whisk back and tie into a pony tail? Nothing shorter than your average bob cut.

2. Relative height : Since I'm a tall person, logic would have me pairing up with a taller woman as well. If you're looking for something more specific....5"7 - 5"11 would be interesting....really though....it's not the most important detail as long as the proportions are reasonable.

*LIB Note: I once spotted a 6"2' blonde haired / blue eyed woman while walking around Russian Hill with friends. She made me feel hecka short.

3. Good or bad? Hmmm....someone with a good heart and a mischievous sense of humor? A truly bad girl would make my life miserable.

4. Open book or mystery? Either or....I'm more of a responsive person these days.

5. Cocky or humble? Humility is very important. One of my favorite songs is about this fictional woman who is so oblivious of her attractiveness that it baffles her when people take notice. People like that are so special.

*LIB Note: Sammy Kershaw...."She don't know she's beautiful"....check it out sometime.


6. Cute, pretty, or hot? I will tell you this ....there are women out there who are just too hot for me to handle. These are the stunning physical types that mentally reduce me into a meowing kitten every time we interact.

*LIB Note: One man's apple is another man's orange....=)

7. Love songs or groove songs? I'll choose a very particular strain of love song. One that has a healthy combination of original lyrics, pleasant tunes, and just the right amount of vocals. Basically where the cheese doesn't alter the overall flavor of the dish itself. Mmmmm....Bette Midler's "The Rose"?

8. Baggy or fitted? Something fitted just enough to leave a little room for the imagination. When I see women with overly tight outfits, the first thing that usually comes to mind centers around whether or not they look comfortable. Sometimes I seriously wonder how the heck they squeeze into their pants.

*LIB Note: Baggy clothing on women is a bit too gangster for this city slicker.

9. Singer or dancer? Someone who, regardless of their talent, has the courage to try either one under the right circumstances. Everybody have fun tonight? Everybody Wang Chung tonight....Hahaha!

10. Silver or gold? Haha....right on Snoop Dogg....Flava Flav!!!

11. Green or blue? Hmmmm, for some reason this question made me think about otter pops. So, in sticking with my thought I'll choose the delicious green variety.

12. Pink or red? Pink is still in....but LIB remains partial to red at the moment.

13. Lanky or buff? There is such a thing as being too much of one or the other. Chinese female swimmers on one end of the spectrum and Kate Moss on the other. I'll take someone who is comfortable with themselves and show me more of what else they're made of.

14. Desserts – fruit or chocolate? Fruit. Definitely fruit. Unless I'm feeling blue.....where fruit on top of chocolate is sure to make me sleepy.

15. Friday or Saturday nites? I actually enjoy Sunday nights the most. You tend to reflect upon the weekend and begin preparing for the week to come. Yeah....Sunday nights are sweet.


You know, this one was so much harder for me than all of the other surveys posted before. Plus....some of these questions are simply more difficult to answer from the male perspective I guess. Maybe it's just me again....haha....=P

In Honor of a Friend's Entry Into the Blogging Universe

I decided to fill out yet another survey in honor of my friend Eek, who recently started a Xanga page (Boo!!!!) and hopefully will become one of my staple readings.

Geronimo!!!!

Name: Little Indian Boy
DOB: 1/9/77
Location: City that was built on rock & roll?
Religion: Jesus loves me this I know!

APPEARANCE
Hair: Long and uneven right now....science experiment gone wrong.
Height: 6"3 and change.
Eyes: -5.00 in the left and -5.25 in the right.

STYLE
Clothing: Right now....whatever works I guess....my time to shop will be coming soon.
Music: Preference? Hmmmm...I'm really all over the place.

RIGHT NOW
Wearing: Dark longsleeve t-shirt, brown cords with a hole in one ankle, draws, white undershirt, and a rubberband on my right wrist.
Listening to: "My Happy Ending" by Avril Lavigne.
Thinking of: Having some coworkers over for a gardening party.

LAST THING YOU
Bought: Passage across the Bay Bridge.
Drank: Ice cold can of Dr. Pepper.
Read: My Perspectives reading assignment.
Watched on TV: The Apprentice (future blog post).

EITHER/OR
Club or Houseparty: Definitely a club....Captain Caveman!!!!
Tea or Coffee: Green or Chrysanthemum.
Achiever or Slacker: I'm a budding achiever these days .
Beer or Cider: Budlight....don't knock it till you try it.
Drinks or Shots: Honestly, they're both pretty potent....so I'll choose neither.
Cats or Dogs: Orange cats rule the world!
Single or taken: One hit wonder I suppose.
Pen or Pencil: Pen, specifically the Zebra Sarasa 1.0 model.
Mittens or Gloves: Haha, I prefer to go bare handed.
Food or Candy: Food....food is good.
Cassette or CD: I have a cassette player in my car.....but I don't own any tapes....go figure!
Coke or Pepsi: Neither, they are both too sweet and full of sodium.
Matches or lighter: Zippo lighter....great conversational piece.

WHO DO YOU WANT TO
Hear from: Publisher's Clearing House.
Look like: John John.
Be like: My uncle Rudy.
Avoid: People who want more than I have to give or those who don't appreciate my time.

LAST PERSON YOU
Touched: Hagemann.
Talked to: The Black Cat.
Instant messaged: Nosferatu.
Kissed: I just kissed my hand....so I guess that would be me.
Who broke your heart: Dang, that would be a girl back in Texas, but in her defense....I totally set myself up for the inevitable.

WHERE DO YOU
Eat: Wherever there is food....I like eating at my desk and hate eating on top of my bed.
Dance: Wherever rain is needed? Haha, I' m a very clumsy dancer.
Cry: On the inside? Will shed a tear when needed though.

HAVE YOU EVER
Dated one of your best friends? Nope.
Loved someone so much it made you cry? I think so, but in retrospect it was hardly love.
Drank? Buy me a drink and I'll tell you a story.
Broken the law? Oh brother.....see above answer but replace the drink with a burrito.
Ran away from home? Heh, I ran away and kept walking around the block b/c I had nowhere to go.
Broken a bone? Nope. Haven't been stung by a bee either.
Cheated on a test? Many times. Chinese school was funny....I'll have to blog about that sometime as well.
Skinny dipped? Nope....though, it would be called fat dipping for me these days.
Played truth or dare? I've done my share of both.
Flashed someone? Only with the high beams in my car.
Kissed someone you didn’t know? Nope.
Been in a fight? Just a few....less than you would think.
Ridden on a fire truck? Nope....I'm not cute enough for the firemen to offer I guess.
Been on a plane? Yup, we're really lucky as Americans.
Come close to dying? I don't think so. Was lost in Mexico once and thought we'd be killed.
Cheated on your boyfriend/girlfriend? Nope.
Emotionally? I have no idea how someone would do that.
Swam in the ocean? I've swam in the Gulf of Mexico....you haven't lived until you've survived that experience.
Had a nightmare/dream that made you wake up? Not since I was a kid....then again....I rarely sleep well enough to dream anymore.

WHAT IS
Your most embarrassing cd: Don't have any....I like all of my purchased music....why else would I hold on to them?.
Your bedroom like: A dorm room for one.
Your favorite thing for breakfast: My special cereal mix from Whole Foods.
Your favorite thing for lunch: Something free from work.
Your favorite thing for dinner: Something free from work II.

ARE YOU .
A good student: Not traditionally, but I'm gaining leaps and bounds.
A good sport: Sometimes to a fault.
A good singer: Heck NO! In the shower or while driving car!
Good actor/actress: Not anymore.....something happened along the way.
A deep sleeper: I can sleep anytime and anywhere!
A good dancer: As well as can be for someone with two left feet and 10 big toes
Shy: Painfully at times.
Outgoing: I've conditioned myself to be outgoing when situation needs me to.
A good storyteller: I tell a pretty tall tale every now and then.

