the proverbial tree

WAAAY back in middle school, a friend of mine once said this about Christmas: "Why are we getting gifts for Christmas? It's Jesus' birthday, we should be giving Him gifts!"

As this statement still resonates in my mind and as another season of frantic gift shopping comes to a close, I cannot help but think of the proverbial Christmas tree of Charlie Brown.

No, dear readers, this is not ANOTHER gripe about the commercialism of Christmas. As much as I would like to demonize it, that squeaky wheel forever is getting grease and is forever needing it. So long as you know...

Anyways; fake tree, real tree, no tree...Remember to tell folks about His birth. His life. His mission.

In the meantime, me and that little boy with the drum is gonna put out some new beats. "paa rum pum pum pum" is still where it's at, though.

another Lewisian insight (iii)

Prince Caspian

-Old Narnians in hiding.
Quite possibly, reminiscent of the Judean exile in Babylon.

-The whole storyline has a Post-Hamlet, Pre-Lion King flavor.

-A dwarf says that the supposedly haunted forest "Smells likes ghosts." I wonder if ghosts have a scent?

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

-Aslan's appearance in both his forms to the children at the edge of the world.
An apparent nod to Christ as the Lamb of God (John 1:29) and the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5).

The Silver Chair

-Serpent/Lady of the Green Kirtle's spell over Rilian.
The tempter is a liar. So take heed.

-Eustace, Aslan, and the thorn in his paw.
The piercing of Christ and shed of His blood brought/brings forth transformation in all who believe.

Fox's presentation of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in 3 days!

Sunday mornings against the clock

One Sunday morning, a couple years ago, a bunch of friends and I wanted to go to church together. We had heard about this church and decided to go to the early service, but didn't check to see what time that service was. We essentially caught the tail end of the "Amen!".

I use to, and still do at times, chide myself for not showing up on time for church. The funny thing about this is that when I go with others, I'm always WAAAY early or 10-15 minutes late. If I go by myself, I'm on time. Go figure.

Late, early, on time. At least I'm going, right? The cheap answer is yes. Yes, I'm going. BUT, let's make some leaps shall we?

If I think I can show up late to church and no one will say anything, it'll be OK. If no one says anything then, who's to say I can't skip church on Sundays here and there, every now and then? If no one STILL says anything, why not skip church altogether on Sundays and let me have Sundays for more ME time?

By doing one thing and getting away with it, we make bolder and bolder steps in doing what we used to think was unthinkable.

Too far you say? Let's look at another analogy: lying. If you're willing to lie, then you'll be willing to cheat. Cheating->Stealing. Stealing->Killing.

Church folks call this whole process "backsliding". I like to call it "getting sloppy".

I'm not saying that we'll end up in hell for showing up to church late, but if we make it a habit, we might.

Let's not get too sloppy, but be reminded of His washing.

Isaiah 1:18 and Psalm 51:7.

6 months...

...has passed since graduation from dear old UVA.

Tempus fugit.

another Lewisian insight (ii)

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
-The White Witch's demand for Aslan.
Aslan sacrifices himself in place of the White Witch's demand for Edmund's life. How we must remember Christ's sacrifice in ransom for our sins!

The Horse and His Boy
-Aslan's presence.
Aslan's involvment with Arsheesh's discovery of Shasta. Aslan's encounter with Bree and Shasta, respectively, in the desert. Events which remind me of Psalm 139.

-Rabadash's transformation.
Reminiscent of Nebuchadnezzar's transformation in Daniel 4. Reminds us to check our pride at the door, before we wreck ourselves.

To borrow a term I learned as a religious studies major, the golden thread in both these stories is that of the fulfillment of prophecy.

The White Witch's attempt to stop the prophecy of the thrones of Cair Paravel. The attempt at getting rid of Shasta/Cor to stop his fulfillment of another prophecy.

Try as man might, attempts were made in each story to stop the fulfillment of prophecy. All of which were to no avail. I daresay reminiscent of the various prophecies that man has tried to stop in the Good Book.

Other books coming.

my country, 'tis of (Thee)

(My first official ballot and first presidential election.)

Politics is my chamomile tea. Not something I partake or enjoy regularly.

PJ called me this morning about the election. "Oh, that's today? Maybe I should vote..."

I don't indulge in bipartisan, or partisan for that matter, politics. I'm tired of too many people saying and thinking they're right. You all are WRONG!

Joking aside, I will concede this much. The uninformed and/or undecided voters are dangerous things.

There will always be differences. This, I know, is an indisputable fact. There will always be people thinking that someone else should be in charge. Whatever the case, one should remember Paul wrote briefly on the oppressive Roman government in Romans 13. Those words should be heeded.

BUT, what about all the writings and debates about separation of church and state, the tyranny of theocracy, and the writings of Enlightenment philosophers?

I'm not writing to discredit them. Please take such wisdom into consideration but also remember that there is greater wisdom from Someone and that Someone has more control of each situation. He works it all out in the end.

Remember what our founding fathers did when they started a session of Congress...

Pray.

another Lewisian insight

I've realize more and more the amount of stuff that has flown under my radar when taking a second look at things. Namely literature and all sorts of media from back when I was younger.

The pop culture references made by Animaniacs. The opera and classical music homages made by Looney Tunes. The numerous allegorical references made by countless authors in long forgotten short stories and novels I've read in my much younger youth.

Some of the most prominent novels from years before that comes to mind are the Chronicles of Narnia. Needless to say, jam-packed with allegory.

I've decided to read and reread the novels in the series and add my own commentary to the already countless writings on said novels.

The Magician's Nephew
-Aslan sings existence into being.
Biblical translations have said that God spoke existence into being. What if He sang it instead? Would it be any less beautiful?

-Aslan said to Digory that since man brought corruption into the world, it is through man that he will save the world.
One man.......يسوع .יֵשׁוּעַ. 耶穌. 예수님. Ἰησοῦς. Иисус. Iesus. Through His victory we no longer fear the death that comes from Adam's failure.

-Aslan makes Frank and Helen king and queen of Narnia.
God put Adam and Eve in charge of a newly created existence. With that, I daresay, it is implied that they were to look after and take care of the Earth. We should do likewise.

-Is it always the case that each family has a crazy/weird uncle?
-The horse was named "Strawberry", and then it grew wings and his name was changed to "Fledge". I personally think "The Flying Strawberry" should have been it.
-Did the idea of the green and yellow rings give rise to the idea of the red and blue pills in The Matrix?

Other books to follow.

Hitchcockian moment

Halloween has come early. For me that is.

It was a scene straight out of "The Birds".

I was driving through this neighborhood when what seemed like several flocks (emphasis on "several flocks") of dark colored birds descended on me. I know now how Tippi Hedren must have felt when filming.

Never had I seen so many birds. I empathize more dearly with ornithophobiacs now.

about MADANG time

English speakers have corrupted so many different languages through different opinions on spelling, bad pronunciation, and a plethora of other mistakes. The one I've made and have been making is of both the former and intentional.

16 October was much anticipated. This reunion was a long time coming. Perhaps happening at the right time, in my opinion. It had been 3 months since the MADANGs were all together and I'm pretty sure that the 3 of us can all agree, it was definitely needed.

We all met at an undisclosed place, bright and early. Except I was running on CP time and VR was on that RIDONK time. All is forgiven, us MADANGs are allowed to do so.

SB and I decided that we wanted to not be here shortly before VR's arrival. The following half hour was too funny.

The not so subtle Soviet-China-Audio-Love-Poems-(ing) tickets was interesting. Rent-A-Cops were ever present in every parking lot corner. It was soon home to a nice honorary MADANG couple. Props to them.

We all piled in SB's ride for the rest of the day. Props to SB for driving stick. Quite possibly the only chick I know who can.

The much adored, hated, and missed Shining Crown Jewel was our oyster for today. French food was requisite and our rendez-vous with M. Jean Jacques was a definite necessity. Le déjeuner was TOO good, my whole day could have been spent in that restaurant alone. But of course, M. Jacques could not be held up and has YET to have disappointed me every time we meet. I regret not sending HC some. Much apologies.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in SB's whip catching up, contemplating life, and exploring other parts of the Shining Crown Jewel. It seems so bizarre minus the other missed and loved folks being there. Mad props to VR for getting us those journals. VR knows which ones.

We parted ways at Chez Le Roi, just a few minutes away from our original destination.

Of course, another meeting is in the works. When that time comes, world just wait.

meaningful conversations

Genesis 1:3
And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Much of our daily discourse is usually of frivolous matters which in the end amount to little or no worth at all. I realize the former statement is highly cynical even nihilistic. Bear with me though.

How long can we talk of the weather? How many times can we talk about the taste of food before we tire of both the food and the conversation? How much gossip and lies do we spread over the course of a day? How many times do we talk for sake of filling the void of silence?

Small talk is necessary for risk of offending people we've just become acquainted with, but after all is said and done, what else is there left to say?

Once relationships have been established and it is known that we are to and want to maintain them, by all means indulge in small talk, but know there are much more meaningful conversations to be had.

Why is the sky blue? Do my eyes pop out if I don't close them when I sneeze? Why do we need stinkbugs?

Why does the caged bird sing? What happens to a dream differed? How do I compare thee to a summer's day?

These conversations occur in hopes that they will lead to...

How can I help you through this time of need?
How can we move pass this situation?
How can I pray for you?

1 Thessalonians 2:8
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.

Paul wrote these words to the Church in Thessalonica because he knew there was something, Someone worth talking about.

I hope to remember such words everyday, in the meantime, I gotta work on my small talk.

American Dreaming

I believe in America.

Mario Puzo once wrote these words in praise of this wonderful country we live in. Others beg to differ, but that's because they don't live here.

