"Ain't Nothin Like"

I like kickin' back on the sofa

Flippin' through the channels just to see what's on

I enjoy eatin' eggs over easy

Soppin' up with a biscuit 'til the yellow's gone

[Chorus]

Ain't nothin' like watchin' a bunch of young'ns

Run screamin' through the sprinkler in their little bare feet

And ain't nothin' like finding twenty dollars

In the pocket of the britches that you wore last week

I get into getting out on my mower

In the early mornin' hours 'fore the sun gets hot

And I like goin' down to the Kroger

When the carnival comes to the parkin' lot

Ain't nothin' like throwing a hula popper

Draggin' it across a spot a big 'un oughta be

And ain't nothin' like having him for supper

With some good hush puppies and some sweet iced tea

[Bridge]

This old world is full of simple pleasures

They're all good but some are better

Ain't nothin' like finding that woman

That you know you're gonna love for the rest of your life

And ain't nothin' like knowing the Lord's a comin'

Back one day to make you want to do right

*LIB Note: A part of me will always remember my time in the dirty south. Good times! =)

Countdown to Liftoff

Dear Hank and Peggy,

In the last two years I've often found myself smiling when thougts of your family arise. How I used to horse around with Hank at the bookstore to visiting your new place the last time I was home. Truly blessed. I hiope to catch up with all 5 (*LIB Note: Holy crap!!) of you guys sometime soon. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

-LIB

In a few days I'll be on a plane heading home to see my family in Houston. Post breakup, my life has been through a great deal of ebb and flow. It's not that I've been remorseful over the course of events, but my mind has been intensely focused on how to move on. Can I forgive and forget? Am I capable of vengeance? What do I have to prove? What is my motivation? What do you do when the most unsuspecting parties plot your demise?

Haha, everything is now crystal clear as the upcoming year begins. In short, I've got alot to do this year....responsibilities to uphold....friends to lift up....and much more to experience. This is the year that I truly walk without my crutches.

10 days in one of the dirtiest cities in America, raking leaves and cleaning gutters, counseling a sibling in need, getting to know a future inlaw, lots of time dialing long distance, rebuilding relationships long since deteriorated, and staying away from the all you can eats.

I'm going home!

Thanksgiving SoCal Trip: Extended LIB Remix

Last Christmas was the worst holiday experience of my rapidly aging life. I made the decision to gut it out on my own in the Bay area, since I made the trip out to Houston for Thanksgiving, and lived to tell a most regrettable experience. With that in mind, this year will bring me back for the yule tide season so I decided to travel a little bit with my roomate JediMaster during the Pilgrim weekend. I honestly wasn't sure when I'd start blogging again (*LIB Note: see bottom of post), but felt the urge to tell my side of the story once this picture of me eating out of a measuring cup was discovered in a post. I'm going to get you back for that one dude.....just you wait. In the mean time here is my side of the tale......

The drive down there wasn't too bad at all. We decided to take off later in the evening to beat the massive holiday rush. Luckily, this cool rep from the Hertz desk upgraded our ride to a 2005 Ford 500. For those of you who don't know, it's their flagship sedan and is very well suited for long distance travelling. I had my doubts about whether JediMaster could handle such a monster vehicle for the body was nearly double the size of his Rebublic Jetta. With a few cups of joe and a series of days ahead, it was off to the road and on with our trip.

Thanksgiving dinner wasn't what I expected it to be like at all. Yes, there were four sorority girls that formed the core of our hosts for the evening. Were they hot? Heh, I suppose so. To me it was more of their care free approach to the night that made things fun and gave them charm. Not since my days in Texas has the dinner conversation so easily revolved around making fun of each other's ethnicities, playful swearing, and good food/wine. The funny thing was that these women were in the same sorority as my sister and knew of her when I brought up the connection. A truly small world do we live in. I have to mirror JediMaster's observation that LA life is markedly different from the SF community. It doesn't mean that one is necessarily better than the other though. Just gotta be brave and expand your circles a little.....=)

On Friday I slept in while the aforementioned roomate went to shop. One funny thing was that I neglected to bring a pair of tennis shoes so I had to buy the cheapest pair availble at Big 5. MAN!!! After Thanksgiving shoppers are nuts! It took me almost 30 minutes to get through the lines. The kicks that I bought were some ghetto LA Gear running shoes. The entire time they were on my feet I kept thinking about how my dad used to always bring home LA Gear shoes for us from China and how uncool we thought they were. On a side note I would really love it if he brought a pair for me now....=) Anyways, these shoes were shoddy as one shoelace ripped right through the fabric as I tightened it up. Oh well, you do what you can do right?