CAN YOU
Sing the alphabet song backwards: Never tried....probably never will.
Stand on your tippy toes without shoes: Yup, just don't ask me to twirl.
Speak another language: Hello, my name is C3PO....human / cyborg relations.
Go a day without food: Only for God.
Stay up for more then 24hrs: It would have to be for one darn good reason....I can't hang with that anymore.
Read music, not just tabs: 10 years of piano lessons down the drain....=(
Roll your tongue: Only when I'm pretending to be a Antonio Banderas. Oh wait, those are my R's....=P

HAVE YOU EVER
Seen a shooting star: Those are always nice.
Been to any other countries out side the US: Mexico, China, and Taiwan.
Gone out in public with your pjs: Haha, mostly for street cleaning like all the other SF residents.
Pushed all the buttons on the elevator: No way Jose! Why would anyone do that?
Gone to school only to know there was no school because of a holiday, etc: Oh yeah, just a couple of months ago.
Swore at your parents: Under my breath, and I still regret those moments to this day.
Kicked a guy where it hurts: Nope, but I've thrown a basketball into the area plenty of times....does that count?.
Been in love: No, can't say that I have.
Gotten stitches: One time. Cried like a baby.
Been to Disneyland/Disneyworld: Orlando was really neat. I'll probably have to go to Disneyland by myself b/c it seems like everyone has been already.

WHENS THE LAST TIME YOU
Brushed you teeth: This morning before class.
Saw a movie in theaters: Last Saturday....."Friday Night Lights".
Went to a store: Tonight....Half Priced Books (future blog post).
Tripped in front of someone: I should have a recent memory of doing this....but I'm drawing a blank at this moment.
Had a party: Hanging out with JBK?

FRIENDSHIPS
Do you have a best friend(s): There aren't very many people with that distinction outside of my God and my nuclear family.
Do you have more guy friends or girl friends: It's been evening up these last few years; I've definitely made more girl friends this last year.
Have you ever lost a friend: Too many to remember....although I do....=(
What’s an inside joke with a friend: If we're cool....chances are there will be a few.
Do you miss any of your friends: At certain times I will. That's when I reach out and touch someone.
What friend have you known the longest: My friends T-Fanny, ChiuMan, and Chiapet.....second grade?
How often do you spend time with your friends: Not enough I'm afraid. Ain't like the good ole days anymore. We're all adults now.
Newest friend: I'm starting to really enjoy my conversations with Lagandaon these days.
Best dancer: That would be the GreatEntertainer b/cI didn't expect him to have any soul.
Most like you: I am the one and only me.
Relate to a lot: Probably more people than I think.
Understands you the most (outside of God): Again, that would have to be me.
Is always there for you (outside of God): My nuclear family and a handful of special folks. Most notably Hurim, Shorty, Nosferatu, Po-Yang, CanDice, Kaze, BritishPetroleum, CQL, .....dang, this is a very long list.....=P


*LIB Note:Alrighty, that was so much more painful than I though it would be.....the things that we do in honor of our friends....=)

The Eyes of Texas Are Upon Me

GOPcaller: Hi, may I speak to Mr. Indian Boy?
Me: Uh, sure....this is he....may I ask who's calling?
GOPcaller: Oh this is So & So from the Republican party...
GOPcaller: I'm calling tonight to see if you've received your ballot yet...
Me: Oh yeah, I've gotten it but haven't finished looking it over
GOPcaller: That's great, just a reminder that if you mail it out by the 27th it should get there in time to be counted.
Me: Ok, thanks.....I'll remember to do that.
GOPcaller: So do we have your support for President Bush?
Me: *hesitating like a deer in headlights*
Me: Yeah...sure...you got it.
GOPcaller: Alright, have a good night sir!

LIB Note: Absentee ballot....John Kerry.....

About a month ago, I decided to pay more attention to the upcoming election and possess a greater awareness with what was going on. This meant reading more articles, talking with a broader range of people, and putting aside my strong feelings for the Bush family and the Lone Star state (humerous eh?). Let me tell you....it was tough.

Going into specifics will take up alot of time and type, so call me out on it the next time we talk if you want. Right now, there is a slight feeling of guilt because I lied to that guy on the phone. I didn't have the guts, and didn't wanna take the time b/c the ALCS was on, to tell him straight up that my vote had been swayed.

My "X" may not have been the most beneficial choice. I went with my heart and am praying that the right situation will fall into place. Lord help us all.

California has done something to me.

Dang!

Wow, I'm so relaxed tonight. Here's a burst from my current line of thinking....

-Dang, what a great dinner tonight. Just the right combination of people and personalities. 80's snack foods. Things being freaky when they come in clumps. Lionel Ritchie and Smokey Robinson....aren't those guys the same person? Yamabe going out to pursue missions in LA. Nomar vs. Jeter....come on....this one is a no brainer right?

-Dang, CHKLHG is in pretty bad physical shape. Haha, I'm calling you out buddy. Bah, I had trouble running with those highschool kids too. You know....most professional athletes hit their prime right around ages 27 - 30. These days all of my peers seem to think things will never bet better from the present state. Can't think that way people. Be lazy and get over it in your own time, but don't give up.

-Dang, it's really cold outside. I'm having more trouble rolling out of bed and hopping out of the shower these days. Mmmmmm.....a hot shower and thick blanket sound great right about now.

-Dang, the Astros evened up the series at two games today. Carlos Beltran is a beast! If we even get to the World Series this year, my heart hopes that Drayton McLane will shell out the big bucks to keep him around. Hope that the Rocket stays around too. I can't believe he is in such great shape at age 40!

-Dang, I missed church today. Ok, I actually got up early to volunteer in the nursery, but they sent me home shortly after arriving. It seems that there were way more adults than children today. Being the only single person there, and a guy, they decided that it made sense for me to take off. That was weird....almost discriminatory....oh well, went home and made a hearty breakfast. Felt lazy today. Kinda longing for service right now.

-Dang, I need to start bringing my camera with me more often. I missed yet another great shot for the collection. This time I was pissed off. Kinda want a smaller camera that will fit into my pocket comfortably.

-Dang, can't wait to go home for Thanksgiving. I miss my family.

Bedtime I guess.....Dang!

The White Man and the LIB

The wedding we attended last night was the definite jewel of this years' season so far. Despite having alot to say, I'm going to push back the topic of LIB wedding attendance in order to muse a little bit about another issue that unexpectedly arose in my face. Who cares about being politically correct with my thoughts on this one....white guys who blatantly have a fetish and want to score with asian women are the scum of the earth.

Man, my thoughts are so frenetic. Where do I begin? Let me touch a little on what triggered this line of thinking.

There was this guy last night that somehow ended up tagging along with our group inbetween the ceremony and dinner reception. Our members consisted of myself, my FD (friendly date, who in contradiction to LIB policy shall remain nameless....anonymity b/c of the issue), my friends GapTooth and PoYang, and this white guy who was a total stranger. We literally met him on or near the day of the wedding. While walking towards a neutral spot to kill some time, he immediately professed an active interest in flirting and getting to know my date. You should have seen they way he kept posturing and trying to engage her.

The three of us were left baffled and collectively scratching our heads. What the heck was this guy was trying to do? For those of us who knew, he was a married father of three from New Jersey for crying out loud! The most intimate details are sandwiched in between moments, but I'll cap things off by saying this guy approached me at the hotel later on to figure out what my relationship with FD really was (in some ways lewd). Honestly, there were thoughts about lying to him by saying she was my girlfriend, and others involving the placement of my foot in his ass (that was for you 24-505-5), but I ended up telling him the truth about why we came together and prayed to God that the Holy Spirit would protect my friend if we ever became separated during the night.

