Black Friday Shopping

Our family went to Fry's for black-friday shopping, except we went on Saturday at 5pm, not 5am. We are lazy shoppers.

Big purchases included, a new laptop for me, a new family digital camera (on sale for 197 from 329), and three laptop cooling pads (2.99 each). The cooling pads were declared sold out as of Friday morning, but my mom threatened a 19 year old salesguy and he managed to get us three from the back!

Friday I also worked a 9 hour shift at Armani, and sold a total $2,421 dollars worth of clothes. For Paris Hilton that may be worth a purse. But for the rest of us, that is, for lack of better words, a lot. I do not spend more than 20 bucks on shirts/blouses or more than 40 on jeans and skirts. Anything of mine that is namebrand is probably a handmedown or from Lohmanns.

Thanksgiving is officially over. I had a total of 3 Thanksgiving Dinners this year, excluding the noodle feast I had with my mom on Thursday. I am blessed beyond blessed. Turkey is expensive and the time it takes to prepare one is precious as well. : ) G'day.

Thanksgiving Day 2008

My sister went to Knott's Berry Farm today. Thanksgiving this year is me, my mom, and noodles. But I love noodles.

Comic Books... I had no idea.

Batman material is still being published?

"On Wednesday, Batman's ultimate fate will be revealed in the latest issue of DC Comic's Batman.

Some have speculated that the caped crusader will suffer a horrific end when his sidekick, Robin, hops over to "the dark side" and destroys him in a terrible betrayal.

Others guess that he'll simply retire from his duties.

There's also buzz that he maybe killed by a mystery villain known as the Black Glove."

source: perezhilton.com

Gone Green

I've underestimated this world's potential to care about more than one thing at a time. A few years back when An Inconvenient Truth caught all kinds of national buzz, I thought to myself, world democracy > global warming. I knew our planet was dying but I believed the entire green-campaign was going to marginalize other, more important, global issues. Here I am, 3 years later, hopeful to live another generation's time and nostalgic of my summer in 2001 in the Monteverde Rainforesta in Costa Rica. I want my kids or my friends' kids, or if none of us have kids, then the neighbors kids, to witness nature's regenerative majesty. Just like how nature is so accessible now, it has to be that simple in the future. One plane ticket to Santiago, and you can get bit by black ants the size of penne pasta noodles! I say that because I'm eating some penne right now, and yes, I did see huge ants and they were beautiful!

I still haven't seen An Inconvenient Truth, and I probably never will. Regardless, I know its right to recycle, save energy, kiss the earth, blah blah, as do the rest of the world. People are smart these days, if not guilty. I'm afraid of what will happen when I don't recycle old papers in my office, considering half the staff are vegetarians, one a vegan. I respect vegetarians and vegans by the way. I was a vegetarian for a few weeks once, and it was such a healthy, glutton-freeing, experience.

Among other things... theres the issue of war that I hate myself for. If theres one thing people hate Bush for its his opportunistic, exploitative foreign policy. I call his executive leadership "killing two birds with one stone". Yeah, I do. Its so sad though, and I always always think to myself, can a non-violent state really exist in a defensive, retaliative world. I don't know. Last year I read two books on the Israeli-Palestine conflict, one from an Israelian point of view, and one from an Palestinean point of view. The latter was more convincing.
Have you heard that quote, it goes something like, "War is like a game, and people are the players, if no one wants to play, the game's over". That would bring me to my knees.

Yesterday I was channel surfing on the radio, and when I got to 107.9, I immediately heard "This world belongs to the devil."
I won't expound on that. Think whatever you like.

Anyways, Do your part. And remember to wish Happy Thanksgiving to people who are away from their families, like Orson Hwang who is stuck in Texas alone with no body. Ask him what his job title is. It's hardcore.

I am a Nehemiah Band Fan.

For those in the Christian community, I hope in the near future you get a chance to listen to and meet the guys of The Nehemiah Band - they are amazing people and amazing musicians.

www.myspace.com/thenehemiahband

I've seen their videos and I have a copy of their new CD, but none compares to the guts and glory of what they do live. They've got soul ya'll.

Also, I'm foolish for admitting this but I have the hugest crush on Mike Whang. Not because of his voice or his guitar skills, I'm not the groupie type, but there's definitely something special in his swagger and his depth. I sound very creepy, I know. Its because I am. He can never ever read this or else I'm going to die of embarrassment. Actually, I already did. Last week, I tried to talk to him during their album release party and I was nothing short of a nervous idiot. The band is performing at my old church Light & Salt Presbytarian in two weeks. I'll be praising front and center...with a mask on.


Light and Salt Presbyterian Church
25500 Vermont Ave.
Harbor City, CA
Saturday December 6
6:00-9:00pm


Un-relatedly,
My laptop died of overexhaustion last week and therefore I need help picking out a brand new one I probably can't afford. To Lenovo, or Not To Lenovo? Tonight I was at Powell's computer lab to work on some research but ended up watching the Clippers vs 76ers game online instead. Basically the Clippers were up for all of the second half until in the last minute of the fourth quarter, the traitor himself, Mr. Elton Brand knocked a 2 pointer to set the game at 78-79. Clippers got nothing done after Brand's basket... and then the 76ers won. Mike Dunleavy then proceeded to pick up a chair and....