Aside from the jingoistic fancies, I've heard many stories of immigrants coming to the home of the free with a few dollars in their pockets hoping to make it big and to live the Dream. In turn, American history is full of people who have had nothing to their names make ridonkolous fortunes in their lifetimes from honest hard work, all sorts of hustlin', or just dumb luck. Sometimes all three.

This very notion of the American Dream has been ingrained in the very essence of my being for as long as I can remember. Having grown up in a household with immigrant parents and with other families and friends of more immigrants, I was almost constantly reminded of this Dream.

Everybody in the land of the brave has had some kind of chutzpah in fulfilling theirs. Due props to them for it is on their backs that the foundation was laid and that the miracle of America was built upon.

What then and how does this Dream come into fruition for me? Is it through the newly placed white picket fence surrounding the McMansion? Is it through acquiring Sparky the golden retriever? Maybe it's a yacht. Hopefully playing Powerball can get me all this.

I believe dreams make the world go round, not money. Yes, dreams come true. Yes, living the dream is a GREAT achievement. BUT, what good is the Dream if I gain the whole world yet forfeit my soul?

Matthew 6:19-21.

Read it and not weep.

Rejoice.

mooncakes and the such

中秋節.

This is the first time in a long time that I've actually celebrated it with a proper 月餅. So syked to eat one, it's been ages. 蓮蓉 ones, hands down, are the best. Don't argue with me on this, it'll be a lost cause.

After eating such wonderful things, as by custom, an observance of the full moon was in order. I remember once again why so many poets write about the moon, it truly is beautiful. He definitely knew what He was doing when creating all that celestial stuff.

It just so happens that this Mid-Autumn Festival also coincided with the first day of autumn. Go figure. I hear people talking about this super harvest moon thing we're supposed to be experiencing with this full moon. This brouhaha sounds like werewolves are expected to come out of the woodwork.

Come whatever, I'm gonna get me some more of that mooncake. MMM. 中秋節快樂!

praying, writing, fighting, listening, waiting

This is an overdue post.

Back in April, my dear CCF planned for a retreat. This was in our talks and prayers for months and finally came together after getting all the details worked out. MH graciously offered her family mountain home in Wintergreen for us to use for this weekend getaway, the usual folks took care of rides, PT folks did their thing, and VH and me in charge of food. Wooo!

Honestly, I've only been on a few retreats but this would be the first one that I would play a big role. The speaking role.

Of course, the 2 weeks before the whole getaway was spent praying and writing as to what would be suitable to talk about. How He listens and delivers! It ended up as a mixture of conversations I've had with Him and others I've had over the last 3 years. Writing this piece was of great joy and emotion.

We all definitely needed this break. After being slammed with papers, mid-terms, projects, and the usual spring semester pandemonium...I think it was well deserved.

I'm glad everyone enjoyed themselves there that weekend because I tried and succeeded...to some extent. That weekend has forever been etched into my mind as one of the most intense weekends spiritually, emotionally, physically, etc. etc. All across the board, hands down.

The drive up was very scenic. Never have I seen so much rolling green hills and countryside. At the same time, never have I ever gone up and down land so steep. Pauvre Renée.

Everybody turned in rather soon after a long afternoon of driving and hearty dinner. I couldn't sleep. Too much on my mind. I awoke TOO early and began breakfast. Cooking brings me peace. But only for a moment. Saturday was the day that His words would be flowing through my mouth. I hope and pray His words from my mouth still resonate in our ears.

I think every emotion, thought, and action possible crossed my mind that weekend. Joy. Hate. Peace. Jealousy. Love. Despair. Kindness. Bitterness. Truth. Lies. Happiness. Sorrow. Fear. Hope.

Sleep didn't happen that weekend. I'm used to it. There's always the following weekend to sleep.

Conversations and thoughts which brought tears to my eyes and joy to heart that weekend still resonate with me.

Finding a quiet room in house with 11 other people is hard but doable. I needed His peace. So grateful He always provides the littlest of things.

Sunday was the drive back. So long mountain house, back to the war that is school in April.

Despite the overtaxing of every sense of my being, in retrospect, I'm glad and grateful it happened. I remember a conversation I had with CM's dad about welcoming and embracing adversity. We both agreed on this one prevalent notion, we are better for it after embracing it.

He pushes us to the edge in times of adversity in hopes that we fight with Him for Him. Or run back to Him. In both situations, we have to no less depend on Him. 是我們所倚靠的!

On the same note, listening to Him is a learned process. The whole weekend I continued trying fine tuning my being to hear Him. We're always talking to Him, He most definitely is responding. Just gotta listen.

I anticipate another retreat. Full of praying. Full of writing. Full of fighting. Full of listening. Full of waiting.

耶和華 ─ 我的神啊，祢所行的奇事!

COOKIES?!? (ii)

Cookies galore.

Two weeks ago, VR surprised me with a box of cookies in the mail.

Chocolate Chip Cookies.

EPIC. WIN.

I've never received a package like this before and it certainly didn't disappoint. The packaging was simple yet amusing. Inside the simple brown box was a Rubbermaid box of cookies which was then surrounded by crumpled up pages from a back issue of People magazine. Interesting reading material as I munched on these treasures.

Not too soft yet not too hard. And chocolate. Who can forget the chocolate in the cookies?

Why do my former students keep sending me cookie stuff? They must have figured out my cookie obsession. They are too wonderful. HC with her cookie recipe and VR with her box.

Thanks VR, this shout out is for you.

tears of God

On the T.V. was a news special on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Even though it was 5 years removed from the situation; the footage, the stories, and the music moved me to tears.

Human suffering pervades all societies of the world but to have seen it so vividly in America really hit home for me. Given I wasn't in the midst of it and can only speak of it as a third party, the question for me is, why wasn't something done?

Many arguments can be said if something was done or not, but I want to give voice to another age old issue. Where was God?

Many have argued that in the midst of suffering, why wouldn't a merciful and loving God intercede? I don't claim to have adequate knowledge in the field of apologetics nor am I seasoned enough to fully answer this question satisfactorily, but I am compelled to defend my God to some degree.

If one believes we have free will, then it can be argued that we as humans do what we want, whenever we want. This in itself can be carried over to the fact of humans causing other humans suffering. With this, other humans who witness such can stop such, if so compelled.

So how does this explain natural disasters and the suffering that it brings? Why not think of it as an opportunity that our Creator has allowed for us to comfort those, showing and sharing the same love and comfort He has given us? Scripture tells us to comfort those in suffering (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). So why not help out?

But what about the innocent people who suffered in vain? Did they deserve, at times, unspeakable atrocities and horrors committed against them? -Who are we to question God? I mean we could and we can. Job certainly did after his trials, but God replied (Job 38 and the following chapters) with a more than compelling response. What do we know? I keep coming back to Ecclesiastes 3:11.

So why the natural disasters in the first place? Why even have all these things happen so that we have to question God in the first place?

Maybe He wants us to find Him in the midst of suffering. Maybe He wants us to be the Comforter. I suppose this isn't an adequate enough response, so I leave you with another thought...does not God shed tears too?

100

The perfect score. A century's worth in years. A number we all seem to strive for.

My 100th post. Enough said.

COOKIES?!?

Mad love, props, shout outs, accolades, and everything good to HC for her sharing her cookie recipe with me.

These cookies are AMAZING. Hands down.

Sharing the actual cookies and now the recipe?!?!?

HC, you are AWESOME!!!

chefs-in-training?

I just spent 2 hours playing "Restaurant" with my cousin's babies.

They are 1 and 3 years old and they were ALL OVER THE PLACE. Playing "Restaurant" was the only thing that kept them in the same place for that LONG amount of time. Most enjoyable though.

They played chef while I played guest. The older one kept giving me my money back after I paid for the meal. The younger one kept giving me lettuce. I tried teaching the older one they were supposed to keep the money...He was SOOO persistent in giving it back. Good thing it wasn't a real business.

As I was "sipping" my coffee that the older one also persisted on giving me, I couldn't help but wonder.

How many times have our parents gave us instructions that we didn't follow? How many times has Father in Heaven given us instructions and we did the same? Do we not understand like these little ones? Or do we, outright, choose to ignore it altogether? Is it a little bit of both?

Only the Master Chef knows the right ingredients, times, and methods to cook up something beautiful. Only He knows when to serve the right dish, at the right time. Only He is the one to satisfy all cravings. If we all are striving to be like the Master Chef, we just need to heed His instruction and do likewise.

Looks like it's back to more reading up on recipes in The Book With All The Recipes.

God is HILARIOUS

I just saw Korean nuns jammin' to a Beatles' song. Made my day.

freedom ringing

I know, this sounds like an overdue post about July 4th. Keep reading though.

I was in the library the other day and came across some donated art work. It was a collection of statuettes of the Statue of Liberty. Who in the world would collect 5983487 statues of it? WELL, this couple did and donated it.

From that point on all I could think about was the ridonkolousness of the collection, Lady Liberty, and all that surrounds this statute.

Why did the French build it? Why make it out of copper? Why haven't I been yet?

I then remembered these words engraved on her plaque...

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

I was then reminded of His words in Matthew 11:28-30...

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Both invoke a sense of freedom. Both recognize a sense of hardship. Both offer a sense of hope.

Paul writes about Christ setting us free from the Law (in this case ceremonial law) and in turn from sin in Galatians 3.

This is why we think about freedom.
This is why we dream about freedom.
This is why we sing about freedom.

It's beautiful.

who will stop the rain?

Yes, a "CLEAR" reference to that CCR song.

Pulling from the recesses of my memory, I remember this event...

About 9 years ago I was in the motherland visiting 媽媽的爸爸和媽媽的媽媽. It just so happened to be hurricane season and we were hit with this long bout of rain. This rain was ridonk. Given this part of the country does sit on a tropic, so it was expected, but I'd never seen THIS much rain.