*LIB Note: I am a strong believer in chivalry and protecting my female friends. But with age I've discovered that most of them are strongly grounded and can easily take care of themselves in mid-minor situations of discomfort ( SF city girls come to mind). However, as a man you should always keep an eye on the situation. Be prepared to be diplomatic if things start to escalate. In short, step in and execute when you need to. Many have discerned and acted in experiences before.

In chatting with PoYang afterwards, he was the host of the evening and spent the bulk of his time mingling with guests, our mystery friend turned out to be one of a handful of men who were tucking their wedding bands into a pocket in order to increase the potential of scoring. Preferably, with an asian girl that had been drinking above her level of tolerance. I kid you not.....

Upon taking FD home and returning to catch up with the bride's mother, our mystery friend had made his way onto the dance floor and was getting sloppy while dancing with a fairly attractive girl. Sheesh.

*LIB Note: I fully recognize that this is very normal in the secular world. There is slight judgement on my part. It strongly irks me on differnet levels, but these people do have a conscious choice in the end. And you know....some women can be equally aggressive in playing this game as their male counterparts on the other side.

Heh, I think I've gotten my point across. Let me just summarize by saying that not all white men are cut from this cloth. In fact, all men in general could be guilty of falling hard for this sexually bohemian line of thinking. Both Christians and nonbelievers alike. This particular strain just hits a little closer to home for me b/c of what I've seen and experienced in my life and travels. Don't even get me started on the exploitation of women in third world counties and emerging economies.

As a sinful and imperfect resident of this planet, I have my obvious shortcomings. Interracial couples will always me cause to turn my head and raise an eyebrow (especially when one of the pair is asian). Where I'm from it's not as prevalent and there has been difficulty in transitioning to the frequency of their occurence out here in California.

I've met many genuine white guys in my life.

It's the sleazy ones that piss me off. Most times I don't care to associate with them and automatically feign sincerity. There is no immediate urge to pray for them or take an interest in possibly saving their souls. Key word: immediate.

Sometimes I wish that I could be more like Christ and take the world on head first. Not entirely possible.... too irrational and overly biased at times.

I'll keep trying though. However absurd and ridiculous. I'll keep trying.

Insomnia Induced Online Survey

I can't seem to sleep tonight. Thought I'd try my hand at this survey previously posted by Jedimaster and see if it can knock me out.

1. Full Name: Little Indian Boy

2. Who were you named after: The peanut president

3. Which finger is your favorite?: My right trigger finger

4. Have you ever sang into a hairbrush? No, stupid question

5. When did you last cry? Last Friday after watching a film for class

6. Do you like your handwriting? No, I've been writing with my left hand for fun though

7. What is your favorite lunchmeat? Salami....with smoked gouda, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and avocado on rye bread. Mmmmmm

8. Any bad habits? I am a bad habit that is thankful for grace

9. What is your most embarrassing CD on the shelf? CHKLHG : Life Volume One....just kidding

10. If you were another person, would you be friends? Now....definitely....6 years ago....not likely

11. Are you a daredevil? I can be with the proper motivation....like a POC whispering dares into my ear at work

12. Have you ever told a secret you swore not to tell? Another stupid question....nobody is perfect

13. Do looks matter? They do until you find out what lies behind them

14. Have you ever said a word and it sounded absolutely stupid? Arugala, Zagat, Versace....I've mispronounced with the best of them at times

15. Do you think there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? I believe there is a gang of Leprechauns waiting to mug you and take your wallet

16. Do fish have feelings? There is an article that suggests so. Interesting b/c they injected the jaw with....eh, let's just say that they might

17. How do you release anger? Take deep breaths, visualize the worst possible way to react, pray, go out and engage in physical activity until I come home ragged and worn

18. Where is your second home? I'm not really sure....future blog post

19. Do you trust others easily? I generally do, but have become increasingly guarded as of late

20. What was your favorite toy as a child? My imagination

21. What class in school do you think is totally useless? Homeroom....that time could have been used for 35 minutes of extra sleep

22. Do you use sarcasm a lot? Nope....if I do, it's never to be intentionally mean though

23. What do you look for in a boy/girl? Wallet or a purse?

24. What are your nicknames? My chinese nickname is literally translated as "Little Fat"

25. Would you ever bungee jump? I'd be the first one up and then someone would have to push me off once they strap me in

26. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? How bland is this question? I don't wear shoes b/c I live in the forest and dance with wolves

27. Do you think you're strong? On the outside I'm strong enough for someone who doesn't use steroids. Within, there are seasonal moments of weakness

28. What's your favorite ice cream flavor? Baseball Nut or Winter White Chocolate...basically summer and winter variations of the same flavor at Baskin Robbins.

29. What's your favorite color? I enjoy the entire spectrum. But if pushed to make a choice, right now I would choose red

30. What are your least favorite things? Things that are good for me but require maximum effort to maintain. Gotta stick with them though

31. Are you in love with any one? Not even myself

32.How many wisdom teeth do you have? My mouth is completely ignorant

33. How many people have a crush on you right now? How would I know?

34. Who do you miss most right now? My paternal grandparents

35. Do you want people to do this survey? No, please do not....it has to end somewhere

36. What are you wearing right now? Sweatpants, draws, printed t-shirt, glasses, and a little deodorant

37. What are you listening to right now? Redneck Woman

38.What was the last thing you ate? A bunch of grapes

39. How is the weather right now? Cold enough to stir the thermostat from its slumber....foggy like a mug

40.Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? POC

41. First thing you notice about the opposite gender? Whether they smile or not....very important

42. Do you like the person who made this? I would really like to shake the hand of whoever made this survey

43. How are you today? Starting to get tired....good sign

44. Favorite drink? Water

45. Eye color? Red....see question 46

46. Do you wear contacts? Way too many hours of the day

47. Siblings and their ages: One sister aged 27 minus 5

48. Favorite months? In SF....September and early March

49. Last movie you watched? Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

50. Favorite day of the year? Labor Day

51. Are you too shy to ask someone out? I'd like to say no, but it really depends on the person and situation

52. Scary movies or happy endings? Buttered popcorn or licorice whips?

53. Summer or winter? Buttered popcorn

54. Hugs or kisses? I do not eat Hershey's chocolate

55. Relationships or one-night stands? Um, I'd like to spin again Pat

It worked. The time is now 3:30am and my body is sending signals that it's time to rest. Hopefully, I won't read this in the future and regret anything that was thought out. Oh well, who cares at this point?

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!

A Tribute to Louis Pasteur and the FDA

For awhile now I've wanted to write something as a tribute for my buddies that vacationed in western Europe not too long ago. There is a song by Abba called "Our Last Summer" whose lyrics were flexible enough to make some minor changes in order to reflect Spain rather than France. This one is SO much more intersting though......

LuLu: Blah Blah Blah Blah
LIB: Yada Yada Yada Yada
FrenchGirl: La La La La La La
LIB: .....yeah, so my roomate brought back this huge block of cheese for me
LuLu: Ooooh, nice....was it from France?
French Girl: Wait, you said he brought it back from Europe?
LIB: Yeah, does that break some kind of rule or something?
French Girl: Well, in France we don't past pasteurize our dairy products
LIB: *eyes growing wider and wider*
LuLu: *grin* Wow, I never thought about that....
LIB: Hmmm, well he went to Spain....maybe they do stuff differently there
French Girl: Nah, it's the same b/c they don't have an FDA equivalent
LuLu: So you could have gotten really sick LIB
French Girl: Or introduced something deadly into our environment
LIB: ........I just ate the last of it a few days ago
French Girl: Good thing there is no more evidence
LuLu: Yeah, your friend could have gotten into alot of trouble if they found it
LIB: *grin*.......haha, CHKLHG in jail over 2 pounds of cheese

Wow, I would have felt pretty bad if he would have gotten in trouble over my indulgence. Honestly though, I couldn't bail him out with a straight face. Hahaha, once again ignorance is truly bliss.

