Untangled

Amazingly, I just finished rewiring our family's entire computer systems! After having a rough half-week of work (4-day weekend ahead!) and the fact that our DSL company can't quickly resolve our on-and-off connection problems, I had the urge to pour my frustration into organizing and fixing everything around me until completion. The horrendous wiring mess that accumulated over the years between our two PCs has always annoyed me and so there was where I began my cleaning crusade. So much for a restful weekend kickoff.

Now I know how Monica Geller ("Friends") feels when something isn't neat or done right. But I admit it IS a satisfying feeling when you can do something constructive with semi-destructive attitude. Imagine how much better our earthly homes would be if we all could do it.

Now and Then

Wow...so much for a "soon" update. But finally have some time to write my blurb for my 4th post-college visit to Cal. (is there something wrong if your weekends are just as busy or busier than the weekdays?)

Like my previous visits, it was soooo GOOD getting to catch-up with friends, and bask in the beautiful campus scenery of Berkeley. While several meet-ups were planned, there were quite a few moments where I would be strolling through campus and I would be blessed to run into an old floormate or classmate who I haven't spoken to in the longest time. I guess that means I'm still young enough...? =)

A few more highlights worth hitting on:

• Having early morning coffee with Carol from IV. I love her heart for developing leadership in the Body of Christ.
  
• Meeting with Christina from CEFC and chatting about college experiences and church times.
  
• Eating dinner and sharing with The Commissioned. Time really seemed to have stopped over those couple hours of fellowship.
  
• Celebrating THREE birthdays that weekend that included a Halloween costume party, a surprise 21-candle burning cake, and playing games with other IV folk.
  
• Crashing at Nathan and Matt's comfortable and equipped bachelor pad.
  
• Eating the good food from Cal's unique restaurants along the south side.
  

As much of a good time I had that weekend, there were some instances when I was asking myself, "What am I doing here? Why am I here?" Not much seemed to have changed during my past visits. Yet this time, it seems everything has somehow changed, and I began to realize that there is not a whole lot left for me in Berkeley now. New generations of bright students enter this college everyday, eager to learn, be challenged, and do many great things. It feels like it's my time to let them have theirs. I still love the learning, relationships and atmosphere the university brought me for the three years I attended, and I will certainly miss it. As it is very much like earth, it's just another special place to pass through to reach where God is calling me to go. And thankfully, all the memories of the people and places along the way are here to stay for the long haul.

Mummied-Up

When was the last time there has been a decorated Google logo?? Regardless, it is good to see these clever works of art come back to the searching world. =)





HAPPY HALLOWEEN, EVERYONE!!!

Check back soon for my update of my visit to Berkeley this past weekend.

"Where a Kid Can Be A...Adult?"

I just had the best lunch break of my current tenure at the City of LA. =)

Rita, one of our co-workers, is transferring to another division and like anyone who is leaving, our division was thinking of the usual lunch at a fancy restaurant filled with farewell speeches and other sappy and repetitive talk. However, she decided to break the norm and send us back to our roots of good times: CHUCK E' CHEESE!!!! Pizza, soda, and about $5 worth of tokens pretty much gave everyone the time of their lives. It was a sight to see: senior engineers making the highest basketball scores, technicians rolling ski balls, and other engineers shootin' it up w/ arcade guns like they were cowboys (or had a bone to pick with office life...). Everyone came back to the office in the happiest mood I have seen.

Place to go when I transfer: Dave & Busters

Trippin', Man!

So for the past week, I have been getting this knack of tripping over things here and there. I am usually not one to fall a lot, mind you. In fact, when it comes to nature hikes and traveling through the wildlife, I'm the nice guy who helps others get through tricky terrain.

But last Saturday, I was going to Costco to pick up pizzas for our church's Mission's International dinner and I tripped over a parking curb while leaving my truck. A similar thing happened the next morning after choir singing while heading up some stairs to service. And finally, a couple nights ago, I woke myself up when making a midnight stop to the bathroom and stumbling over my cat.

If this keeps up, I might end up like this guy [in the pic]. Then there will be a big mess to clean up.

Berkeley Redux (?)

You know you have just been through a Berkeley-like exam when you skip the first four questions and there are four questions on the exam.

[Sigh] Just gotta live and learn. Like everything else.

Speaking of which, only 4 more days until I head up to Cal to chillax...without the exams, of course. =)

Chris Tomlin - "See the Morning"

I attended my first Christian concert tonight and I really had a good time. I carpooled with Jesse and Tammy and we made some pretty good catch-up whilst going through the crowded Sunday LA traffic to Gibson Amphitheater in Universal Citywalk (yeah...I didn't know they had one there), meeting with several others from our church. An up-and-coming Christian rock band called Trading Yesterday opened the evening with songs of personal reflection that had an Evanescence-edge to it (not surprising, since a former band member started the aforementioned group). Soon afterwards, Chris Tomlin came onto stage and led the thousands of people into worship with some of his songs. I was a bit apprehensive at first due to the possibility of the fine line between worshiping and performing becoming blurred. However, Tomlin and his band really made it clear through the introduction and explanation of his songs through Scripture that this time was all for the One and Only above us. Kudos to CT for turning the place and its audience to be "made to worship".