There was so much that it flooded the whole first floor of their house. I remember me and 婆婆 were trapped in it and couldn't do anything about it but wait for it to go into the drains. To pass the time, we played mahjong. It was beautiful. I tell you this story to tell you this one...

Just yesterday it rained so much it flooded a good chunk of the 757. Thunderstorms too. I heard one story of how lightning struck a church, tearing off some pieces of the building spilling it onto the streets below.

The old school, fire and brimstone oldster in me thought...what did that congregation do??? At the same time I was reminded of the planks in my eye.

Could it be that natural disasters are a way of Him admonishing us? Yes, I know this sounds SOOO fire and brimstonish, but humor me on this. Just another reminder of His presence in whatever form it maybe and that of the evanescence of it all.

my mind on the City, the City on my mind

2 Virginia hams and a flat screen t.v. roll into a apartment lobby in Nolita at 2am. Guess which of these front desk security wanted?

I'm pretty sure this is nothing out of the ordinary in the hustle and bustle of New York, but I thought this amusing since I perpetrated this.

Every time I go, I always learn a little bit more about family, human nature, and all that stuff that makes life go.

Grave sites visit, pizza runs, bubble tea run (YESSS!), 正骨水 runs (for VR and SB, of course), Cantonese food galore, dim sum (bigger YESSS), crying babies, running babies, attacks from a bubble gun, bookstores, open air markets, etc. etc.

Last Monday, I also inherited a family heirloom from 爺爺. A genealogy book of 34 generations of folks who made me, me. No joke and corniness intended, a history buff's dream and finding buried treasure all in one. It's now sitting in a ziploc bag in my dining room, I think I'm gonna have it digitized.

I realize more and more why people make and have "I ♥ NY" paraphernalia now. Because it's true. Catch me wearing mine next time you see me.

post Gov Skoolness

It's been ONE WEEK since you looked at me...Excuse the BNL reference, couldn't help myself.

But it has been almost a week after the fact and it has been full of randomness.

Writing, yoga, unpacking, old movies, catching up on 2 weeks of emails (sorry if I haven't in a while!), bowling, fooding adventures, lack of fooding adventures, and just general grabbing life by its horns.

I can't help but think and be reminded that there is this void that Gov Skool leaves. I also can't help but keep falling back on Ecclesiastes 3. What time is it for me?

I am reminded He provides. Just gotta keep pursuing Him.

Gov Skool Part 3, Day 21

LAST DAY!

Full of packing, running around, and people all over the daggone place. Like I predicted, another ridiculously HOT day.

Closing ceremonies was in the all too famous Hibbs and there was less crying than I expected. Good, less awkward that way. Ha. The final showcase of all our hard work and memories over the past 3 intense but amazing weeks were shown.

After many goodbyes was a last excursion to TT Lounge, post-Gov Skool. JC, me, and a bunch of our students rolled in for one last hurrah. Street shoutout to another student and her mom while on the way over.

After finishing packing, JC and me went around our students' dorms for one last cleaning round. The stuff that we found...tsk, tsk, tsk. People left a costume, food from last week, a million water bottles, moldy Tuperware, and A WHOLE FREAKIN CAKE?!?!? That one took the cake, pun intended.

Untouched and fully intact. Needless to say, we were incredulous/in utter disbelief/all kinds of what in the world??? So we ate some. BUTTERCREAM=ALWAYS AMAZING! We left the rest for security at the front desk of GRC. Along with a box of bananas from weekend breakfast. They were syked.

Drove JC back to his house out in the OC. I was so hyped to see cows on his farm. Had to take an obligatory picture with them. Enjoyed some curry courtesy of JC's mom. So good. Didn't get back to the 757 until midnight.

It's finally over! What am I gonna do with myself now that I'm out of another job? My Gov Skool children! Y'all truly are dearly missed.

Gov Skool Part 3, Day 20

The end is near!

Once again I am filled with mixed emotions. Just like graduation, which was all but 2 months ago. Reluctance and relief. You think I be used to this feeling by now.

Today was nothing but straight rehearsal for the gala. 4-5 hours in Hibbs today. Embarrassed by my awful Chinese rendition of a Wonder Girls' song, writing parts of the MCs' script, collaborating with other folks on the RAs' performance, and just general checking up on everybody was the general rundown of today.

PJ was coincidentally in the Student Commons today when I went to check on our reservations. Still apartment hunting.

The gala was beautiful. Despite being riddled with one too many technical difficulties. The French Banquet music fiasco took the cake. Hahaha. That was too funny. Nevertheless, I was much impressed by all my students' performances.

Final night in the GRC was full of singing and popsicles. Good stuff.

JC had to burn CDs as parting gifts for our students. To relieve pent up stress, JC and I smashed a rotting watermelon and an apple. We then burned our schedules on the grill while roasting rotting bananas and stale bagels. Nothing like burning stuff to get it all out. JC seemed like he needed it. Reminded me of my A-Skool projects 4 years back. The boss came out to do a final lights out and thought we had gone slightly mad. She might have been right.

Ahhh, it's so close!

Gov Skool Part 3, Day 19

Pit stop at Jean Jacques Bakery. I had promised some folks I would get some and it didn't help that I was craving the stuff too. Ha. I haven't been in forever and it is the only patisserie that I know in Richmond that would not disappoint. I left with chocolate croissants and Orangina. Smuggled in and shared some with a few select students who will remain unnamed. Y'all know who y'all are. Il était beau!

Dumplings galore! The first time in a long time that I've cooked anything. Me and some students went to work on making these little wonders. The boss didn't like the fact I wasn't letting everybody cook. Quality control and perfectionism would not let me allow that to happen. Besides they turn out tasting REALLY good. Thanks to those that helped out.

Made a Coldstone run with LS for the students. Decided against letting the masses get it for themselves. The boss would have had both LS and my head on a platter if we took away from movie screening time. Good thing too, imagine moving this many people as quickly as possible. It was not going to happen.

Since we were borrowing a kitchen in GRC Phase III, we had to move our stuff through the other Academy hallways. One of the RAs residing in the building got an attitude with us. "No females in opposite gender's hallway." We left, we were late for the movie and I ain't had time to deal with his "protocol". Deal with his disrespectful tail some later time.

Spent a good portion of the night translating this one song into English.

Done.

Gov Skool Part 3, Day 18

KARAOKE.

If Chinese Academy didn't fulfill my "Asian quota", yesterday did.

Gala practice drama. Was bound to happen. A mix of homesickness, general tiredness, lack of Me time, and mix of other stuff just spilled over into practice. All across the board. Gov Skool tenure and experience truly put to the test that day. Can only pray for my poor students now.

Following dinner was karaoke. This was too Asian. But good nonetheless.

Coldstone ice cream cake! Took part in it along with 2 of our students who worked tirelessly to put this Memory DVDness together. A much deserved reward to them. I cannot thank them enough for all the hours they put in for this one DVD.

Tea, homemade cookies, and pop rocks. So thankful for my students this year and for their kindness AND to have shared food with them. Y'all are freakin awesome.

Gov Skool Part 3, Day 17

Haggling and hustlin' at its best.

International Market.

I spent the whole day preparing for this 2 hour manifestation of greed at its finest. Mainly cooking and getting all the stuff that was needed ready so we could be the greediest of them all. Gathering all the stuff and moving the finished products was the most ridonkolous part. SOOO much stuff to move and most of it was heavy. Luckily we drafted a bunch of guys to do it for us. Thanks for y'all's manpower.

Joking aside, I always enjoy International Market. The "ethnic" food there is always great and inexpensive. So many languages spoken all across the board, due to the ban of English usage. Makes the greediness more interesting. Every year I recall me speaking Mandarin and broken French. This year was no different.

Near the end of the Market, I was asked to write out "Jesus" in calligraphy for one of the French teachers. I only remember how to write half of it. Need to get on my Chineseness...

Sushi party hosted by the Japanese Staff! The boss treated us (yet again) to another fooding event. I had already paid my share but she insisted. I'm gonna let her. Enjoyed some great green tea afterward.

Thank the Lord for food. Food always=good stuff. Unless it's bad food. You HAVE to fix that...

Gov Skool Part 3, Day 16

The final bday surprise today.

More bday festivities today. Surprised our student at dinner with ANOTHER bday cake. I hid it in a tote box and we used Shafer's plates and silverware to eat it. We didn't have to wash a thing.

I tire of this running around. Especially in this humidity. Almost unbearable.

To counter the humdrum of Gov Skooling me and a group of people who will remain unnamed (y'all know who y'all are) got Thai food. TOOO good. SOOO glad I got to enjoy it with them! We paid for it later though.

Praise Him for GREAT food. It was much needed and most enjoyable.

Gov Skool Part 3, Day 15

Today was FULL of WIN.

I went to Mass with some of my students today. Always interesting going. We sung a variation of one of my favorite hymns. Good stuff. Was reminded to be a Good Samaritan. Haven't been doing so to my fullest potential as of late. Gotta get on that.

We ate at Good Taste Chinese Restaurant. I heart this name. Was told we were going to eat 點心. My soul leapt for joy. Then found out it was just a buffet, minus the dim sum. Still good nonetheless, a change from Panera bagels on the weekends. Them serving 番茄炒雞蛋(西紅柿炒雞蛋 for the Northerners...) totally made up for the fact it wasn't 點心.

Ate it with the Divas. Always an interesting bunch. The restaurants' owners' daughter was there. A 4 year old named Luna, SOOO cute. She passed out napkins to us and skipped all over the place. I think LS wanted to kidnap her like Madonna did that other child...

Free Slurpee Day! Enough said.

After our excursion to 7-11 we had our second bday surprise. Got him in the classroom.