*LIB Note: Upon hearing this news....Eek's response was....OMG!!!....then HAHAHA!!!!!

*LIB Note II: Iron stomachs and orange cats rule the world!

Treasure Treasure Treasure

I randomly decided to reposition my bed and unearthed some surprising items:

- 4.38 cents in assorted change

- Microsoft application manual

- 1 1/2 pairs of dirty socks

- Christmas card from a friend in India

- Two blue and two black pens

- An old issue of Smithsonian Magazine

- Cat Cat

- Two golf balls

- An old parking ticket that I paid long ago

- Some unopened junk mail

- One half empty bottle of spring water


Not too bad in my opinion. It could have been worse.

Catching up With My Old Friend GapTooth

Coming in contact with people from your past is always unpredictable. You start asking questions about how each other have been doing for the last few years. Then there comes a time for several rounds of "Oh, do you remember the time when *fill in the blank* happened? Finding out about how their parents are doing is always cool too. Throw in some light gossip about which person is now doing what and you generally can't help but grin with amusement. Well, that formula has been working for me as of late.

It's funny b/c there was a time in my life when I just wanted to get as far away from my old acquaintances as possible. Among many things, there was a main core of insecurity and discomfort centered around how my life never really panned out like the traditional Chinese template said it was supposed to. God is so mysterious, but I'm grateful that he stuck with me through the thick and thin. There is a wedding coming up that I am SO looking forward to.

*LIB Note: I'm starting to understand how a significant age gap between husband and wife (older male to female) can be beneficial to the relationship. But, I'm not entirely sold just yet....=)

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

This movie has potential to be the sleeper hit of the year. Where do I even begin? The director, Kerry Conran, had an original vision that took over 6 years to manifest into this miraculous dream come true. There was an article in Time magazine about how he slowly pieced together a sample video, using Apple technology and some model robots, that gradually made it's way into the hands of a producer. Things progressed and a studio eventually shelled out 40 million dollars to make things happen. Incredible in my opinion, because they basically took a huge gamble on what was an unknown indie project at the time.

Yeah yeah yeah.....I know......it's a Gwyneth movie too so there is an automatic bias on my part. But did you know this? The major actors all signed on for significantly less than what they could command on the open market. When you hear things like that, it usually signals that whatever material was pitched to them really caught their eye. Something from the past that comes to mind is the Royal Tennenbaums. That was a wickedly funny movie.

A few tidbits from my experience that hopefully won't give too much away: Revolutionary methods of filming (almost all done entirely with a bluescreen), It was a period piece that contained a bit of that Orson Wellsian War of the Worlds type feel, A great script overall that contained cleverly placed about moments of humor, There were a few surprising biblical references, and last of all a romantic game of chess.

Imagine if Nancy Drew grew up to become Lois Lane. Somewhere down the line she meets Chuck Yeager and they end up having this complicated history. A cat and mouse sort of relationship that provides entertainment value, but surely would be difficult to deal with in real life. Haha, in defense of Sky Captain (the character).....sometimes you have to laugh because it's funny.

Catch a matinee and see what's up.

What a Guy

There is a person who I really enjoy praying with. Someone who seems to be thinking about how he can lift up others in prayer long before we even break off to do so. This guy has directly affected me as a brother in so many different ways since we started becoming better friends. I hope one day to have this effect on people I come in contact with as well. Brimming with the Holy Spirit. A great dude be this humble person.

Astros of the West vs. Giants of the South

Tonight I went out to my annual MLB baseball game at SBC Park in San Francisco. The Astros were in town facing the Giants in a tightly contested race for the NL wildcard spot. It's weird, being here for so long, I can't help but have a soft spot in my heart for the local team. They are a class organization with an extremely loyal fan base to boot. Here are a few of my thoughts from the evening.

For baseball lovers everywhere:

- They intentionally walked Barry Bonds 4 times. That was amazing. I've never seen a hitter so feared in all my years of watching baseball. Juice or no juice.....this guy is special.

- The Killer B's (Bagwell, Berkman, Beltran, and Biggio) didn't do a dang thing. Best pop of the night was when Jeff Kent homered and smirked amidst the booing. Too bad Beltran will be a Yankee next year.

- Who the heck is Noah Lowry? What a masterfull pitching exhibition!

- It's now down to the Giants and Cubs for the wildcard in my opinion. Unless Houston makes another miraculous run. I'm not holding my breath.

- You gotta love season ticket holders who go enough to know the umpires by their first names.

- Man, when a line drive comes at you....it's pretty freaky if you don't have a glove.


For those who don't like sports:

- A perfectly temperate night to enjoy an equally beautiful ballpark. These new stadiums are built so uniquely. It's really neat to just walk around and look at all the amenities and such.

- Bratwurst with sour kraut.....enormous bags of kettle corn.....an over priced soda that lasted the entire night and didn't seem so outrageous by night's end.....Ballpark food.....Mmmmmmm.

- A drunk kid hopping over the fence and running all the way across the outfield before getting cornered and escorted out. I wonder if he's going to get arrested? In all my life, this was the first time that I'd personally witnessed such an incident.

- The chills of listening to 40,000 people sing the national anthem ( which we missed ) and the seventh inning stretch ( which was pretty cool ).

- Swarms of little kids begging for baseballs after every grounder gone foul. If only I were 20 years younger.

- Hanging out with a good friend that really needed some R&R.....Nice.

- Mobile coffee vendor leading the crowd in a fight chant.

- Specks of Astros fans in a sea of black and orange.


I love nights like these.

Compelled to Blog Despite Being Weary

Just got back from a hot date with two women at the same time. Heh, It's not what you think. A pair of my mom's dearest friends were in town on vacation and I met up with them over some late night ice cream at Ghiradelli Square (fast becoming one of my favorite dives). There have been some really great conversations with older people lately. On the plane today, the guy sitting next to me had all kinds of neat stories from when he was enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam conflict.

Bah, I'm starting to ramble. Always get kinda metaphoric and dreamy when I attempt to write while on an empty tank.

Will have to share tomorrow....what a great weekend.

The Hurricane

Betsy, Andrew, Emily, Ivan, Camille......pretty good names for a newborn child? Perhaps if it suits your fancy on that certain day, but these particular ones were all names for major hurricanes that ripped through New Orleans during my time there. Well, Betsy occured in the late 60's I think, but the legend of her aftermath seemed to be systematically drilled into each of our little heads every time we practiced a "hurricane" drill at school. The scary thing racing through my mind right now?.....Ivan may be the one to top them all.


AP: "More than 1.2 million people in metropolitan New Orleans were warned to get out Tuesday as 140-mph Hurricane Ivan churned toward the Gulf Coast, threatening to submerge this below-sea-level city in what could be the most disastrous storm to hit in nearly 40 years.

Residents streamed inland in bumper-to-bumper traffic in an agonizingly slow exodus amid dire warnings that Ivan could overwhelm New Orleans with up to 20 feet of filthy, chemical-polluted water.

Forecasters said Ivan could reach 160 mph and strengthen to Category 5, the highest level, by the time it blows ashore as early as Thursday somewhere along the Gulf Coast."


It's weird. I'm atleast 7 years removed from that entire area, yet a small part of me wishes I could be there right now. Fleeing for my life with the rest of my friends....=) The good thing though is that a few of them are heading out to Houston and will be staying with my family while nature takes its course.

Here are a few things I do remember from 12 years of braving annual storms:

-One time it flooded so bad that they rounded up all of us students and placed us in the gym. Water was threatening to fill up the hallways. Every parent had to brave the currents in order to pick up their kids and take them home.