The hike through Millard Canyon Trail was relaxing and pleasant as well. A waterfall in Los Angeles? This activity was again interesting b/c our merry band was composed of three different groups of people. J*Nyce's church friends, the sorority group, and the two of us NorCal refugees. For some reason I always like to lag behind when we hike in a group. I guess in my mind everyone needs to be accounted for I suppose.....hmmm, how would I fare as a modern day shepard? Anyways, we forged through some light resistance and eventually made it to the water. Along the way I noticed: people trying to lead their dogs through the rocks and stuff (not cool to me), desert beauty amidst a perfect Simpson's sky, carefree kids just shedding thier socks and jumping into the water (I kinda wanted to do the same), and the joy in taking in a sip of water or a bit of candy when burning calories while in motion. Yes, we did get lost on the way back and I don't really think it was JediMaster's fault. Much of the blame could be put on our military companion. But oh well, we made it out and proceeded to what we really went down for which was.......

The Star Wars Costume Exhibit at FIDM. This was a pretty tight exhibition. The security guards took themselves way too seriously, but a small part of me could understand the need for heightened awareness at a place like this. Just take my roomate for example. This guy loves Star Wars like it was a galaxy near near and a few doors down. I've seen him exicted over a few things before but never to this level of extremity. A group of kids came in right after us and I tell you that the JediMaster could have fit right in as some kind of mentor or something. My observations were centered in a few different ways. Everything that went into the designs were so unique and beautiful. The colors, fabrics, and many other things had me picturing scenes from a few of the movies past. Oh, and they had wookies! I love wookies! Upon exiting the scene I had to reassert my normalcy so you'll see that my hand is definitely giving the Vulcan greeting in our group picture around the X-Wing.

Playing ball after dusk was fun overall but also telling of just how out of shape I've let myself become. My right knee has been chronically sore ever since forcing out a 2.5 mile run a few months ago. Either some tendons are severely strained or my joints are starting to buckle under the weight that I've put on and have to carry now. Hence, I decided to commit myself to getting in better shape b/c I don't want to coast myself into an early grave. It's not going to be easy at all, but things in life have really slowed down lately and I'm feeling good about such things. Oh, and the "research" on those laptops. I've never seen anything as sad as that in my life. Seriously, I was looking forward to sleeping towards the end.....=P

Green Street Restaurant was a delectable plus. I ate a Cornucopia Salad (greens, tomatos, citrus, and bleu cheese vinaigrette) along with some basil/tomato quesedillas. A part of me really wanted to eat at this place called Hamburger Hamlet, where you can reportedly order a hamburger sampler plate, but I guess there is now something to look forward to whenever we decide to go back.

My interest in Laguna Beach is greatly exaggerated, but there was a very Zen like feeling that I took from our time spent bumming there before dinner on Saturday. The beach and the ocean have always been sacred to me. As a younger man I could spend hours upon hours looking off into the horizon while thinking about things. The waves were crashing pretty violently on this day and the visions of a chaotic symphony brought a smile to my face once again. I don't know. It's just my thing I guess. Anyways, I felt bad b/c my frisbee throws were consistently wide right and J*Nyce kept having to run into a mess of dunes and plants to retrive my errant throws.

Disney was a mixed experience for me. I really didn't want to go at first for reason's that will remain anonymous, but the night turned out to be very rewarding in a number of different ways. It was a gathering of old friends as I got to catch up with Hillary Duff Beer and The Capitol. We also ate at a restaurant that was owned/operated by a member of the Brennan family. These folks are very well known restauranteurs back in the New Orleans area. And finally, there was a jazz band which hailed from the Vieux Carre itself. 6th Ward.....=) At the end of the night I just had to put a little bit into the tip jar out of respect and empathy. Earlier in the year my hometown was decimated by the onslaught of hurricane Katrina. For some strange reason I really wanted to buy these guys a round. Much respect to the Capital for feeling this sensation as well.