JC, LS, and me each did a seminar for the cultural immersion part of the intensiveness that is Chinese Academy. JC=Chinese sports. LS=Chinese education. Me=Chinese beliefs/religions.

My seminar was the longest one, probably due to my tendency to ramble, going off on tangents, and I spent like daggone close to 2 months preparing for it. To make mine more bearable, refusing to let my students sleep during my lecture, and probably cuz I've become more of a jerk due to lack of sleep I forceably made my students get up after like 5-10 minute intervals. Hopefully these children learned something.

World Cup Final today.

We watched this all go down on the first floor of Shafer. Spain vs. the Netherlands with España winning in overtime. Every eye was glued to the screen. Crowds went wild, no less.

Helped VR with her laundry, who is still trying to recover from her bum ankle.

Rest of the day is a blur. That's it for now. So thankful for today.

Gov Skool Part 3, Day 13, 14

Day 13

By far the most stressful day ever in all Gov Skoolness. Was as stressful as it could get. We nearly, and I do mean nearly, sent two students home this day. Me writing about the situation would do it no justice, I'm leaving it at that.

The boss broke down after our movie screening and the series of events of the day. Truly a teacher at heart, caring for all students. No one less. No one left behind. Just like Father, we gotta get everybody on board.

Day 14

The students did their Chinese culture projects. TOO stressful, was being yelled at for miscommunication and stuff out of my control. Glad it's over.

My half-day off. Finally! I'd been waiting for this day for what seemed like forever. The original plan was to meet up with CW to get food. PJ and PD last minute decided to show up too. The more the merrier but I was mad that fooding was delayed. 2 hours?!?!?

Beforehand our students got ready for this joint dance thing. Picture taking all over the place. Transported VR and SB fashionably late, just like true divas would have it. haha.

Anyways CW, PD, PJ and me went to get pho. I could just drink the broth straight this stuff is so good. I still want some. We later went apartment hunting for PJ. In the sketch part of Richmond. Fun and scary all at the same time. We hung out at CW apartment later on. She has this huge pandas-in-a-bamboo-grove picture. SOOO awesome.

I need more of these during the Gov Skoolness. Makes it bit more bearable, but it doesn't take away from the fact that it has been truly AMAZING the last two years I've done it. He brought me to it, He'll bring me through it.

Gov Skool Part 3, Day 12

Washington D.C.

We took our students on a day trip to the capital. Much, much fun each time I go.

Of course, we caught that DC traffic heading up there, but along the way we discussed all the goodies that that place Northern Virginia has to offer. (H-Mart, Ikea, Potomac Mills, Tysons Corner, etc.)

Freer-Sackler Gallery was first. It's always a treat to go in there, SOOO much East Asian art and a bunch of random other stuff too. This time around they had a lot of Islamic and Tibetan Buddhist art on display on top of the countless other pieces of art. Couldn't help but wonder how our Father inspires people to make art, regardless of creed.

We stopped over in Fashion Centre in Arlington for lunch. Au Bon Pain, jalapeño eating games, and Häagen-Dazs ensued. LS and me put in an entry to win a Jag, still waiting to hear back form them. Ha.

The AC had stopped working on the charter bus (I think the driver knew about it and didn't tell us from the beginning) and so we roasted as we rode through DC to the Chinese Embassy.

I tried to persuade the driver to swing by Georgetown since we were in the neighborhood. Free campus tour??? NOPE, Huge fail.

The Chinese Embassy was immaculate. And beautiful. And huge. And full of comfortable furniture. Full of ridiculously magnificent works of art, poetry, and just brimming with question mark. I'm gonna leave it at that.

One of our students sprained their ankle as they got off the bus in Chinatown. Poor girl. We got her an ankle brace and some 正骨水 to help some. Luckily for her, piggy back rides solve it all.

Tony Cheng's Seafood Restaurant for dinner. I feel like this is free promotion and I should get a cut on the profits that this post generates for them. SOO much good food there, I've not had this much good, REAL Chinese food in a while. One of our students suggested we get 乾炒牛河. He is truly Cantonese at heart, kudos to him. Nostalgic of this dish, since I cooked this same dish for my students 2 years earlier.

Bubble tea from Wok and Roll and a trip to Urban Outfitters. Was more excited for the bubble tea of course, but was glad there was some Americanness to the whole Chinatownness.

Bus ride back was TOO funny. To pass the time, a bunch of our students wrote a faux love letter between LS and one of the Japanese RAs. Botched delivery ensued after we touched ground. These folks crack me up.

Needless to say, DC trip=awesome and hot bus for too many hours=a string of expletives. So tired right now. That's it.

Gov Skool Part 3, Day 11

Site visit from the people who run STARTALK today. Not sure how to feel, because they scrutinized every aspect of the program, grilling people, and then some. Completely understandable, I would want to know how all this government money is spent as well.

Still a lot of running around, which is both exhilarating and exhausting.

Still recovering from being hoarse after all that screaming from yesterday.

Mini reunion of 2008 Chinese Academy! 2 of my former students are going to VCU in the fall. I just felt slightly old again.

I've been downing this honey for a good portion of the night now to soothe this throat.

One of our students is sick. Was in tears because she was so uncomfortable. Couldn't get her a humidifier so I improvised with a pan of water. Poor girl.

Looking at maps of DC, looking for places to eat for lunch, and talking to RS. It is a blessing to hear from a dear old sister from CCF. He always knows when to surprise us.

Gov Skool Part 3, Day 10

OLYMPICS!!!

Not really, but the Global Village version of it.

Today was TOO hot. Earlier today, LS and me were moving boxes of stuff for Olympic preparation. We honestly (more so me) looked crazy (read: a hot mess) wearing a dragon head carrying around plastic tote boxes from my car to the top of Hibbs. Hilarity ensued.

Besides classes today was full of running around, getting stuff together, yelling and screaming at the top of my lungs, chanting, singing, cheering, running around, dancing, celebrating, eating, and did I mention running around? I just finished like 3 popsicles, a freeze pop, a granola bar, half a sandwich, a Capri Sun, and countless bottles of water.

The 3rd time is definitely a charm, because we won first place for overall games...GO CHINERRR!!!

Now I'm hoarse. I can't yell at full capacity now, lucky for my students. Good thing one of the 老師們 graciously bought me the honey I requested. HAHAHA!

momentary pausing

Gov Skooling=me always on the go.

Likewise, life, still goes on despite the bubble that Gov Skool creates. There have been a few situations which Father showed me His face, however grim and however beautiful.

Yesterday on the way to dinner I saw a lady with her face to the cathedral with hands folded, raised above her head. It wasn't until much later that I realized she was praying into the cathedral wall.

On the way to breakfast this morning, I saw a sparrow on the road. It had died. No track marks, did it drop dead? Poor bird.

Later this morning, BB had called me and told me AC had given birth to little HC.
Happy Bday HC!

For the third year in a row now, I've felt this almost overwhelming sense of seclusion during this Gov Skool business. It's good and bad, all for valid reason. I realize more and more how this bubble can separate me from Him. I'm glad He makes an active effort to show me His face. At the same time, I gotta do the same. He's always had my back. Gotta do the same for Him.

Gov Skool Part 3, Day 7, 8, 9

Why is 6 afraid of 7? Because 7 was hungry and 7 8 (ate) 9.

Anyways, going to summarize the last 3 days because they have been so ridonkolusly busy I haven’t had a decent amount of time to write something of substance.

Day 7: We had our Academy talent show Saturday evening. A lot of great and clever performances. I made an off screen cameo in my class’ performance starring myself, no less. Haha. LS, JC, and me did a VERY last minute impromptu dance performance to Jay Chou’s Fearless (霍元甲). Awkward. Embarrassing. Funny.

The boss treated us to some Cold Stone (strawberry w/actual strawberries)!

However, new levels of high blood pressure/stress/anger were seen later that night. Not to go into too much detail but, one of our student (later: students) got into trouble for a little mishap. Personal/public apology and some punishment ensued.

Day 8: Happy 234th Birthday America!

From being tired from the day, being ridonkolously hot outside, and not wanting to make the young folks play sports after dinner I made them translate 月亮代表我的心 into English. Being ever the perfectionist, I scrutinized every translation and sent it back if it was anything less than perfection. If only Chinese classes for me back in the day was this easy…

As part of the ongoing punishment for the students who got in trouble yesterday, they had to sit out the fireworks that were to occur on top of the parking deck. I stayed behind to watch them. There’s always fireworks next year…

Since I didn’t get to celebrate properly, I decided to go out and celebrate. Nothing like a cold Slurpee on a hot night.

Day 9: Academy shopping trip again. Last minute purchases for Olympic preparation and International Marketing. LS and me arrived early, so I went and got me a Blizzard (Midnight Truffle) from DQ as we waited. We then went to Bath & Body Works to smell some stuff. Why not? LS definitely deserved some much needed R and R and needed to be removed from the hustle and bustle that is Gov Skool.

Our students are so nice. I got a sweet potato fry, a Pokémon card, and was invited to a nail polish party. (I unfortunately didn't get my nails did)

Saving my breath for tomorrow. Gotta get my voice ready for the Olympics.

Gov Skool Part 3, Day 6

I've said it once before...Once an academic, always an academic.

I was Jewish for an hour today.

But before I explain that, gotta touch on today's rundown. One of our students had to get some gravel out from under their eyelid. It was scratching up their retina...scary stuff. Long story short, they were prescribed some drugs that made them loopy. Their reaction to the drugs and interactions with other people...scary/funny stuff.

BUBBLE TEA trip!!! Me and some unable-to-be-disclosed-at-this-moment individuals when to TT Lounge again. Second day straight for bubble tea!