-When the canal system overflows, it literally becomes a sea of water, sewage, and creepy crawlies. I'm talking about snakes, bugs, frogs, and nutria

-I remember taping up all of our window panes in the shape of an X with packing tape. This would prevent the glass from shattering too finely if the winds became violent

-There would be no food on the grocery store shelves. Nothing. You couldn't even buy a soda

-The graves in New Orleans were all built above ground. Apparently some caskets emerged from the ground way back in the day before people figured out how to measure the sea level

-I remember fleeing to higher ground as well. The highways were always tightly jammed with cars. Much like the Israelites leaving Egypt during the exodus. Hold onto your goat son!

-I remember a family friend. One of the elders at church that would stay behind no matter what because he was a doctor and felt needed in such a situation. DocL would send off his family and just sit there alone at home. I have so much more respect for him now that my punk days are over. We'll meet again in October....=)

-Mosquito hell once everything dies down!

Anyways, it's not pretty. Much like a really violent earthquake I suppose.

*LIB Note: Those satellite photos and closeups of the storm's eye are so CREEPY. I once had a nightmare had me on a clipper ship while being sucked down a hurricane's giant vortex.

Man, my bones are quivering. Time to pray.

Three Years Ago Today

Life will never be the same again for me. Time has elapsed but the memories still make me feel strange. And, I wasn't even there to witness it live like others that I know.

Dog tired. Moving furniture will do that to you.

One bright spot though.....a good friend of mine seems to have finally found a great spot to sit in a tree....=)

Why Michael Kelso is Cool in My Book

I was casually watching the Fox Teen Choice Awards a few weeks ago and witnessed a really cool gesture on the part of Ashton Kutcher. The exact category of award escapes me at the moment, but he ended up winning something and began his ascent onto the stage carrying a surfboard. For those of you who think this is weird, the program presents its honorees with inscribed surfboards as opposed to trophies. So, I initially thought that this guy was a cocky punk! Why would someone bring up an award that they've already won that night? To show the world that they've won a pair? That would be so tasteless.

It turns out that the surfboard was actually one that he'd won from the prior year (Best Male Hottie I recall....something that he jokingly was upset at for not repeating in). After graciously accepting the current version, Ashton declared to the audience that he wanted to give away his "own award" while having the podium to himself. It was something called the "crappiest seat in the house award". One of his associates had gone up into the farthest corner of the auditorium and picked out a young fan sitting in a very cheap seat. He then brought the girl down to meet the star and she was even allowed to take the old surfboard home (after Ashton had signed it on the spot) as a souvenir.


It could have been posturing. It could have been a publicity stunt. It could have been anything. But MAN, I thought that was so cool. The girl was just stunned.

You always hear about celebs donating all kinds of money and time to various charities, but who really takes the time to seriously think about the little people while on national TV?

Crappiest seat in the house award. That's good stuff.

*LIB Note: Two things Kutcher advised the girl not to do with the board. 1.) Surf with it b/c it is really hard 2.) Not to sell it on EBay b/c if he saw it go up then he'd hunt her down.

Sighs All Around

Hey LIB,

No, I didn't take it. It's in my room in a white case. It's beautiful here in Vernazza. We took a swim in the mediterrean today. Anyway,will fill you all in later.

-CHKLHG

*LIB Note: My roomate is currently on vacation in Europe. I have the entire upper level of our house to myself. He's swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. Dang.

For All of You Out There Hanging By a Thread

Black Cat: I've been hanging out with this nonchristian guy
LIB: Hmmmm....how did you meet him?
Black Cat: He introduced himself to me while I was studying
LIB: White dude?
Black Cat: No, Japorean....or korpanese
LIB: Half Japanese half Korean?
Black Cat: Yep
LIB: So is the guy good stuff?
Black Cat: He's ok. Cool and not too creepy
LIB: See him often?
Black Cat: Well, more often than I see others
LIB: Others meaning friends and classmates?
Black Cat: Yeah, but NikkeiG lectured me about it
LIB: What did he say?
Black Cat: Told me to get out of it
Black Cat: Not get involved and make that clear
LIB: How do you feel about that?
Black Cat: I dunno
Black Cat: Despite not being christian, he's more principled than christian guys
Black Cat: But of course, the spiritual connection is not totally there
LIB: Do you seriously think that? Kinda makes me feel small....=P

(Fast forward through some really personal dialogue)

LIB: With this new guy....please be careful
Black Cat: Yeah, I think I'll be more straightforward with him
LIB: I really struggled with a similar issue for awhile too
LIB: B/c most nonchristian women I meet tend to think I'm so polite and funny
Black Cat: Hee
LIB: That type of flattery can mess with your mind
LIB: In fact, a good friend called me out on something I thought was innocent a few weeks ago
LIB: Shook me back into my senses
Black Cat: That's good....I don't have that type of accountability
LIB: That's what NikkeiG and myself are good for
LIB: Right and left hands of your conscience
LIB: One to call you out and the other to pat you on your back
Black Cat: My friend Mildred is back in town now too....so it's cool
LIB: Good, having an accountable sister....
LIB: Is probably better than two bizarro brothers
Black Cat: =)
LIB: Please don't give in to your desires to meet random guys
LIB: Recognize that you need more than worldly compatibility
Black Cat: Yeah, that's a good thought
LIB: With the number of people that populate this world, there are way too many great individuals out there waiting to be discovered
LIB: Bound to meet a striking smile and a faithful hello sometime
Black Cat: Yeah, I dunno
LIB: Too bad law of averages hasn't brought a bible toting supermodel to my doorstep just yet
Black Cat: Hahahaha
LIB: Trust in God and avoid settling....you're a great gal
Black Cat: Thanks, you're a swell dude too

Hang tight my friends.....Hang tight!

*LIB Note: What the heck happened to my template? Gotta find some time to get to the bottom of this. Man, it's testing my patience....=)

I Sense a Disturbance in the Barometric Force

Things that resulted from a high of 83 degrees Fahrenheit:

• Inside of the house being significantly warmer than the outside
• Lying on the couch with a magazine only to fall asleep in a pool of sweat
• Nice time BBQing and singing Happy Birthday
• Spoiled boy from the south complaining about the heat...=)
• Opportunities to wash and detail car (no clay treatment)
• Cold iced tea never tasting sweeter
• Weed whacking and sweating like a pig
• Enjoyable cold showers

Blessings incurred from a low of 69 degrees Fahrenheit:

• Falling asleep with a cool ocean breeze blowing through the window
• House being just as nice inside as out
• Opportunities to jog along the coast with shorts and a T-shirt
• Inciting envy from your friends who had a low of 85 degrees
• Talking on the cordless while sitting out in the back yard.
• Use of the oven and stove w/o heating up the house
• Comfortable slumber using only a single sheet as cover

It was surprising how much the change in temperature affected me this past weekend. At times I complained like a total weakling. California has spoiled me rotten!

I loved it though. Sunny days.....sweeping the fog away.....

An LIB Original Survey

Hmmmm....... alot of you out there are filling out various online surveys. In the interest of doing something just to do it, I've compiled one of my own (with a little help from a few of you folks) this morning. Here goes nothing......

