BTPC: Week 9

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 in comics, fbcc, work | No comments

Monday, March 31, 2008.  Rick’s gone for Dr. Barber’s bachelor party.  He was really hoping Sammy would come, but predicted correctly that he’d back out.  So the three other people know each other for a long time, and Rick only knows Dr. Barber.  Elderine is sick, and definitely Janet is as well.  I had two new patients, but Sally informed us that one of them had a shoelace around her neck and the 1:1 didn’t seem too concerned.  We had an Asian Indian guy, which is unusual.  This guy finally left; he looked happy.  After lunch, Elderine supervised as I admininstered a safety evaluation to a Spanish speaker (with the help of a translator).  The rest of the day was paperwork: picking up five printed brochures (thanks, Christi!), write-ups.  I left at 5 pm and called Phoebe (Linton, Hannah, and her played scrabble Saturday night).  Then I worked on my activity analysis until 11:30 pm.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008.  It was an…exciting self-care group this morning.  One of our longer-term patients was very cute, complimenting Elderine on her apparent weight loss.  She also apologized for putting her hand in the vaseline (we usually dispense into a cup using a craft/popsicle stick since it’s public usage).  She sort of emulated a new patient who was manic and I called for help.  She didn’t hit me, but she charged into the room, actually nonintentionally flinging the pen hanging from my neck across the room.  Victor had to take her out.  He later said that if Rick was there, he’d just let her be (since I didn’t want her there since she wasn’t evaluated yet).  Elderine explained the implications it would’ve had if someone did indeed get hurt, and she wasn’t evaluated.  I’ll go by the rules.  I played Rummy with a patient until task group started, which she attended.  I met with a patient for reality orientation, and he actually filled out the two worksheets.  I was more impressed by what he knew (I thought he really didn’t know anything); he knew about Obama and Hilary Clinton.  I picked up seven brochures from downstairs (thanks, Jessica!).  I finally called the translator to help me evaluate a Spanish-speaking-but-can-understand/listen-English patient.  And I might as well do a quick re-evaluation with another Spanish-speaking patient (she’s lonely because no one really speaks Spanish :’( boo).  I had a talk with the psych tech Michael Castro while waiting for a patient to come out of the shower.  Get Fuzzy had a funny combo going:  Simon and Garfield :-D

Wednesday, April 2, 2008.  Rick is back, with lots to do.  He demonstrated administering the KELS (which I read three Mondays ago) with one of our patients.  After lunch I did two evaluations I had deferred from before.  We had a family meeting from 2:30 to 3:30 pm.  The new patient was still quite manic and was intrusive with the family so I played Pitty Pat with her (she sort of taught me - didn’t seem all that fun to me).  Someone had a foul odor from her mouth so I asked her to brush her teeth, which she did well.  I wonder why she has halitosis, then.  At night, FBCC had our Ladies Group.  Interesting conversations ensued afterwards:  wanting to pop breasts (like Fergie jiggled hers), eating Cocoa-Dusted Almonds by Harrods when Jessie’s coworker went to London, checking out tickets from StubHub (recommended by Carolyn Lee).

Thursday, April 3, 2008.  During rounds, I stayed a bit to hear Dr. Barber ask the medical students some questions.  Did you know?  Those diagnosed with schizophrenia die two decades before the general population secondary to suicide and other self-harm (e.g. neglect of self-care).  We had ice cream floats and cake at 11 this morning for Doctors’ Appreciation Day.  Afterwards we had a family meeting with a mother and sister, and I felt really bad for them because you can tell they care deeply for the patient but that they were frazzled and didn’t know what else to do.  We don’t quite know either, but we did know that this is not yet his baseline.  All I could give them was a NAMI Family-to-Family information, to maybe help with their emotions with dealing with all this relapse, and maybe get some financial assistance.  After lunch I performed a KELS with supervision from Rick.  After work I went to Hobby Lobby to buy some supplies for doing my activity analysis.  I also went next door to Sports Authority to buy a beach ball (to test if using a dry-erase marker will wipe off).  