The day went as regularly scheduled, but I rushed through dinner so me and some folks could go to temple. Temple was interesting. A lot of singing but very good music at that. Most readings and singing were in Hebrew. The very little I did pick up on were some form of addressing God.

Being the religious studies major that I am/was, I was fascinated by the whole experience. Every song. Every passage. Every word that was spoken. Makes me wonder about Jesus' upbringing as a Jew and what He sang/read to God.

Movie Night! Together (和你在一起). Great movie, especially if you love violin and Tchaikovsky. Sooo good.

A student gave me a cookie from one of their care packages. That made my day. Thanks!

That's it for now. Very grateful for bubble tea and good music. It is in these little joys, of food and music and everything wonderful, that makes me wonder again and again of His invisible hand in the creation of everything.

Gov Skool Part 3, Day 5

BUBBLE TEA GALORE!!!

Not only did I get to enjoy free bubble tea from TT Lounge, I got to enjoy it 3 TIMES!!! (chocolate, jasmine, and almond) I knew 3 was one of my favorite numbers for a reason.

I spent the morning shopping again with the boss. I bought this AWESOME fleece throw blanket. I felt like I was 6 when I bought it. SOOO AWESOME.

After the dream come true that is bubble tea fulfillment, we spent the afternoon in Maymont Park. Even though I've been every year, I still can't get enough of this park. Koi ponds, Italian villa walkways, gardens, bamboo groves, waterfalls, fountains, lakes, birds, and the lack of animals not showing up are always something to enjoy there. Another testament to the beauty that is His hand. Ended with an intense jump rope session. SOOO FUN.

After the wonderful afternoon in the park, we had catered Chinese food. Yes, it was that non-authentic greasy good kind. It was great. Just took back to my place 3 pans of leftovers.
I just finished some leftover hot and sour soup, I'm still feeling the burn on my lips.

So grateful that He keeps providing me with stuff like this. I really don't deserve any of this, but then again why does He love us? We don't deserve it, yet He still does. He is TOO good!

Gov Skool Part 3, Day 4

Today's weather in the afternoon was relatively cool. A nice change from the previous million degree weather.

It's only been 4 days since our students have arrived, but me and the students included feel like we've been here FOREVER. I've been here not even a week but I've felt every minute and every day of work.

Learned more about Chinese medicine and a lot of other stuff that goes with it. More and more appreciative of the knowledge of the ancients.

Feet hurt...like crazy. Felt like my judgment in logistics was undermined today. So mad I skipped out on work for a half hour. Thank Father I wasn't noticed.

That's it for now. Too tired to write anything insightful today.

Gov Skool Part 3, Day 3

Today was crazy. And I think possibly that might have been an understatement.

After lunch we watched the Paraguay v. Japan game. Surprising how many people had World Cup fever, or then again it could have been like 3 days since anybody has watched T.V.

I got a ticket while being parked in parking garage? QUESTION MARK? The fine however is not what I read it out to be. Grateful for that.

My boss treated me to a frappuccino?!? (Caramel flavor!) Very thankful for that.

Shopping trip to Willow Lawn for Academy related business. Intense, exciting, and nerve racking...all at the same time.

We had to send one of our students to the hospital. Poor guy dislocated his shoulder playing ultimate frisbee. Good thing we have MCV close by, hopefully they've patched him right up. But I'm not worried, MCV is one of the best in the country.

I almost went into oncoming traffic because my boss and I were rushing back to tend to the emergency. Thank Father we got back safe.

Took 30+ orders for bubble tea to be partaken at TT Lounge!!! (which means free bubble tea for me! EXTREMELY grateful for this)

Decorated a student's door with bday wishes and streamers with my RAs and girls from neighboring suite...reminds me of the all the planning (read: plotting) for my dear CCF.

Thought I had my car stolen because I thought I left my keys on top of my car but in actuality I left them in boss' office.

Preparing for the next day. Cakeness and all. Cleaning out a box full of arts and crafts, trying to figure out what still can be used. Still need to learn this exercise so I can demonstrate. Not feeling it now. Gonna turn in.

Praise the Lord, I'm still kicking. Gotta keep fighting. This war ain't over.

Gov Skool Part 3, Day 2

Logistics.

When going well, things seem to fall together into the right place. When it's not, it's a perfectionist's nightmare.

Scheduled places with no easily accessible (read: locked and left with no key) entrances, folks who close at odd hours, people who can't answer the phone, folks who can't return calls, people making ridonkolous requests, and a whole plethora of mishaps.

After all was said and done, I realized everything could have been a lot worse. I'm grateful to the Father they weren't.

Part 3 is helping me remember how much more flexible I have to be and far I will be stretched.

On the much greener side/plus side/silver lining part, the French and Japanese Academies have been very helpful in the lifting of my spirits. This is the second year in a row that makes me want to pick back up my français and learn more fervently (日本語) nihongo.

Ending this night with some cold pizza. Bonne nuit.

Gov Skool Part 3, Day 1

Move-In Day for anyone everywhere is always one of the hottest days of the year. Thank you Father for the invention of A.C. and drinking fountains that disperse cold water.

So grateful for the enthusiasm of the team this year. Very grateful to be working alongside two of my own former students that I once took care of (LS and JC). Shout outs to both of y'all!

My feet hurt too. I should be used to this by now, seeing how it is Part 3. So grateful for this comfy couch I'm sitting on though. Thanks to Father for the coffee table as well. My feet don't hurt as much.

In all my needs and complaints, He has provided. He is TOO good to me. I just gotta keep on remembering to obey Him.

John 14:15.

pre-first day of Gov Skoolness

The students come in about 10 hours.

Anxious. Excited. Restless.

Hung out with my team and the Japanese RAs over froyo and a movie. All of which were/are awesome.

I'm still up correcting typos on like 30+ pages of journal topics for them chirren. I foresee a lot of late nights ahead. Luckily UVA prepared me for this and it doesn't hurt that I'm a veteran at this Gov Skool business now.

The war starts soon. hahaha.

Gov Skooling

3 years in a row.

I've concluded a long time ago that I was crazy but me going back a 3rd time, I'm a certified nutcase.

I didn't go when I was in high school (application was TOO long and I ain't feel like filling it out) and now I've gone one time too many.

The hours are long, working literally from the time I wake up until the time I sleep. Sometimes even overtime and extended night shifts. I run back and forth all over campus in 90-100 million degree weather (Ptown was 105 today?!) moving people, boxes of stuff, etc. etc. I get fussed out by MULTITUDES of people, regardless if it was my fault. Too many times I can't even sit down to enjoy whole meals (emphasis on MEALS). Endless phone calls for a million things to be done or to be yelled at. Catching some sickness from something or someone. Dealing with bellyaches, real problems, and worst of all...high school drama.

Here's the silver lining...
Plenty of exercise, free food, all the milk tea I want, free housing, no dishes to wash, I meet some of the most brilliant and the funniest folks VA has to offer, field trips, restaurant trips, free Slurpees, weekly shopping trips on grant money, fooding experiments galore, face painting galore, yelling at the top of my lungs for hours on end, hustling all kinds of people with no English being spoken, memories that last a lifetime, people that I'll never forget, and best of all I live 5 minutes from TT Lounge.

Gov Skool Round 3...I'm coming for ya.

that baby...

Go listen to Stevie Wonder's song "Isn't She Lovely?"

The other day AC wanted me to go to EVMS with her. BB was tagging along. (read: chauffeuring)

Why not? I needed a break from the research I was doing anyway.

Apparently AC was getting a sonogram done. This would be the last one before little HC makes her debut. I've always heard and read about these, but never actually witnessed one.

It was weird. And fascinating. And intriguing. And just WOW. I heard HC's heartbeat. I saw her spine. I saw her puffy cheeks. I saw the hair on her head. All of this on this black and white screen. All of this, even before she was born.

I keep coming back to this, but hands down this IS something to be remembered. He knew us when He knit us in our mother's womb. He made us fearfully and wonderfully.

Psalm 139.

Oh My Papa

I was recently told, jokingly, that Father's Day seems more like an afterthought. We plan days maybe even weeks in advance for Momma but it's ridonkolously last minute for dear old Dad.

To some degree this is somewhat "justified". But not really. Dads like anything you give them. I truly think that the thought truly does count on this day. And if you're a father and you think otherwise, well you need to man up and deal with your macaroni jewelry.

But joking aside, we really need to love and edify our fathers now and those soon to be. Helping those and others already striving to be truly men after God's own heart.

Much love and mad shout outs to our Heavenly Father.

Happy Father's Day!

p.s. BE A MAN!

alumnus status

On a sunny afternoon in April, IB, SL, and I were riding what was then the Blue Route leaving Barracks. Sitting near the back of the bus, we overhear this phone conversation this girl was having…“Girrrl, guess what? I am a F-O-U-R-T-H year, FOURTH YEAR! Yeeeaah girl!”

This, presumably, junior/third year was so hype to be a fourth year. Her hypeness was infectious, I was feeling mad hype. Grinning ear to ear.

This was 2 years ago. It was about the time I was finishing my second year and those words have been scorched into my memory since. I tell you this story to tell you this story…

Fast forward to a sunny Sunday morning in May. I stand on the North Lawn with literally thousands of fourth years. Overdressed for the weather, all of us wearing black. I thought back to 2 years earlier…Chiiillld, I am G-R-A-D-U-A-TING!

In the midst of this sea of black, I had one of those “revelations”. I didn’t know anybody in this crowd, looking and feeling as lost as lost can be. After an eternity of wandering, I stumbled upon my first year hall mates and took a million pictures with them. Slowly, but surely enough I saw more and more people I know, also doing the same.

In that span of time waiting for commencement to start, my first through fourth years fast forwarded in front of me. We're marching now???