The ride home was exhausting as we drove all night and got in around 3am. Thank goodness for my country music as I took the home stretch and guided us in. This trip was very meaningful to me b/c in a sense I felt alive for the first time in many weeks. Life is so good. I have nothing major to complain about and everything to thank for God's providence.

*LIB Note: So in the time that I've been away from this site alot has happened. Most significantly was my first adventure in starting a relationship and then witnessing it's slow collapse. As much as I wanted to write and vent, there was a part of me that really couldn't b/c I didn't possess the discipline to filter and keep things unbiased. Sure, this is my site where I can manipulate the content however I see fit.....but there was a part of me that felt like silence was the best path to take b/c so many people read my stuff and I wanted to protect that part of my life as best as I could.

Basically.....Times were tough, as much as I wanted to blog I couldn't do so w/o feeling the need to vent, I clammed up and became a hermit crab as a result.

Well, I truly missed blogging and found myself happening upon countless blog worthy moments that slowly faded due an occupied state of mind. It's a good thing that I've now found peace b/c this site will continue to evolve and I hope to make some colorful changes to it one day. What started as a whim to amuse my friend GW has come a long way into becoming a bonafide hobby of sorts. Haha, I'm just glad to be back. Let's see where this will go.......

The Simple Things

Deep in the quiet of my soul the truth I know

Tested by sorrow, pain and tears through bitter years

Waiting for answers to my prayers

You were there

The days and nights

You brought me through

Shaped my faith in You

CHORUS:

It's the simple things I hold on to

It’s the simple things I find in You

It’s to you I sing and to You I cling

It’s the simple things

It’s the simple things that make me see

It’s the simple things that set me free

As I learn to wait You renew my faith

Through the simple things knowing You’re my Lord

Finding Your promises of hope the words You spoke
Friends beside me on this road to share the load

Pouring my heart out unto You and listening too

Resting in Your perfect love I can’t get enough

These things that I could never live without

The means of grace to guide my heart

When I’m lost in this world of doubt

You bring me home to the simple things


LIB Note: *sigh* Going to Stinson tonight....=(

A Bit of Smithsville Wisdom

"My dad says that childhood is the happiest time of my life,
but I think he's wrong.

I think my mom is right. She says that childhood is what you spend the rest
of your life trying to overcome. Yeah, that's what mamma used to say.....

She said that beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad,
but it's the middle that counts the most.

And you need to remember that when you find yourself in the beginning.

Just give hope a chance to float up.....and it will too."

-Birdie Calvert

Pleasant Thoughts About Camelot

I've been breezing through a new book about JFK Jr. the past few days. It was written by a close friend of his in response to a number of unflattering biographical publications written since the tragic plane crash back in the summer of 1999.

A number of thoughts come to mind: how cool Jackie really was, how much Jr. struggled with the burden of such a famous name, how I really miss George magazine and need to check ebay for past issues and reread some articles, how it must have been such a struggle to not genuinely know your father and then grow up learning about him through public records and word of mouth, and most importantly.....how I would have voted for Jr. in a heartbeat if he ever decided to pursue the presidency. That is, unless his platform was entirely disagreeable. =)

Man, what would have happened if it was John ended up replacing Moynihan instead of Hillary?

A quote from his father that I've been thinking about today......


"In whatever arena of life one may meet the challenge of courage, whatever may be the sacrifices he faces if he follows his conscience - the loss of his friends, his fortune, his contentment, even the esteem of his fellow men - each man must decide for himself the course he will follow."

"The stories of past courage can define that ingredient - they can teach, they can offer hope, they can provide inspiration . But they cannot supply courage itself. For this each man must look into his own soul."