... I wish.

Rob Bell - 017 Today

Deborah sent me a youtube link for one of Rob Bell's sermon videos (#18 "Name", so good), and I got to watching more of them. Each are about 10 minutes long and each probably speak to people in different ways. I found peace in number 17, "Today". 

Something about me,

I can forgive my past, including myself, and the people I used to know, but I can't forget. I can never be like Jesus, who easily forgives and forgets together in a moment's time. I hold on to ill memories like I need them. Clearly, I don't need them. They only make me dark and confused. 

I have a corrosive problem of believing that I'll always be this one person forever. That beneath my maturing body and spirit, my sins and habits will never change. And I'm also reminded of this, every single day, in other people. That phrase Some people never change comes to mind. It only takes one moment of mistrust, deceit, or let-down, for me to lose faith in humanity and the excellence of our being. Whom can I trust, but Jesus Christ...in context, those words sound so caustic and hateful don't they?

Yet its amazing how easily I can be reminded to be thankful for 'Today', all it takes is the local news, nostalgia over my grandma, a picture of a hungry child in North Korea. I will genuinely be thankful for my life. Everyone who has been humbled by His grace is able to do so with the upmost deference and shame. But at the same time, you and I both know, its only moments before such thanks withers away and we return to our lives we think we can author. 

I'm now sitting here thinking, what is the point of me stating the obvious. What am I going to do about it. Therefore I ask, help me - remind me of today, remind of Him, remind me that the past is in the past, hurt is in the past, and that today I'm going to engage with someone amazing, I'm going to eat a freakin feast, I'm going to laugh, and I'm going to be loved... just like you always do. (hint: i have good sisters and brothers)

Obama, LA TIMES

I'm currently at home for Veteran's Day.

My friend Liz was down in Torrance today coincidentally so we had some good italian at Fritto Misto in Hermosa Beach, 5 min from my house. I think there's one in Santa Monica also. It's a cool place because you can build your own pasta from like 40 different sauce choices, meats, veggies, herbs.

I had the Spinach Linguini with Italian Turkey Sausage, Carmelized Onions, Spicy Marinara, and Roasted Red Pepper. It was some serious heat! Fritto Misto is not your average Olive Garden btw. Its homey and saucy and good.

sososo...


courtesy of my camera phone

My mom came home from work with three L.A Times'! Her coworker waited in line for them and thought of us. My mom wouldn't let me sell it on ebay. "One for you, one for your sister, one for me", she said.

So, my mom and my dad both voted for Obama. Only after the fact, do they know I voted for McCain. My dad loves his mexican workers, wants immigration reform and is a self-proclaimed democrat.

You know, the media can only show so much footage of black people crying about Obama's win on TV. Maybe they could show some white people crying as well? Today on POWER 106, Obama went to far as to call in and say thanks to the station. A bit much ghetto, Barack! We definitely did not hear George W. Bush call JoJo on KIIS after his win in 2004!
Bad joke. sorry.

So now I've been reading what all the other countries are feelin about Obama's win.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/

CNN.COM/POLITICS is no longer of interest to you or me. Feel the wave of the win, on an international scale. It's insane how many endorsements Obama could've received from presidents and prime ministers around the world, although its good that he didn't acutally get them (like from Castro or Sarkozy who showed indirect support) or else McCain's camp would've played the socialist card and ran with it like mad!

oh fyi, I'm not blogging about politics. Like I previously mentioned in a past post, nothing is more tacky than political blogs. Even if your dad is the freaking Presidential Hopeful, you shouldn't be blogging about politics. I don't call *this* blogging about politics because I'm not expressing my conflictions with government or policy or the democrats, I'm simply stating what you already know and without any depth or intellect.

Happy V-Day. School resumes tomorrow.

I leave you with this.
"Now, It's no secret that I have been upset since the election. I've tried taking out my aggression on a punching bag but all the stuffing fell out after the first shotgun blast."
- Stephen Colbert 11/6/08

SF Weekend with Dragonboat

This year is my last year with UCLA Dragonboat.

Its been tough for me, balancing CCM and Dragonboat over the past four years, especially because committing to either is like committing to two separate families, time-wise, and relationship-wise, and its been so hard to find my place in both.

But finally, I think I can say I have made a home in my heart for my teammates. I love UCLA dboat because over the years I've seen that it breeds better people. Unity is something that Christians pray for in the church and for our immediate fellowships on campus...Unity in Christ's loving name. Interestingly, I have a greater sense of what unity is through my time with dboat than I've ever had with fellow Christians, and I say this, upliftingly - that good people are people who also pull together for each other.