Stepping down from the Rotunda, onto the Lawn, and into the masses was surreal. The masses of Halloween on the Lawn don’t even hold a candle to the people there that day. For the first time in a long time I remember what it truly means to have人山人海. At the same time I could not help but 笑容可掬, just like I did 2 years earlier.

Of course following commencement exercises (aptly named, emphasis on the “exercises” part) were the obligatory millions of pictures taken with la famiglia. Eating and hilarity ensued. Moving out for real, for real was so sad. Au revoir IRC, you will be missed!

It’s been more than a week since that Sunday. Where has the time gone?

Ode to the Grape (iii)

I always come back to Ecclesiastes 3:11, it's mind-blowingly true...

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

In 4 years, everything happened at the right time. I've always wondered why it took some things so long to occur and why some things just happened, however good or bad it may be.

I realized that in this "waiting period", God is preparing our hearts to accept what is to be pushed in front of us. This has happened one time too many and the instances that have occurred for me could fill volumes. As of lately, I've realized again and again how truly perfect His timing is in delivering stuff.

He knows. I am grateful that these "deliveries" have and still continue to fine-tune my patience, knowing and learning how to wait upon the Lord.

He provides too. Always. I keep quoting Matthew 6:25-34 for good reason.

CCF, UVA, but most importantly, that Good Shepherd have been instrumental in shaping this guy in realizing this.

Thanks.

Ode to the Grape (ii)

To quote Charles Dickens; it was the best of times, it was the worst of times, etc. etc.

If life is a literary piece of work, the time at UVA was a play/opera in 4 acts. God wrote the lines/libretto and each scene was played out well by a very huge cast.

As I sit here typing away, I remember/watch this work (His art/work) unfold...

Historical. Suspensful. Comedic. Tragic. Horrific. Moving.

Laughing. Singing. Eating. (LOTS of eating) Crying. Hating. Loving. Studying. Reading. (TOO much unnecessary reading) Living.

Ironic. Climactic. Anticlimactic. FULL of foreshadowing. Repetitive.

Too short. Too long. Too fast. Too slow. Just right. Just plain wrong. Just enough.

The music was good. The music was bad. His lines were too long. Her lines were perfect. He wrote it just right.

Bravissimo!

Roses for the whole cast. Shout out to one too many people who made this piece as memorable it is. But mad props, accolade, and all due credit to the Great Writer/Producer/Director. Deo gratias.

Encore?

Ode to the Grape

4 years at UVA was both long enough and short enough a time to make a smorgasbord of memories and has offered a plethora of things to appreciate. Here we go...

Beautiful architecture and scenery all around. Magnolias galore in the spring. Vividly verdant in the summer. Leaves changing in the fall. Beaucoup snow in the winter.

Constant construction going around. Never ending mazes of detours, sounds of the jack hammer, and other beautiful sounds of buildings going up.

UVA Chapel carillon tolling every hour and ringing every 3pm, 5pm, and 7pm.

Parking is horrendous. Teaching a dog how to play piano would be easier than to find parking on Grounds. I shake my fist at this still.

Too many memories in Newcomb. Shout out to Ms. Kathy...Forever a sweetheart! O-Hill's ridonkolous stir-fry lines. Runk's funky art, I still think they're funky portraits of Einstein, Mr. T, Leonard Nimoy, and Patrick Stewart. Honorable mention to Miss Lady with the white bat wings and branch for a spine.

The Crossroads, West Range Cafe, and The Castle...top 3 to grab food on Grounds.

Rouss Reading Room, McGregor Room, Brown Library Reading Room, and Newcomb Lounge...top places for study/work places.

Club Clemons. Enough said.

Spending countless hours in the creepy yet fascinating stacks of Alderman.

Trolley and bus rides. Seeing and hearing from the most interesting folks of UVA and Cville.

Finding God in the most unexpected and randomest of places. In Dell Pond, in an email in the wee hours of the morning, in some food, at a bus stop, on the way to the bathroom, etc. etc.

Who could forget...the 3 F's of Finals' Season in the libraries...food from it being eaten in the library, feet from folks taking off their shoes, and funk from everything known and unknown...the 3 P's of Spring...papers, pollen, and prospectives.

I could go on...and I will...

pre-graduation rhapsody

Finished a novel.

Finishing an opera.

Joked with the president of UVA and ate with ZL and her peoples at his house.

Had just enough soul food from Mel's to get the itis. (B-E-A-UTIFUL sweet potato pie!)

Was in and out of that class party in 10 minutes. (that music was whack, but they had cookies!)

Rode through Cville one more time.

Had another food party at UHeights with the crew. (even MORE cookies!)

Graduation in less than 9 hours...I'll be waiting.

a different normalcy

Disclaimer: stream of consciousness writing=random leaps of logic=apologies beforehand...

Part I: I've noticed a long time ago and am now taking time to acknowledge, life at home continues regularly yet always is new and strange when I return.

I'm currently home for the moment. I'm also preparing (read: freakin' out) for graduation. Gotta head back to UVA tomorrow to take care of some ridonkolously last minute admin stuff. (UVA is relentless about this double major business)

As I unloaded my car Saturday evening of the tons of living stuff I've collected over the years, I noticed a stretch limo pulling into my neighborhood. Who got money like this??? People in dresses and white tuxes pile out. How could I forget? Prom Season.

My thoughts...As these folks complete a milestone in thier young lives, I was reminded of this impending milestone I must finish. Sunday, that funky hat and judge gown, and that coveted piece of paper are waiting for me...

Part 2: Since I've been in Ptown for a few days, I've had to "reorient" myself. Not that I've ever lost it. Maybe.

On the way visiting a bunch of high school friends, I drove down the route I usually took when I drove to school. It was surreal. It had been years since I'd gone down those roads and when I did that day, I felt like I was going to high school again. Ahh, so long ago!

AC is well into being preggo, due in July? This will be her 2nd?!? But Congrats to her for being momma again! BB, as always, has got their hustle going on. Keep doing your thing, BB. All them other folkses are looking for jobs, workin, or still doing that school business. And IT goes on...

Part 3: Indulging on the ever present nerd in me, I made a trip to the public library. Ptown has seriously gotten more gentrified (read: bougyer...I'm claiming this word) over the years. The library had some new technology that amazed and worried me. I went to this library for years and I wondered has it gotten "too big" for me? I remember the old location and how low tech it used to be, now it's doing bigger and better things for the community. Props to the Churchland Branch.

CCR's "Proud Mary" comes to mind. The song itself is of no relevance to this post but that big wheel is still turning and I'm still rolling on this river... Lord, I'm prayin'.

home stretchin' (iii)

this is somewhat overdue...

2:41pm. Friday, May 7th, 2010. 3 birds with 1 stone. Finished my last final exam, presentation, and paper.

Kickin' back and coastin' for the time being. College is DONE!

Momma

I just listened to Schubert's rendition of "Ave Maria" again and can't help but wonder...

The Virgin Mary carried the baby Jesus in her womb for however long she was pregnant with Him. What was going through her head as she carried Him? How did she feel? Did Jesus kick while He was in there?

One can only imagine what Mary was like as the earthly mother to Jesus. What did she feed Him? How did she clothe Him? How did she love Him?

To all the women whom folks claim as momma...Happy Mother's Day!

home stretchin' (ii)

4:38pm. Tuesday, May 4th, 2010. Schooooool's out fooorever! Except for when I go to grad school, but until then...Woooooo!!!

Now about this paper I still have to write and finals I need to study for...

home stretchin'

It is May?!? QUESTION MARK???

I still can't believe it. Just a little over 3 hours ago it was April and now it's May. Life is real but it got EVEN MORE REAL when I realized it was May. As I sit here typing this and taking a momentary break from paper writing, I had to address this issue because it really hit me. Hard.

Only 22 days til graduation?!? Am I really finished? 4 years of struggle, joy, and growth over?

Too late and too much to reminisce and write about now. I'm certain there will be plenty of posts later on these things...

night walks

Looking over the previous blogs of this month, they seemed to touch on the "gloom and doom" of the realness of life. Life is just that, real. Here's some more realness for ya...

Last night I spent a better part of it in the luxuriousness of Rouss writing my life away. Rouss makes me wish I had applied to be in the Comm School. Sometimes.

Fast forward to me leaving to the go to the Castle. Was fixin' to get myself a Cyclops, needless to say is a tasty-heart attack waiting to happen. I leave the Castle a little past midnight, with my burger in hand, anticipating much tasty goodness.

As always when walking back from that neck of the woods, I cross by Dell Pond. I've always enjoyed walking by there, because it's cool to see it freeze over in the winter but primarily because the "Gang of Four" lives there.

The Gang of Four originally consisted of Theodore and Louisa. They made it their residence Valentine's Day of 2009. Not sure if they came on their own accord or they were placed there, but whatever the case these ducks were there that day.

Fast forward to September of 2009, two more birds live with Theodore and Louisa now. Another female duck and a goose (question mark?) live with them. Respectively Samantha and Gerry. I don't know what gender Gerry is.

So back to the me crossing the pond. I was on the phone and I hear a something coming up on me quick. Ready to fight, because I was not about to give up this burger, I see Theodore chasing Gerry across the bank of the pond. Gerry was running with wings spread ready to take flight. I next see Theo, Lou, and Gerry slowly walking on the sidewalk. Gerry has left a mess behind. You can pretty much guess what it was.

I was about to die from my fit of laughter. I'm laughing as I type this up. Did I just see this?

Stuff like this happens at the most needed times. Thanks to Him.

on the edge of reason

I got a phone call from an old friend telling me about a guy intentionally driving the wrong way trying to take his own life. In the process he took his and someone else's.

Situations like these call to mind the age old question of what led to this final act and the reminder of how precarious life is.

I feel my written words today alone cannot do my thoughts nor the gravity of the situation justice.