Friday, April 4, 2008.  I reported on the KELS in rounds as instructed by Rick (since we OT usually don’t participate in rounds on Fridays) then left.  At first I thought Team B had 4 new evaluations, but that would total 11, so just 3.  After lunch, I found out that actually the third one was Team C since the doctor written down was Dr. Coverdale.  Thus instead I performed the KELS on one of the patients.  His records came over from HCPC and I wanted to go through it but really I didn’t have the time; Sonja said it might help me with writing up the KELS, though.  Since I had so many evaluations, Rick was nice and did bingo in the afternoon so I would have more time to write up my paperwork.  I left at 4:45.  Inch called as I was on the bus home.  He asked me if I was available Saturday.  He said that Sarah’s leaning towards staying in Houston, for multiple reasons: her family is in Houston, changing her major from Biblical counseling to Christian Education with a Counseling Certificate to cover/learn more, etc.  I wonder what my hand/finger size is.  I read Siwei’s new blog, and went to this website:  yujawang.com.  She’s a pretty, girly, talented, young pianist :-)

2007 Oscar nominated shorts

Monday, May 12, 2008 in God, homelessness, news, romance, travel, women | No comments

The nominated Live Action Shorts:

The nominated Animated Shorts:

Houston’s Art Car curator dies in post-parade accident

Monday, May 12, 2008 in news | No comments

I didn’t go see the parade, but this sure is a sad ending to the event:

May 12, 2008, 5:42AM
© 2008 The Associated Press

HOUSTON — Houston police have arrested a driver after a wreck in which the curator of the famed Art Car Museum was struck — and later died.

Authorities say the accident that killed 51-year-old Tom Jones happened just hours after the 21st annual design-and-decorate-a-crazy-car parade had ended.

Officials say Jones had been sitting with a couple of friends outside the museum when a vehicle early yesterday hit a parked car and then smashed into them.

Jones later died.

Police are trying to determine if the driver was intoxicated. Charges are pending.

On the Net :  http://www.artcarmuseum.com

Pangea Day

Saturday, May 10, 2008 in God, comics, hannah, holiday, homelessness, mental, news, quotes, romance, songs, travel, women | No comments

I caught the last 2 of 4 hours (see below) of Pangea Day (thanks, Hannah, for figuring out our time zone’s period: 1-5 pm).  Pangea Day is really a wish come true for founder Jehane Noujaim, who won the 2006 TED Award.  You can watch the rest on the site.

Segment 07:  Us/Them  (continuation)

  • Film: Stille Post (Telephone Game), directed by Oliver Rauch.  Children pass a secret message along in a familiar childhood game — but their classmate doesn’t realize the message is at his expense.
  • Film: Operation Homecoming: Road Work, directed by Richard E. Robbins.  “War is a passage — whether you live or you die.”
  • Iranian underground indie rockers Hypernova jam out.
  • Film: Sili (The Slap).  A soldier, a young woman, a colonel, and an old woman board a train. Nobody, save one of them, can explain what happens next.
  • We Feel Fine, by Jonathan Harris.  The artist and computer scientist makes online art that captures the world’s expression – to show off a world that resonates with shared emotions, concerns, problems, triumphs, and troubles.  “Whether you’re a billionaire or a refugee, a prisoner or a president, you have feelings,” Harris says. And his website “harvests” feelings from the Web. A sample of how people are feeling right now: “I feel like a hack… I feel I could be doing more… I just want to feel alive for the first time in my life… I feel so much of my Dad in me–that there isn’t room for me.”
  • Film: Meninos (Boys), directed by Ernesto Molinero.  Boys in a Brazilian school deal with the daily trials of childhood — and emerge better friends.