Paddling is very different from other team sports in one distinct way. When you paddle in a synchronized boat with 19 other people, there can never be, for example, a Lebron or a Kobe. Also, there is an immense amount of personal accountability. Paddlers on the left, keep their partners on the right accountable for rotation, lean, breathing and stamina- vice-versa. Teammates in front and back of me make sure I'm pulling my maximum reach (to pull more water). When one person in the front of the boat loses their synchronization, the rest of the boat loses its synchronization as well. All this, for every stroke.

Physical accountability translates to more. I've learned to take criticism humbly for the benefit of my team. I've learned to give criticism constructively for the benefit of my team. I've learned to grunt and howl to pump others up in freezing weather or rain. After every 20 minute endurance piece around the marina, we always pat each other on the back, as we're desperately catching our breath.

We run miles together, we stretch together, we sweat together, we brunch together, we clean dirty boats together, we spot each other on the pull up bars, we celebrate (obscenely) after every win or loss... unity is always with us.



Dragonboat obviously is a no-name sport. There is absolutely no one to impress for doing it. (we know this, because the dragonball-z joke never gets old). So when we paddle and win races, we're really only doing it for each another. But that makes victories so much sweeter.

With that said,
this weekend we went to San Francisco to race in the annual College championships , and we won Gold in Division I!!!!



Some of the guys on the team are alpha-males, always running around shirtless... because they can I guess...result of rocking a sixpack, but this weekend, as we were huddled together, giving speeches in the cold, all of them were bawling tears alongside some of the girls. kawaii.

If I can take away one life lesson from my time with UCLA dboat when I graduate this year, its to love for people all of size, color, shape, or form simply because I'll be a better person for it you know what I mean? As much as a book, a prayer, or a quote can teach you something, the love of a brother is incomparable in influence.

I will wait, patiently. 

Clippers Tickets

The NBA was on fire tonight, Tony Parker with 55 points.... 

As for the Lakers vs Clippers game, I don't know whether to say that the Lakers played a weak first half or that the Clippers played stronger than usual.  Either way, I admit I had some hope at the end of the third quarter, with Al Thornton playing like an excited school girl. 

The Lakers bench just can't be beat. 

And Kobe was Kobe. did he honestly try to shoot from behind the basket... 

side note about Kobe, everyone is hating on his Guitar Hero commerical... I actually love it. The man looks good in pink. As for Michael Phelps.... he needs to stop getting in front of the camera! It drives me nuts!!! He was so bad on SNL right after the Olympics. The bad acting is unbearable! Stay underwater!

Anywhoos. I wanted to post a link to my friends website.
http://www.ckwriter.com/clippers.html

Basically, he has season tickets, and hes put all the games on display so that he could sell the ones hes unable to go to. 
His seats are so close! 

If you buy through me, he will give you a much better deal than what hes selling them for on craigslist. 

November26th, Clippers vs. Nuggets, I need a date! 

I love my new boots.

I admit that I've been lusting after the Frye Campus 14L boots for a long time. Maybe even over 2 years. They don't look that special, but trust me, they are VERY special. And they are expensive too, which is why my mother will beat me when she finds out how much I dished out for them.

100% genuine leather

hand-crafted by apache cowboys,
polished with the teardrops of unicorns,
these are some crazy special boots and I sleep in them every night.

Election 08'

I'm humbled to see this country in tears, with a sense of fulfillment, and hope upon Barack Obama's win over John McCain. Although I voted for McCain, and has been his staunch supporter even when back in March, his campaign was crumbling and his campaign strategists were leaving his side, I'm satisfied and I rejoice that the majority got what they wanted and most importantly, what they deserved. This election trully is historic, electorally speaking, Obama was able to get not only Pennsylvania, but Ohio, AND Florida as well. The Southern support for a democratic candidate has been immense this year, but again, I think Obama's Presidency is something that they not only wanted but that they deserved. Like many of you, I've been all but nerves these past 4 hours, watching election coverage on BBC, CNN, ABC, and listening to KCRW and AM 790 in the car (for Proposition updates). And also like some of you, I went to an "Election Party" to gather with people, to celebrate, and to pray for the future of our country. Like Paul writes to Timothy in Ephesis, I urge you to pray for ALL people, and "2 For kings and all who are in high positions", that they may lead us to live a "peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way".

I am so immensely proud of this country and proud to be one of it, especially during an election like this, where the people spoke, believed, and received.

I am proud to be an Angelino, to live in this city of Los Angeles, where God has called me to love the underpriveledged, the poor, my Latino neighbors, and my black neighbors. For the past four years, I have been a staunch supporter of Republican ideals, conservative ideals, and truth be told, George W. Bush. I've dreamt big global dreams, and prayed for democratization around the world, because while we Americans can peacefully, and patriotically exercise our freedoms, millions of the people around the world, simply cannot. In fact, many people in certain countries absolutely fear elections, because it is a time of violence and death. My prayers continue to go out to people without freedom. But Obama's victory today has given me a humbling reminder, that I must love my neighbor, and that there are many to pray for on American soil.

"This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge ofthe truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4.

God Bless America ya'lls!!!

P.S. Prop 2, makes our chickens and beef more expensive. Not cool. Why do chickens need hotels, they're gonna get the axe anyway.