- John F. Kennedy


LIB Note: Barack Obama would have been a great running mate in 2008

Blue Clear Sky

You swear you've had enough

You're ready to give up

On that little lie they call love

Then out of the blue clear sky

Fallin' right into your hands

Like rain on the desert sand

It's the last thing you had planned

Out of the blue clear sky

[chorus]

Here she comes a walkin' talkin' true love

Sayin' I been lookin' for you love

Surprise your new love has arrived

Out of the blue clear sky

Ain't love a funny thing

One day you're givin' up the dream

And the next you're pickin' out a ring

Out of then blue clear sky

[chorus]

Out of the blue clear sky

LIB Note: If 4 out of 5 dentists positively agree....then the gum is good right? =)

And Then There were Two

I hugged a gay man for the first time in my life today. Haha, it's not like that....=P. Today was my friend Granchand's last official day at the office before moving onto a new job next week . We've been sitting together in the same cube for almost a year now along with another guy named Wine-O. Lemme tell ya, it has been nothing short of interesting for me all this time.

"A married man, a gay man, and a bachelor were sitting in a cube......"

Sounds like the intro to a dirty joke or something doesn' t it? Anyways, most people thought it was weird that I'd never really embraced a homosexual in a friendly manner before. In my defense, just look where I grew up. The deep south has always been ultra conservative and still remains that way in many ways despite major social advancements across the board. Back then, people just didn't come out of the closet if they were gay. The idea wasn't warmly accepted and it wasn't even until college that I started interacting with them in social settings.

Grandchand slowly became my first bona fide homosexual friend. I feel that God brought him into my life for a greater good. That being to widen my perspectives about life, not remain content to live in the Chinese Christian bubble, and reinforce just how much we need salvation in this world.

A few parting thoughts:

Before Thanksgiving last year: I walked in and straight up asked him, "Hey Granchand, what's it like for you to celebrate Thanksgiving being directly descended from the pilgrims?" He looked at me kinda funny and quipped, "I dunno LIB...what's it like for you being around horses being directly descended from Ghengis Khan?"

April Fools Day: Him and Wine-O got me so good. Let's see, what did they do? Wrapped my keyboard up like a mummy with rubber bands. Pasted a picture of Ervin Johnson onto my monitor screen. Place scotch tape over the receiver and speaker of my phone. Unplugged all hardware from my desktop computer. Took the fabric off of my wrist pad so that the gelatinous material on the inside stuck to my arm when using the mouse. Connected all of my paper clips together and stuck them back into the container. Loosened the back of my chair so that I almost fell over upon leaning back. One by one these antics slowly killed me throughout that day.....

The Riverboat Gambler: Granchand showed me a picture of himself at the office Christmas party one year. He was especially pround of the 3 piece suit that he was rocking that night. My response was.....dude, you totally look like a riverboat gambler! Haha, that name stuck around for reasons aplenty.

Wow, I'm gonna miss that fool. And by the way, the hug was as masculine as hugs between two male friends could get.....=)

*LIB Note: Grandchand = Gay Ranch Hand. Homeboy was from Texas as well and would sometimes dress the part.

"I'm Back"

LIB: blah blah blah.... the mail was on the ground in the pouring rain!

LIB: when i picked the stuff up there was this little snail attached to a
wedding invitation or something addressed to CHKLHG

JediMaster: .......!?

LIB: i tried to pull it off, but for some reason he hung on for dear life and wouldn't let go

LIB: anyways, i just left it on the counter and hoped that he would
crawl off during the middle of the night or something

JediMaster: .......!?

LIB: when I woke up in the morning it had eaten through a large portion of the card

LIB: probably stuffed b/c he was completely retracted and rolled over onto one side

JediMaster: man, you always have these weird stories

LIB: *grin*

LIB: yeah, i guess i do


*LIB Note: I put the snail back into the bushes outside of our house. Sorry CHKLHG....=P

Love Lit 101 : By Maureen Dowd

*LIB Disclaimer.....I did not write this.....2/13/05 editorial from the NY Times. I just enjoyed the particular passage.*


There are many angles for romance.

In the movie "Silk Stockings," Fred Astaire uses geography. He croons to the leggy Soviet apparatchik Cyd Charisse that he loves "the east, west, north, and the south of you."

In "My Little Chickadee," Mae West rolls her hips and eyes and goes with arithmetic. "A man has $100 and you leave him with $2," she lectures a class of schoolchildren. "That's subtraction."