Psalm 18 is a faithful fallback.

crying stones

The Rascals weren't singing about my morning this morning.

Waking up with the lights still on (again), I realized yet again how much work I needed to get done. In the midst of working, I get a flood of random phone calls and messages about bad news and worries adding to the ever present worries of others and myself already on my mind. I am helpless to do anything, just more praying is all I can do.

I did however manage to parallel park my friend's car in 2 tries. At least something was accomplished this morning.

Anyway, class today was no help to my current state of mind. Just made me realize how much more stuff I don't know.

Fast forward to me reading the daily barrage of emails. One email blew me out of that cold, cold water. My dear friend from long ago was updating me on their life and ended the email with prayer for me.

All I could do was (and still am) praise Him. Amongst the plethora of good news and bad, He still manages to trump everything. The stones may cry but I am crying with them. Luke 19:40.

slow

Over the course of 4 years, I’ve noticed that I’ve been progressively working a lot slower than I would like and that of the people around me. As to why this is happening is up for speculation.

Maybe it’s because I’ve witnessed and heard too many horror stories of fast paced living. Living the rat race and leaving little to no time for sleeping, eating, or being with the fam. Maybe it’s because I’ve been directly and indirectly told time and time again by countless people to slow down. Slowing down and taking one’s time prolongs life and mental sanity? Perhaps. Maybe it’s because it’s my perfectionist and almost obsessive nature that I have to get every detail right. Working and reworking on anything so that it is almost immaculate. Maybe it’s apathy. I work on my time and no one else’s.

Whatever the case, slowness, a lot of times, has been criticized as pertaining to indecision and lack of efficiency. Both of which I've been guilty of one too many times.

Where am I going with this argument? I'm not even sure myself. Probably just me being slow again.

walking through the valley

Every year, I always talk about how I am wary of the month of April. This year is no less different.

Last Friday morning, I struggled to finish a last bit of homework before class. My train of thought was interrupted by the Chapel bells ringing. 9:39am and I heard one low pitch ring after another.

3 years ago that day was the whole VA Tech incident. Looking back at the whole situation made me ponder once again how we deal with tragedy and how we treat other people.

Can we prevent further incidents? How can we treat people so heartlessly? Why are we so selfish? Why are we so blind to the suffering of others?

More and more must we rely on Him, emulate Him, walk with Him. It is only He that can really comfort us in the midst of trouble.

Norcom & Co. shout outs

Probates are always a sight to see. Including the one that is about to be mentioned, it'd be the third one I've seen all my undergrad. The one last Sunday was for the new sorors of DST, which just so happens to have 3 of my friends on line. Shout out to No. 1 (SB), 17 (TL), and 22 (SD)!!! Now that they've been unmasked, maybe I can see them more often now. hahaha.

A shout out to my friend DL in the process of establishing a new CIO. More details TBA when all is done.

I'm so proud of all of y'all!

return to life

復活. Literally translated as "return/repeat life". I think the Chinese had it right when they translated Easter.

I always heard "Christ is risen" but never really understood the gravity of the meaning of it until about last Easter.

The phrase is in the present tense and I never thought twice about it. Yeah, I knew the basic reasons as to why this day is important. He rose from the dead to save us but that was in the past. He was raised (emphasis on -ed), right?

BUT, somewhere in the midst of struggling with the present tense I realized He is still saving souls today and He continues to still be risen. I knew all this before hand but I finally was connecting all the dots to the very fact "He IS risen". It blew my mind.

Keep spreading that Truth. We all need to return to life too.

the evil in my heart

I have witnessed and experienced the atrocities that man has committed. I am no less guilty.

An April Fool's prank that I took part in made me realize how evil I can be. Looking back I thought about how malicious, how manipulative, how maniacal I was to keep perpetuating this "joke" all in the name of my own fun. At another person's expense.

I cannot apologize enough to poor VH. She's such a good sport for not hating me or others forever for this joke. I couldn't help but think of Jonathan Edwards' sermon from way back when, because of this.

I am a sinner, but I know He's got me covered because He unbelievably loves this helpless fool writing these words.

egotistical belated bday writing

22 years young. Praise the Lord for this blessing. I have much to be thankful for and cannot help but remember past bdays that have proven again and again of His continuous blessings.

Homemade cakes, funnel cake, round cakes, sheet cakes, cupcakes, cheesecake, ice cream cake, made to order cake, store bought cakes, and the multitude of cakes people have brought and made for me. Too many people deserve this shout out for my bday cakeness.

Who could forget all the ice cream either? Ben & Jerry's, Cold Stone, etc. etc.

In turn, shout out to the way too many people who have prepared/eaten/bought bday lunches/dinners for/with me. I'm so glad to have eaten and shared food with y'all.

Shout out to the many folks that have brought me gifts. To add to that, regardless of bday or holiday gift, whenever I use the gift I am reminded that you thought of me when getting it. Shout out to y'all.

Surprises galore. Enough said.

Kudos to CM for composing and beat-boxing with others that song for my 21st. Mad respect and love for you all.

Praise the Lord for allowing me to know and celebrate life with all these people.

full circle

2 years.

My thoughts and ramblings have been written here for that long now. It's been 2 years since I've dealt with my so called "quarter-life crisis". 2 years ago, I dared to write about God and my walks with Him. Who knew I'd still be writing 2 years later?

Writing first started just shortly after I turned 20. I had been dealing with my second "first year" since my transfer out of A-Skool and what seemed like an eternity of finding the "right major". It was through writing that I hoped to find some sort of solace. 2 years later I find myself a little more tranquil and on my way to finish the "pre-life" track.

I wonder where God will lead me in the next 2 maybe 3 years? 20? 30?

giving up life for life

I had my head shaved again for St. Baldrick's yesterday. Shout out to the folks who came out to see me go "bald" and the people who donated. From this seemingly simple act, I cannot help but think about the kids who lose their hair to chemo. The pain and suffering from the side effects of chemo that they go through. The people in my family who have gone through the same ordeal.

I am yet again reminded and question myself as to why I support such causes...

Blood. Hair. Time.

All of which I've donated and given up in the last 2-5 years all for different causes. From an outside perspective it is, I daresay, masochistic.

The blood I donate is put aside for somebody who needs it. The hair I give up is in solidarity with the kids with cancer and to raise money for childhood cancer research. The time and manpower I offer for PCCV in promotion of being pro-life.

It took me until now to realize that I've been in support of saving life this whole time.

Blood to save somebody's life. Hair for money to save a child's life. Time to save an unborn child's life.

Is what I'm doing for my fellow man going to save a life? Am I saving people from death of the body like Christ did? I realize that although what I have done is a good thing, Christ does it better. He gave up His life so our souls could continue living. Forever.

Sharing His Word to our fellow man is the best kind of "supporting a cause".

我會說English?

I was translating a poem for class one morning when I stumbled across a word that I had no idea how to spell in English. "Fiery" was the thorn in my side. F-I-R-E-Y? F-I-R-Y? The online dictionary confirmed it. Why in the world are the "r" and the "e" switched around?

The daily struggle of learning and relearning languages is nothing new. As for majoring in the Chinese language, it always brings up the issue of how does one translate certain words and phrases to sound the most "correct" as well as learning and relearning certain features of one's own native tongue. In turn, it reminds me of the many reasons why I've decided to major in my supposed mother tongue. Growing up as a child of immigrants, I've always dealt with my parents and relatives' struggle to learn English. Correcting their broken English while in return they correcting my broken Chinese was the constant exchange in our households.

That morning was a reminder of the daily struggle of dealing with a language. The immigrants and/or refugees who come to a foreign land, dealing with the language barrier. The embarrassment, the trouble, the etc. etc. of learning a new tongue. The thorn in my side. The thorn in anybody's side. Paul hit that nail dead on with 2 Corinthians 12.

the houses that God built

God has a tendency to remind me of things learned but forgotten. But when remembered, it is quite the refill.

CGC had service in the fellowship hall today, as opposed to the usual place of the gym. The gym was being used as a temporary shelter for the homeless they were taking care of for the week.

Sitting in the fellowship hall, I was reminded of the many house churches that take place around the world as well as the couple times CCF held house church when services were canceled because of that ridonkolous snow.

Why do we have church? Why do we go to church? What is a church? What is the Church?

Revelation 19 describes Christ as warrior ready and willing to fight for His bride, the Church. On the same note, Paul writes in Ephesians 6 that we are called to don the armor of God in order to fight for Him as well.

How devoted those early Christ-followers must have been when they were just starting out. To have met in peoples' homes. To have sung hymns without the music. To have practiced in the face of persecution. Even today, the same struggles continue.

They knew what these meetings were for. They knew this one body that Paul writes of in 1 Corinthians 12. They knew why all this mattered.

How wonderful it was for them to know and for us now to know this thing called fellowship. κοινωνία. 團契.

dancing madly

March Madness.

So begins yet another month long disruption to life. The phenomenon that entails people yelling at TV screens, compulsively checking scores, cringing as one sees another team on their bracket bite the dust, and countless other fanatical practices. All of which makes post-season college basketball even more fun to watch.

Bring it.

Cackalacky on My Mind (iii)

"It's just a house."

Says Mr. Fredricksen to Russell as they watch his house fall beneath the clouds in Up.

Conversations that have engrossed my mind, that started early in the morning and gone on late into the night over some days' time, have been on my mind. That and the millions of other insights that appear, reappear, clash, and fight in my head over the span of this week. Needless to say, I'm still mulling over them. All of them.

Cooking always seems to be the default when it comes to these times of intense thought. Herbed mashed potatoes, failed risotto turned fried rice, another batch of fried rice, brownies, the whole dumpling process (flour, meat, and all), short ribs, napa cabbage galore, etc. etc. were all products of the process.