1.) Which Baldwin brother do you favor most? Alec, Billy, Steve, or Fat?
Alec gets the most press, but I like Daniel (aka "Fat" Baldwin) b/c he has some comedy value in being the least known of the four

2.) Indian food or Spanish Tappas?
Oh man, I'm not fond of either....but if cornered it would have to be Tappas. I'd only eat one snail though

3.) For your HS yearbook, what would you most likely to be voted as?
Most likely to skip the reunion and only stay in touch with those he wanted to

4.) What is your middle name? If asian....what does it mean?
Yung-Ta and the literal translation means "Forever Prosperous"

5.) When was the last time you got mad enough to make your face turn beet red?
When I got into my only car accident a few years ago and my adjuster tried to rip me off

6.) A kick in the groin from a friend or a punch directly in the head from Mike Tyson?
I'd take the kick. Better to be sterile than on life support

7.) Prince William or JFK Jr.?
William will be king, but I'd side with John John mainly b/c he also searched a long time for his purpose

8.) What is something you enjoy that other people give you grief over?
Being myself

9.) When was the last time you enjoyed seeing someone stick their tongue out at you? Or you to someone else?
I still do it from time to time for fun, but it was cute when Jenna Bush did it to the photographers while campaigning for her father

10.) Longest time you've been interested in someone and did nothing?
Heh, people from Orleans will love this one..... 9 years. Stupid kid

11.) Traditional handshakes or gangsta grips?
I like a firm handshake despite not really having one

12.) Embarassing poster that you had in your room as a kid?
I had one of Shannen Doherty from her 9021o days

13.) Fall or Spring?
Spring, b/c out here everything comes back to life

14.) Most memorable scene from a movie?
Sliding Doors when Gwyneth goes blonde and whirls her head around to smile. *Sigh*

15.) An obscure musical artist that you admire that your friends my not have heard of before?
Suzanne Cianni

16.) Craziest food that you've ever eaten?
Nutria, a swamp rat the size of a dog

17.) Would you rather lose both of your big toes or both of your thumbs?
I'd keep my toes. Don't know if this is true, but you wouldn't be able to walk w/o them?

18.) Who do you think would win in a fight between Linda Hamilton from "Terminator" and Demi Moore from "G.I. Jane"?
I'd have to go with G.I. Jane b/c of the military training

19.) Cooler....girls who can eat or guys that are in touch with their feminine side?
I'll take the sister who can hold it down. Steak buffet style

20.) Where were you on Sept. 11th 2001?
In China, at a medicinal foot bathing place, chatting away with my version of Aurelia

21.) How do you think you'd respond when finally meeting Jesus upon his return?
I'd probably feel the tears well up out of gratefulness; would also ask for forgiveness yet again

22.) How long do you think you could last on a mechanical bull? Would you laugh at someone who fell off?
Not very, got tossed easily the first and only time; I would laugh so hard...unless it was a rough fall

23.) Create a nickname for yourself...what would it be?
Lizard....I'll take lizard any day

24.) If you could be a vampire, minus eternal damnation and surviving on alternative blood sources, would you?
I bet only JBK and myself will say yes to this one

25.) If you got pulled over by a cop for speeding, what would you pull to try and get out of it?
Admit my guilt and hope he/she has mercy on me ; they would probably give me a second one if I batted my eyelashes and smiled...=)

Spyda Man Takes the Contract

Don't have much time tonight, but I have to share my thoughts on something that I caught on TV while flipping during a break. For those of you who know and care about the And 1 Streetball show....they finally aired the last episode and the winner was this guy nicknamed Spyda. He actually was the runner up from last summer's show, but this guy came back around with a target on his back and outlasted every person he went up against.

My thoughts....the guy wanted it BAD. In my opinoin, he should have won last year rather than the Professor. Spyda came back this season packing on some added muscle (looking like a spider on steroids) and was as aggressive as ever. He frustrated another player to the point of desertion. A player who at the time was the guy to beat.

The older I get the more my interest wanes with this kind of stuff. Something inside me will always love this game though. Especially when you see someone get so close, go back into the lab and tinker with stuff, then return with a mighty vengeance.

Ok, back to the mines.

What Can I Say? Life is Unpredictable!

This is an absolutely incredible excerpt from a remote acquaintance's blog. I was going to eventually talk about this chance meeting, but I guess she beat me to the punch. Crazy.

"More craziness. Just chillin at the sunset guys' apartment, where I meet LIB, who I discover is a good friend of this guy I dated during my semester in Beijing (1999). Since I met him on the plane to China, and he was from Houston, "LIB" was just a name I faintly recall being mentioned in conversation. And here I am in SF, 5 years later, putting a face to the name. The connection became all too real when he asked me, "Remember that Jambalaya he cooked for you? That was MY recipe!!" Whoa, flashback. Haha. Even more peculiar, he is now roommates & buddies with some of my extended friends in the SF clan. It's like watching two worlds (and two chapters of my life) collide. Tis a small world."

Tis a small world indeed. So much more out there to be experienced.

Thanks Sanguine Lemon....you can't imagine how trippy it was on my end as well.

*LIB Note: Mmmmm.....jambalaya.....=)

Pet Peeve that I Forgot to Mention

This one is a doozie.....

Donating items to the Salvation Army has been an enjoyable privilege for me as long as I can remember. It was a great way for the parents to clear out many of our obsolete items and ensure that they got into the hands of people who really needed them. A pretty simple service provided that paralleled an even simpler equation right?

Apparently not here in the Sunset district of San Francisco.

I remember collecting items from our entire household for a donation not long after moving into my current home. There was so much junk in storage from all of the previous roomates that had moved in and out over the past couple of years. All together, we put together a pretty decent package of clothing and goods for the SA to come and pick up. All we had to do was set up a convenient pick up date, place all the items in our driveway, and label everything availible for identitification purposes.

Upon returning later that evening, it looked like a tornado had ripped through our carefully stacked items and scattered everything onto the ground. Bags were ripped and left half filled.Some of the larger pieces of furniture were obviously missing. It made no sense to me initially, but after consulting with some longtime city dwellers I realized that we had been victimized by people (probably asian) who lived in our own neighborhood. How wrong is that?

How do you justify taking items that were clearly marked " For Salvation Army"? They pretty much took all that they wanted and just left everything else strewn out along our driveway and poor excuse for a lawn.

*LIB Note: Gear mentioned that it was likely the old chinese bag ladies that also raid our recycling bin every week. If so, what the heck are they going to do with my oversized clothing and shoes? Oh man, something just came to mind....there are places that purchase old clothes right? Grrrrr.......!!!!!

Bah, next time I'm going to take everything directly to a collections center. In a way it's kind of funny. What the heck are these people thinking?

Feeling Like a Big Baby Tonight

There was an appreciation/farewell party for my pastor and his family tonight. It was hard for me. Writing my thoughts onto a card felt natural. No sweat. Having to look into a camera and express those same thoughts a few moments later?

*exhale*

Very hard. So happy that they are taking a leap for their ministry. Sad that my friends are moving away.

What a big whining crybaby I am tonight.

Being Encouraged to Gripe Online

At the end of a typical day last week, I found myself sitting in a coworker's cube immersed in one of our brief moments of regular conversation. You can fill in your own example of how the topics vary during these chats, but on this afternoon it was heavily centered on petty peeves and general things that had been bugging the heck out of us. She encouraged me to blog about some of those issues.....so what the hay.....here goes nothing.

Towards the tail end of a class last week, one which was filled to capacity with people scrambling to add last minute, a really urban looking young man strolled through the door. Ten minutes before the professor was to let us out. I noticed the kid right off the bat b/c his look immediately cast him right towards the extreme end of the homeboy spectrum. The fact that he obviously wanted to add didn't particularly bother me. Neither did his extremely baggy choice of dress or even his blatant tardiness when so many others had bothered to show up on time. What absolutely killed me was this arrogant sense of entitlement in which he proceeded to disrupt the lecture and address the professor. It went something like this.

Homeboy: *waving his hand in a gang symbol like gesture*
Homeboy: *making a whistling sound to draw attention*
Homeboy: S'cuse me.....are you still adding?
(Professor is startled and looks disgusted)
Prof: Well, there are a number of students waiting already....
Homeboy: So you sayin I can't get in dis class?
Prof: Well, you can sign the waiting list and we'll see once the attendance settles down
Homeboy: *Psssssshh (verbal expression of indifference)*
(Homeboy leaves)

A flurry of thoughts swirled through my mind with this one. Some good: universal opportunity of education, compassion and understanding, perspective of the modern day christian, etc. Some bad: prejudice, stereotypical thoughts, annoyance, etc.