Physics, of course. As an old boyfriend used to say: "It's all electromagnetic."

And then there's my favorite: the alphabetical approach.

I once had a crush on a guy who told me he was reading great works of literature from A to Z, and had gotten as far as K. So I went to a bookstore and picked out classics from L to Z and sent them to him. I couldn't find one for X, so I stuck in a tape of "The X Files." He liked the present, but the romance never went east, west or north. Just south.

Still, my ears perked up when I recently heard the tale of a New York journalist who gave his wife an unusual birthday present: a list of books from A to Z that would help her better understand him.

I decided to adapt the idea for Valentine's Day, and get some lucky guy the books from A to Z that would help him better understand me.

I prowled Borders, but the more I looked, the more I fretted. I could start with "All the King's Men," but it's pretty obvious that I'm interested in the nexus between politics and dishonesty.

*LIB Note: Boring unless you really are fascinated with Watergate

I love Shakespeare, but if I put in "The Taming of the Shrew," would I send the wrong message?

Everything suddenly seemed fraught. What inferences would he draw from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"? Would he find me stuffy if I included "Ethan Frome"? Pretentious if I threw in Ovid? Mirthless if I chose the shame-spiraling "House of Mirth"? Hostile if I picked "Be Honest - You're Not That Into Him Either"?

High-maintenance if I selected "Empty Promises," Ann Rule's true stories of love affairs that ended with a horrible crime? Scheming if I put in Zsa Zsa Gabor's seminal treatise: "How to Catch a Man, How to Keep a Man, How to Get Rid of a Man"? Needy if I chose the Deepak Chopra cookbook to nourish body and soul, unlock the hidden dimensions in your life and harness the infinite power of coincidence? Pandering if I stacked the deck with guy-lit like Nick Hornby, Frederick Exley's "A Fan's Notes," John Keegan's "The Face of Battle" and my Mom's recommendation, "365 Ways to Cook Hamburger and Other Ground Meats"?

The more I thought about it, the more it seemed not only risky, but the height of presumption to expect someone to devote that many hours to fathoming someone else's psyche. What guy would drag himself away from ESPN's "SportsCenter" to read "Sense and Sensibility" or from beer and pizza to devour "Cakes and Ale"?

It strikes me that there must be a gender difference here. From my own unscientific sampling, I think it's far rarer for women to ask men to read their stuff than it is for men to ask women to read their stuff. Poor Condi Rice couldn't even get George W. Bush to read her presentation of his foreign policy goals in Foreign Affairs during his 2000 campaign.

*LIB Note: Ouch, a low blow.... but funny....=P

While I hardly ever hear from female readers who want me to read something, male readers are constantly e-mailing and sending me stuff to read: op-ed pieces, essays, letters to the editor or letters they've written to friends, e-mail messages their girlfriends or wives or buddies have written about me, original poetry, lists of favorite CD's and books, unpublished manuscripts, novels, jokes, business advice books, plays, TV sitcom treatments, recipes for cranberry orange nut bread. One guy even sent me his script for "George W. Bush: The Musical." (Georgie sings to Big Daddy: "Any war you can start, I can make bigger; I can make any war bigger than you.")

One reader sent me his latest humor column, "Have Pity on the December Baby" - "a look into the lonely world of living in Santa's shadow" - and said to call if I wanted to discuss his publication fee.

Sometimes, if I don't read their work and write back, the authors send me snarky notes complaining about my insensitivity.

While I could never give a guy I was dating the A to Z on me, I'd love to read the A to Z that guy would choose to give me on himself. I just hope it includes "The X Files."

Good Vibrations and History in the Making

I happened upon a young African American man wearing a #11 Houston Rockets jersey after class today. For those of you who don't know.....the number belongs to Yao Ming. To me, that was pretty cool.

Missed the State of the Union tonight. Shucks. I did catch the Democratic
portion of response on the CNN broadcast though. Nancy Pelosi is a very articulate woman. Social Security. Calculated exits from the Middle East. Cheney looking very snug in the left rear. Jerry Krause sitting to his left? Grumblings that invoked comparisons to a parliamentary meeting. Kay Bailey Hutchinson? I live for this stuff.

LIB Note: Tired. Random and boring post. ZZZzzzzzzzzzz!