Mr. Fredricksen's house was the last thing of livelihood for him, but he realized that there are more important things. Much more important. I've lost count the many times I've been reading/reminded of Jesus' teaching for us in Matthew 6:25-33.

Lord, I'm listening. Help me continue finding Your kingdom and righteousness.

Cackalacky on My Mind (ii)

"I'm going to play something for you."

Once again I was amazed and enthralled by the genius of Chopin, courtesy of CM who played oh so beautifully. Prelude No. 15 a.k.a. "Raindrop" was the piece that resonated so, and it just so happens to be raining as I write this. Mmm, that made my day.

An added treat was JW's rendition of "A Maiden's Prayer". Kudos.

Music from the piano. What would life sound like without it?

Cackalacky on My Mind

Currently Spring Breaking.

It started with a hotpot banquet at YL's house. Mad props and shout out to his gracious and hospitable family for hosting CCF. The next day were our excursions in Short Pump which ended with bubble tea from TT Lounge before we went our separate ways.

Part II was roadtrippin' to North Carolina. CM, JW, and Chopin were my traveling buddies who brought lively conversation and music as we headed south. We stop over in Wake Forest for some b-e-a-u-tiful BBQ before we turn in for the night at CM's maison.

The first thing I see at CM's were books. Books galore. I was instantly in love. It reminded me of my own love affair with books. How I beginning at five years of life would read hours on end, book after book. How I've accumulated a sizable library myself. How this love affair continues today with me still spending countless hours in libraries and bookstores enjoying the presence of written word.

Adding more to the academia splurging were visits to the quaint little town of Chapel Hill and that of Durham. Of course there was more tasting of that beautiful Carolina BBQ slipped in between. The day ended with more singing and...milkshakes!

But in the midst of academical splurgement, I can't help but realize how much stuff I learn/relearn about life away from the school setting...

passing on that light (ii)

It is official.

An email that has been sitting in my "Drafts" folder for 3 months has been sent out. Many times I've read and reread this letter. Many times I've been reluctant to send it.

My last email letter to the CCF mailing list.

It is done.

passing on that light

So I realize yet again that the hours of 2-4am is when I write and philosophize the most. So here we go...

In class today I was lectured on how much the Korean people invest so much time and effort into their children's education. So intense is their devotion it is even to the point in which the government will personally step in and help.

Of course this got me thinking about my own education. How much time and effort have I invested in mine? In the same thought processes, I realize it was almost 5 years ago that I applied for college and is now 4 years ago that I've been accepted and now about to finish. Oh, where has the time gone?

On another note, last night was the last CCF Core Group meeting I got to chair. Each Core Group meeting I've attended or chaired has always been emotionally and spiritually charged. This one was no exception. As we all celebrated the welcoming of our new president and the end of the meeting with crepes provided by our wonderful adviosrs, I could not help but think back to the ones of the past that were held in that wonderful room we call the Fishbowl.

Many people part of Core Group past and present were conferred there. Many discussions about how God is moving us were discussed there. The last 3 (including our current) presidents have been conferred there. So much has occurred in such a space and I pray that the Moleskin I've been carrying for 4 years has documented each one well enough.

Despite this, questions keep popping up. Was I capable enough? Through His hands, was my work good enough? Did I say the right things? Did I do enough? Is this the legacy I want to leave behind?

Whatever the answers maybe, I need not worry. I have no doubt in my mind that our current group of CCFers will continue pursuing to establish His Kingdom here on earth. How wonderful is His grace and love for humanity!

café ponderings

Lauryn Hill once said everything is everything. I still don't fully understand what that means. Taking it at face value it is true but of course, there must be more to this than just this meaning.

I realize more and more that our God is the god of everything. One Sunday night after dinner a couple weeks ago, me and a couple of friends sit in Mr. Edwin Alderman's café prolonging our procrastination by discussing philosophical issues. What race does one put down on standardized tests? What was wrong with the government if a coup d'etat occurs? Why do we borrow so heavily from the French language terms for war when the French don't fight? Why do we burn palm leaves for Ash Wednesday? Is it worth buying the stuff people sell on infomercials?

All the while we occasionally look up at the wall of TV's broadcasting news from all over the world. Although heavily engrossed in the conversation, I could not help but notice the many different languages being displayed on each screen. Al Jazeera broadcasting a discussion among 3 important looking people, stock prices flashing across in Hindi, headlines in Polish, and of course CNN in español. I was feeling more and more helpless at the fact that I could not understand nor read what was going on.

It was at that moment that everything just seemed so surreal. I was watching and seeing everything happening around me but paying even closer attention to everybody and everything that no one would care to think twice about. A guy walking with his head held a little bit too high. A girl with a Slipknot shirt on with pink shorts. An old man in an easy chair quietly sipping at his cup and typing away on his Mac. God created these people. God also created the little things such as scones and hot chocolate for us to enjoy. God allowed us to speak so many different languages. Why are we so fearfully and wonderfully made?

I marvel once again at the fact that everything is possible through Him.

celebrating life: before, now, after

First and foremost, it's MARCH!!! Where has the time gone???

Second, Happy Birthday Chopin!!! He'd be 200 today. In celebrating that, I've been listening to his music of course. Even as I type, I've been sitting in Newcomb Lounge listening to this guy play countless pieces of Chopin's genius. OOOOhhhh, sooo goood!

To add to that goodness, yesterday was unexpected goodness. Duke was playing here last night and it would be the last home game I could attend as a student (question mark?). So I met up with JW to watch this prelude to MARCH MADNESS!

This game was painful to watch. True, Duke is the no. 1 seed in the ACC this season, but this was ridiculous. At one point there was almost a 30 point lead. The crowd cringed at every missed shot. Verdict...67-49. We didn't even break 50 points.

Anyways, afterward JW asked if I could help move her stuff from CM's place so she could go home. No problem, I'll do it and head to this group project thing later at 10pm. I drove over there, go up the stairs, and...SURPRISE! I was very confused at that moment. Why are CCF folks here?

I cannot applaud nor give enough props to the ladies that planned this. So apparently this was my surprise bday party. 1 month early?!? Usually I get the most joy surprising people on their bdays, but this one was GOOD. We celebrated for a while but I had to dip out, I was already running late for this meeting.

As soon as I got to my car, I got a call from the group project folks. We meetin' tomorrow? Cool. I went back and planned to celebrate some more, but not without some of my own tricks waiting for them.

Knocking. Didn't DC just leave? SURPRISE! I think I made 5 people jump back. This was the cherry to my sundae. hehehe.

To make a long story short, THANKS/APPLAUSE/KUDOS to all the ladies that planned/schemed and people that showed up for the pre-bday festivities. I am truly and very wonderfully blessed and grateful to know such a bunch.

Sunday driving...

leads to church a lot of times. Today we witnessed once again a celebration of faith. Old and young were baptized today. American and Chinese. It blows my mind once more that our God is truly 全知, 全能, 全 everything. Surpassing everything we deem as obstacles or impossible, He makes it happen.

On another note, on the way back with all my windows rolled down I blasted Bizet. I'm pretty sure that the people who heard it or turned their heads when my car passed them thought....question mark?

It's the end of February!!! Where has the month gone???

piano concerts

I went to see Yefim Bronfman perform in concert earlier tonight. Apparently I had seen him in concert before and didn't remember it was him.

I'm disappointed I don't remember it, because he played with so much passion especially for the Tchaikovsky piece. That was particularly fun to watch. As for the encore, he played two pieces by Chopin which almost had me in tears. I was still getting over Tchaikovsky's piece that his mention of Chopin caught me off guard.

Now that I think about it, I also saw Mimi Tung perform VDay weekend. Oooh, she was even more so intense! She seemed to play Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 so effortlessly. TOO good!

I must stop now or I'll never stop ranting and raving. They both were SOOO GOOOD!!!

adventures at the hospital

I got a tip that the ITC department in the UVA Hospital system was giving away old computer hardware. I didn't need anything in particular, I figured it just be something I could toy with. (Geek much?) Anyways me and my friend go looking for the place. Up, down, in, and out countless elevators, stairs, and hallways looking for this place.

So apparently there is a new hospital and an old hospital. We were in the new hospital and ended up in ICU. The lady at the ICU desk was very helpful and directed us to the old hospital, the place we needed to get our swag.

Scattered here and there are random old parts to something electronic. The lady there tells us we needed to be staff or faculty to cop this swag. We leave slightly disappointed but me, not really.

In spite of being here for almost 4 years and knowing almost every corner of UVA Grounds, Cville manages to still have some spots I had no idea of getting around. A couple hours well spent.

bitterness of heart

I've been reading a lot of Old Testament lately, especially the books Moses wrote. I am particularly struck by the passages of Moses leading the Israelites through the desert.

Too many times the Israelites complain of lack of sustenance and cry that they would have rather lived in Egypt and died in slavery than deal with this desert. At the same time I am reminded that these very same Israelites also cried out to God in Egypt to free them from oppression. For such ungratefulness towards God, the Israelites were than condemned to wander the very same desert for 40 years.

I wonder if the Israelites' fights with the people already occupying the land, the fights amongst themselves, and fights with God was to prepare their hearts and minds to fully receive and appreciate the Promised Land. Could it be that this time in the desert also served as a cleansing of the bitterness in their hearts?

The cries of the Israelites remind me of the bitterness in my own heart. The prejudice, the jealousy, the hatred, and countless other offenses that I hold against others and myself.

Why the hardness? Why the bitterness? What ungratefulness do we have towards God? Should we dare pray that we be given our own "deserts" in order to purify our hearts? I wonder if it is the fact that we forget His graciousness towards us that we become bitter.

I pray that we be reminded of our countless blessings. Only His love, His grace, and His mercy can take hold of my heart, our hearts, break it and mold it to be of one that most sings of His glory.