*LIB Note: Despite some of the aforementioned negatives exisiting on all planes, I feel that growing up in the south exposed me to a whole lot more as an Asian American (I can't believe I just called myself that) and I struggle with these issues more when they arise.

Luckily the professor took that exchange with a grain of salt and proceeded to finish and excuse us on time. It probably happens more often than not.

For me though, aside from feeling slightly annoyed, it highlighted how imperfect our world really is. Lots more for me to experience and deal with. I don't hold it against that kid for being the way he is. I just hope somewhere down the line that life starts falling in place for him and things begin to make sense. Shoot, the same could be said for me too.....=P

In the immortal words of Uncle Jesse.....have mercy. =)!!!!

Here are a few other things that I remember griping about that day: people who bring more than the allotted items into the express checkout lane, fast drivers plowing through the slow lane, and running into 3 independent car accidents in one day on the way home.

Thanks Eek for listening to my musings. Feel free to send me off whenever the whine starts turning into cheese.

The Beauty and Terror of an Indian Summer

Once upon a time, a little boy found himself watching a movie with his family one Easter weekend past. The movie being shown on ABC that night was predictably called "The Ten Commandments" and featured the most prominent member of the NRA in the starring role. The curious boy didn't really understand all that the movie was trying to convey and frequently asked questions when he became frustrated.

During the portion where God sent the angel of death to take all of the first born of Egypt, a direct show of power to a resilient pharoah, the silent assasin was represented by a thick cluster of greenish fog. It slowly weaved its way down into the towns, through any crack or crevice availible, and presumably (since this was prime time television in the early 80's) took out each of the intended one by one.

The boy was mortified.

His mother explained to the boy exactly what was happening but failed to take into account the active imagination of such a small child. The boy actually believed that in being first born of the family, one day such a fate would be in his future as well. He swore that he could see green at times. He slept with all arms and legs underneath the covers. He ate all his vegetables at the table and was extra nice to his little sister (when people were paying attention).

Fast forward 21 years later......

That boy has now grown into a man. He knows the story of Moses by heart and recognizes that even though the Egyptians were punished so severely by an angry God, that God still loved them as his own and would have forgiven them in a heartbeat if they had just recognized his majesty.

The man finds himself hurrying forward to his next appointment early on a Monday morning. While walking to his next lecture the man realizes how thick the fog gets out in SF during the later parts of the Indian summer. It is uniquely refreshing. He closes his eyes, takes in a big breath, and opens his eyes to take a closer look. The fog is falling faster and faster. It almost comes down in clumps b/c of the density.

Something clicks in his mind and he starts to sweat.

"Is it green?"

"I'm the first born"

"What did I do this weekend?"

"Oh man, I did this....!!!!"

Eventually, the man recovers from this aberration of thought and smiles sheepishly. He continues on with the rest of his day, but on the inside there is a drop of relief mixed in with everything else.

It's funny how memories are dormant for so long and can come alive in an instant with the right trigger. It could just be me.

My Thoughts from the Summer Olympics So Far

Since the games are in Greece, it has been very difficult for me to catch my favorite events on television this year. Thank goodness for Sports Center, online reporting, word of mouth, and the morning paper when the situation calls for one. Seriously though, having the games back in the country that they originated in is such a tremendous event. Athens is B-U-T-Ful and grossly rich with history. Half of the time when I'm watching highlights, my thoughts float away from the prominent clips and begin to admire the surrounding countryside and people. I bet they have sunny days and great hummus/falafels there too...=P

Three things that stand out to a guy like me.....

USA Men's Basketball: I'm not surprised that they have lost two times already to vastly inferior competition. These guys just don't possess the passion that is needed for an Olympic gold. They don't realize that while making millions of dollars in the NBA every year, there are countless people out there honing their game meticulously for the exact purpose of taking down the "Dream Team" on a stage like this. We still are the most athletic team that takes the court every night, but long gone are the days when you could handily beat another team by hustling alone ( which these guys don't do ).

Case in point is the smugness on exhibit during the opening ceremonies. Almost every athlete came out smiling, waving, and generally carried a gracious look of happiness for just being a part of this historical event. The NBA guys? Outside of Tim Duncan, they pretty much came out stutting their stuff and tried to look hard. Longtime residents of planet "Look at me Look at me". Yao Ming beaming while carrying his national flag, that was cool. Amare Stoudamire smirking and posing for a mug shot, disgraceful. It's sad, but most people I know are actually hoping that they lose. Go China!

LIB Note: No wonder everyone hates us.

Swimming Swimming Swimming: It was hot in the pool this summer I tell ya. Seems like every time an update came up, Michael Phelps was claiming another medal or the Australians were setting some kind of new team record. Phelps was pretty amazing. I think he hauled in 6 golds and 2 bronze medals for a grand total of 8. Crazy for someone who just turned 19. At the same age, I was freaking out over bad grades and my date for the winter formal. The best performance in my opinon though was the American women in one of the team medleys. They completely dominated from the start and shattered a world record that had stood for over 17 years. Feats like that have my respect and applause.

LIB Note: Remember Ian Thorpe in 2000? He was only 17 and took home a few golds of his own.


Iraqi Men's Soccer Team: By far, the highlight of the games for me. This is a team that was terrorized by their own leaders and barred from most major international competitions. Failure often resulted in punishment and in some cases death. Getting paid? Forget about it. So ,the fact that these guys are two wins away from taking the top prize in this event is such a great thing to hear.

In a time when their country is still in disarray, these guys can bring hope to the people of Iraq and give them something recent and real to be proud of. It's not exactly the world cup or anything, but no one could have predicted this even a few years ago. Fingers crossed and ready to pray. Two more wins!

Meow Meow or Woof Woof?

At this present moment in time, I find myself wondering, " Am I naturally a Cat or a Dog?". The more thought that is put into this question, the more assurance I feel that I am actually a hybrid of sorts, if that is possible. Some days I yearn to go out into the park and climb a few trees to hide all of my bones.

This class is going to be special. I can feel it.

Summer 2004 Conclusion:

I decided to delete the last few entries that had been drafted over the past week or so. Apart from life starting to pick up its pace again, the only other restraint holding me back has been a sense that revealing so much about some of these neat experiences could somehow cheapen their existence a little. I admit to being a perpetual optimist who constantly is inspired to repeatedly share the same type of song and dance. Really though....it started to feel cheesy....and I didn't feel like taking this tangent anymore.

It's been an awesome summer. Great momentum carrying over to this day. I can't believe some of the stuff I witnessed or was apart of....=)

One thing I will share though, and it regards the frustrations of many of my peers at SCBC here in San Francisco.....Hang in there people! I'm right there with you and possess nary a greater clue as to what is going to happen next. Keep praying for the day that we all can look back and admire what God allowed a bunch of frustrated late 20 somethings to do in his name.

Man, there is that glass of water again....=P


LIB Note: My queue of blog worthy thoughts is now jam packed b/c of this reflective whim!

Summer 2004 Continued: Physical Fitness and the Return of Shorty

This is an area that really limped along over the course of the last few months. Things started off on a very positive note. I began eating and exercising on a specific scale and was able to mix in some of my trademark "ghetto" style from time to time. Injury soon set in, which opened the door for insecurity and laziness to surface once again, excuses were mentally made, and presto....I find myself smiling and shaking my head once again.

Kinda pisses me off.