3/10/2005

You know what? The Thespian is going down. That guy is sooooooooo gonna be toast!

=)

How to Make a Fool Out of Yourself

Here's a great example......

Step 1: Decide to lie in bed on a lazy Saturday afternnoon while you wait for UPS to bring a package, one that you've paid extra money to have delivered on a weekend.

Step 2: Attempt to read a book and then fall asleep during the waiting process.

Step 3: Hear the doorbell ring while half asleep, decide not to answer b/c it might be the Jehovah's witnesses, wait to see if your roomate opens the gate and sends them off.

Step 4: Wake up entirely and run downstairs once you realize why you're home in the first place.

Step 5: Grab the sticky note that the delivery man has left stating when his next drop off would be. No Eurosport for us....=(

Step 6: Walk upstairs shaking head and proceed to call the shipping company's dispatch operator.

Step 7: Run downstairs again as the doorbell rings five minutes into your call. Could it be that the delivery person came back for a second try?

Step 8: Disappointment and amusement as the Jehovah's witnesses greet you by your first name and ask how you've been doing.

Step 9: Politely tell them how "now is a really bad time" and smile as they respond with "Ok LIB, we'll see you next Saturday!"

Step 10: Stop and think about the odds of what just happened. The irony involved in the situation.

Parting thought: Hahaha! Sometimes you have to just sit back and laugh at this stuff. What the heck happened?

Triple Dose of Calzone's and Dolce

I had so much fun tonight.

Happy Birthday to my buddies JBK and CHKLHG!!!

You know what? We're not always going to have the chance to get together and do stuff like this as a group. That's why I cherish these moments so much and enjoy them for what they are.

Dang....I have to wake up for church in 7 hours or so.

Bedtime.

A Meeting Five Years in the Making

She's still as beautiful as I last remembered.
He looks like he's lost weight and still loves Grey suits.
Wow, she's so tall and lithe. Still prefers slacks to a dress.
He still keeps his hair long and slightly unkempt.
They look great together. I wonder what they're up to?

After a few moments of conversation I found out that.....

She's finished up her MDIV program out at DTS and he will be returning to do the same this coming fall. They're still living out in Dallas and plan to eventually go out into the missions field in Korea one day. God seems to have really kept them strong throughout the trials these last few years have brought. I find myself glad for them. Even willing to receive their prayer letter and eventually support them when the time comes.

Five years ago.....this would have never been possible.

=)!!!!!

My Friend Hurim

I drove all the way to Dallas, TX for my buddy Hurim's wedding tonight. Of my close friends back home, his is the first celebration in what I'm sure will be many within the years to come. An interesting bunch of late blooming people we really are....=)

I can say a plethora of great things about my friend, but one thing really stuck out to me tonight during the reception. Peering out over the crowded ballroom, I could point out every ex girlfriend and crush that he had entertained throughout the course of his life (well, known to me I guess). Girlfriends from highschool and college. A couple of faces here and there that I knew had rejected him at various times. Dates that never quite worked out and dance partners that once held so much potential at night's end. Wow, this guy had remained on good terms with them all.

These days it's so easy to get caught up in the intangibles of the dating world. Feelings getting hurt. Nasty breakups. Potential and actual embarassment. Wow, it's a total minefield. Seeing all these women from his past there to celebrate and wish him well. Dang, I really respect that.

My friend is a really good dude. Not entirely worthy of residing on a pedastal or anything, but enough to warrant mention in my thoughts through this posting.

I'm glad I got to make it out....even if the drive was hellacious at times.

Oh, and I finally got to witness the traditional Korean chestnut tossing/dowry haggling/ piggyback riding ceremony that I've always heard of. Too cool.

My Thoughts About New Orleans, LA

For those of you out there who don't know me well, my father moved the family to Louisiana during the summer of my second grade year. Life was truly a suburban experience that spanned all the way through HS graduation. Times weren't always a walk in the park. The Asian population was almost nonexistent during those days. Chinese food was basically a page stolen right out of the Panda Express experience. Every day was guaranteed to be a different battle, sometimes with the white kids and other times with the black ones. From Monday through Friday, life became an experiment of "American Conformation" while weekends were invariably spent rediscovering the Chinese side of things. This happened mainly by hanging with church friends and family.

It's so surreal that I've finally made a return trip after leaving over seven years ago.....

The Town Itself: It hasn't changed all that much. Everything just looks so much smaller. So much more country. This used to be my entire world. Riding bikes to play video games at the arcade. Getting dropped off at the public library in the summers to read. The church that I had a hand in building from the ground up, people were approaching me as a visitor and inquired what area I was from. Shoot....=) I'm as original as it gets.

*LIB Note: San Francisco is a glaring contrast to this sleepy little suburb of Metairie, LA. God has such a sense of humor at times. LIB living in California....who would have thought?


My Cousin Christine: Probably the sweetest and most naturally selfless woman that I know. As I was making my way to work with her father out in California, she was accepted into the class of 2004 at Tulane Medical School and gradually found her way to my old church. She immediately started to serve and they've been loving her ever since. One of our old family friends asked me, "Are you sure YOU are related to HER?". The opportunity for the both of us to spend some time out there before she leaves for residency was such a blessing. My cousin Christine. Great gal.

LIB the Tourist: We never did touristy things while living in New Orleans. Seriously, my parents were the typical hard working Chinese types that never took a day off if they didn't need to. Being there with Donut and PictureBoy conveniently allowed me to experience different parts of the local scene that permanant residency never did before. A beautiful swamp tour....and I tell ya....the swamp is really pretty. Fine dining at some of the notable eateries in the city. Touring the Garden District and learning of how many of the prominent mansions in the area were built and maintained. The scary thought is that we only touched a small portion of what the city really had to offer. Didn't get to explore one of those old plantation houses....=(

My Favorite Elderly People in That House: Weird thought eh? There were these elderly people, one man and three women, who lived in this house a few miles from ours. Their story is so much more than I can write, but I'll attempt to share the impact that they've had in my life. These folks were political/religious prisoners in China for the majority of their adult lives. All for their faith in Christ. I can't even fathom the thought of myself or any of my friends being in that position. What it boils down to is we're part of a spoiled generation.

Anyways, the grace of God eventually led them to America and they remain among the boldest of believers that I know. True warriors of prayer. When I ran into the elderly man he stopped, smiled, and gave me a hearty hand shake.

*LIB Note: They actually come into my thoughts quite frequently and parts of me would sometimes wonder if I'd ever see them again.

The man said to me, " Son, you've been gone quite a long while. We still pray for you and many of the other young ones that have passed through along the way."

Dang. I promised him a personal visit the next time I came into town. Wow, the old people are still living strong....=)

In Summary: I realize how much New Orleans is a part of my internal being. Funny, because in the darkest days I remember being determined to never set foot in that miserable town again. Ever. It's awesome how God can heal the unforgiving heart of a 7 year old boy that eventually found the road to adulthood. Truth be told, I want to be able to share the city with even more of my friends down the line. Especially the ones I've been blessed with out here in California.

You know what? We're going to Mardi Gras next year. I'm gonna check the dates and start gauging interest. I hope that things will eventually fall into place.

=)!!!!!!!

"My Next Thirty Years"

I think I'll take a moment, celebrate my age

The ending of an era and the turning of a page

Now it's time to focus in on where I go from here

Lord have mercy on my next thirty years

Hey my next thirty years I'm gonna have some fun

Try to forget about all the crazy things I've done

Maybe now I've conquered all my adolescent fears

And I'll do it better in my next thirty years

My next thirty years I'm gonna settle all the scores

Cry a little less, laugh a little more

Find a world of happiness without the hate and fear

Figure out just what I'm doing here

In my next thirty years

Oh my next thirty years, I'm gonna watch my weight

Eat a few more salads and not stay up so late

Drink a little lemonade and not so many beers

Maybe I'll remember my next thirty years

My next thirty years will be the best years of my life

Raise a little family and hang out with my wife

Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear

Make up for lost time here, in my next thirty years

In my next thirty years

*LIB Note: Still a ways off from the big 3-0, but it's becoming more obvious how close to the latter end of the spectrum I really am. Older in age, young at heart, loving life day by day....=)