Someone once asked me, " Is it really that important to be physically in tune to you? Are you really that vain?". There isn't a universal answer for this question, I believe every person needs to set their own comforts in this area, but here are my thoughts in a nut shell. When you are in shape and comfortable with yourself, you just have more confidence in life and always carry an extra spring in your step. The blood flows a tad more smoothly. It becomes easier to focus and remain attentive during particular tasks, and your breathing even levels out to a comfortable pace.

How does Shorty fit into this equation?

For the second time in the course of our friendship we made a bet to see who could push themselves towards better results in the gym during a controlled period. Once again, Shorty was able to find her long lost 6 pack and I was left sifting through a pile of packing peanuts in search of mine. If one of us didn't meet up to the predetermined standards than he/she was to treat the other person to a nice meal for that week.

Needless to say, I bought my fair share of meals.

LIB Note: It was cool to hang more frequently and I didn't mind forking it out for such a person.
Pretty weak if used as an excuse though...=P Sanraku is my new Japanese #1 in SF.

Here is the sign of a good friend. She sensed that I was getting lax about fulfilling my end of the competition, so one week we agreed to add on an additional condition to sweeten the pot. Not only would someone have to pay if they slacked off, but the victor would also go out to a local GoodWill store and pick out an outfit for the other to wear.

I lost. I am also a good natured man of my word.

Never before in my life has humiliation tasted so unsavory. I looked like a freakish rodeo clown. There are pictures floating out there somewhere and hopefully they will never surface to tarnish my candidacy for commander in chief one day.

Heh, it's time for me to realize the potential of my frame. No more fears or excuses.


"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."


You know, you take for granted, and if you're smart.....you wake up and start walking in the other direction.

I'll address this issue again in a few months. Thanks Shorty, good times.

The Summer of 2004: My Thoughts and Opinions

In a few more weeks the summer of 2004 will have officially become an afterthought. It's hard to believe that half of the current year has blown by so quickly. Some days I long for the distant memories of vacations growing up in New Orleans. Going with my sister to the local library to check out books. Riding bikes with a bunch of friends ( or walking in extreme cases ) with no real idea of who wanted to do what. Friday night youth fellowships. Mowing lawns for pennies on the dollar and feathery thoughts of the JGM triumvirate.

This year, the summer season has provided me with many significant moments to reflect upon as I begin my preparation for the months to come. It was a highway that seemed to be littered regularly with great people, challenging opportunities, moments to analyze and reflect, and opportunities to fall and pick myself back up.

To write about everything that I 'd like to touch upon would probably break some kind of record for longest continuing entry (not likely with some of you people out there). So, I've decided to space these thoughts out over the course of a few days to make sure that they are properly expressed and not overbearing.

Here is the first.......

Coaching Women's CCU Basketball: We just had our team dinner last night at a local pizza restaurant. As I gazed down the length of the table it really hit me that the season would soon be over and there existed the chance that I would never see any of these kids again. A tiny part of me will miss them a bit and I wonder just how God will be using them as they continue to find their way in life. A great bunch of girls. Especially AirFrog....who ate a giant plate of pasta that I myself could not down in a few previous attempts.

*LIB note: HS kids eat so much and don't gain an inch! Envious.

This was my first time having direct responsibility in leading a group of young people in the world of sports. So many things were uncertain in the beginning. I remember feeling uneasy b/c for starters, the players all knew each other and attended an entirely different church than me. How would they respond to a total stranger, a very tall and sturdy man, taking up a such a position of authority? What kind of fire did they have in them? Do they want to win? More importantly....was there any height on the team? =)

As the season unfolded, we took our share of lumps and also were involved in a few shootouts that at times even riled a mellow person like me to the edge of my seat. Every week we improved a little bit. Girls that were afraid to shoot the ball eventually found the courage to hoist up a few to the delight of our team. Practice never became too serious of an obsession, but the memories of those full court scrimmages towards the end of the year will stay with me a good while. We ended up winning only one game as of tonight, but I certainly am proud of all the efforts from everyone combined.

Some of the more entertaining highlights for me were: the people that came out to support the GGCC women's team, observing the fellowship activities that the girls had with opposing teams before games, AirFrog developing into a fierce rebounder, MYung Jr. boxing out players twice her size and knocking down clutch shots, the perimeter players dropping bombs from behind the arc, and Dow5 playing center when we were short on height due to injury.

Personally, I discovered enrichment through the prayer and preparation that we needed before each weeks activities. Having to sacrifice a few of my personal regulars also became an initial concern, but in hindsight, it really was a small price to pay for the way the blessings came down for this rookie coach. I'm not quite up there with the Zen Master or Lombardi just yet. What I am feeling though is renewed confidence in cementing up some personal areas of weakness in order to better lead by example when called upon again.

We're playing the Salvation Army team tonight. They're coached by one of the best asian players in the SF area.

You know how I'm feeling?

Let's get it started.

Seductive Eyes and a Surprising Resolution 
 
On my way to a breakfast engagement this morning, we passed up this little beagle sitting outside of a flower shop. You know how some dogs have mouths that seem to always make them look like they're smiling? This little guy had the effect going bad. His almond shaped eyes ( using the masculine arbitrarily ) pierced my thoughts bad enough to make me want to adopt him and take him home. Haha, it was funny. A little dog just sitting there staring at every person that passed it up. I guess you had to be there, but I certainly wish I had my camera with me at that moment.

The best part of the day though ( aside from celebrating my friend Eek's birthday ) was having a real 15 minute chat with a more distant friend named Granola.  For me, this was huge. You see, 3 years ago when I first came to California, I was a much different man and immediately found myself in a semi disagreement with this person. Really, it was your basic misunderstanding ( though I will confess now to take on 95% of the blame ) between a boy and girl who both naturally tended to be more introverted.

This is how it evolved. You see a person, run in the same circle at times, but you never really make genuine efforts to give that person a chance. Obligatory friendship when pressed upon. Sad.

When I think of Granola now I don't think that we ever will become too close. From our brief interaction though, I was able to find out where her heart has been much of the past year and am now able to keep her in prayer more directly.  

It's embarassing  how easily the traces of being a jerk can be faintly retained for such a long time. 

I'm just grateful that there is closure with this situation now. Grace is so unpredictable.

 

 




 

Do You Really Want to Be Like Mike?

Just read an article detailing about how a trading card featuring both Lebron James and Michael Jordan closed at a whopping $150,100 in a recent EBay auction. This doesn't even include shipping/handling or insurance.

MAN!!!!!

It's funny to me b/c I recently had a quirky conversation with another friend about hobbies and passions. Looking back to when I was a kid, the pastime of collecting sports cards has changed so much with the evolution of sport into a global industry. Gone are the days of saving lunch money for a week so that you could go out to the sports shop on Saturday to buy a couple packs of Upper Deck ( 89 Griffey Junior was what we were looking for ). These days there are still cheaper sets that float out on the market, but the really good stuff, the money cards, sadly only adults with the capital to invest can afford them.

 
Here are  a few details about this record setting piece of cardboard.......

• Only one James/Jordan card exists in the set.

• NBA logo swatches worn by James and Jordan are embedded in the card.

• Upper Deck's 1-of-1 James/Kobe Bryant card recently sold for $62,100, thus driving up the theoretical value of James/Jordan.

• A segment of card collectors accept super premium prices for super products. Several years ago, Upper Deck introduced the first $100 packs. The James/Jordan card is part of a 78-card Upper Deck set which debuted with a suggested retail price of $500 in early June. The same packs now sell for as much as $700.

 
Don't get me wrong. Whenever I see trading cards for sale my blood immediately starts to boil. The feeling of exuberance that you get from opening packs and taking chances on getting that one card  is still addictive and hard to explain. But seriously, manipulating the concept of supply and demand to jusify charging 100 dollars for a single pack that only contains 3 cards?

That's wrong.

Not even a hobby anymore. Well, I guess it is if you can afford it.