Segment 08: Fear

  • What are your fears?
  • Ishmael Beah.  A former child soldier speaks out on violence and healing.  A simple life was transformed by violence when Ishmael Beah was recruited, at age 13, to fight as a child soldier.
    “We have a repsonbility to expose ourselves to our world, to see our common humanity, tolearn about other people — not only in times of war, but in times of peace.”
  • Film: Inja (Dog), directed by Steve Pasvolsky.  In South Africa, a long-brutalized dog comes between a white landowner and his young black farmhand.

Segment 09: Anger

  • What makes you angry?
  • Rwandan singer-songwriter Jean-Paul Samputu is a cultural ambassador — bringing traditional African singing, dancing and drumming, and a message of peace, hope and reconciliation, to the world.
  • Eboo Patel on perceptions of race; overcoming bias, and stereotype.  William Stafford said, “If you don’t know the kind of person I am / and I don’t know the kind of person you are / a pattern that others made may prevail in the world.”  Patel says, “It’s time for a pattern of pluralism to prevail over the pattern of fear.”

Segment 10: Laughter

  • What gives you joy and makes you laugh?
  • Film: Laughter Club, by Neil Davenport.  People around the world are gathering in Laughter Clubs — to share one of the most profound human universals.
  • A Global Laugh: Dr. Kataria leads the world in laughter, with actress Goldie Hawn.
  • Soaring, heartfelt songs from Rokia Traore.  This Malian singer blends the traditions of her Bamana heritage with a modern singer-songwriter’s approach to music-making. Her smooth vocals mix with the soulful sounds of traditional instruments to create intoxicating music. 

Segment 11: Reconciliation

  • Pangea Day founder Jehane Noujaim!
  • H.M. Queen Noor of Jordan.  A message of unity; stories that span civilizations. 
  • Film: Encounter Point, directed by Ronit Avni and Julia Bacha. 
  • Bereaved Families Forum:  Robi Damelin and Ali Abu Awwad.  ““I lost my brother, I lived all my life in refugee camps, I gave up the vast majority of my dreams, but I have not lost my mind. The Jews are not my enemies. Your enemy is your fear.”
  • Combatants for Peace, directed by Jehane Noujaim.  The film tells us stories of soldiers who gave up fighting when they realized they were fighting against civilians, and not against any kind of evil. Ex-combatants from both sides, Palestinians and Israelis, decided to fight for peace rather than fight for the cause of one of the sides. “We have to learn to use our pain for peace. We must put an end to this war. We have a partnership for peace. We need to live in peace.”
  • Yonathan Shapira and Bassam Aramin take the stage in London — where, sadly, the words that Shapira had prepared for this day are overcome by tragic news.
  • Music from Dave Stewart — with surprise guest Nadirah X.
  • Karen Armstrong.  Live from London: a religious scholar with a message of tolerance and compassion.  This scholar and writer is a provocative, original thinker on the role of religion in the modern world.  She is leveraging her 2008 Ted Prize to build a Charter for Compassion, a UN-like forum where religious leaders can work together for peace.  “The human mission is to build a global community. All of us have to engage in it. We have to engage in the golden rule which applies to all religions….Every single one of the world’s major faiths believes that it is not sufficient to just extend your compassion to those in your own group; you must take it to out to others as well.”

Segment 12: Closing

  • Film: L’Homme Sans Tete (The Man Without a Head), directed by Juan Solanas.  The man without a head will meet his true love tonight. For this occasion, he shall buy a head.
  • Join the Global Drumbeat 

Bible: James 1:1-6

Friday, May 9, 2008 in God, fbcc, verse | No comments

I went to WaMu to set up an account with them (they’re so much better, with FREE online bill pay, etc.) so that I could start paying back my UTEP Perkins Loan.  For dinner I met up with Christina Tam at Japaneiro.  She told me how some of the teachers, since the principal decided to retire after about 9 years, serenaded him with “Wind Beneath My Wings” LOL.  Afterwards we took a walk around Sugar Land Town Center then headed off to Bible study.  By the end of the night, Branden, Jeffy, Howard Chiu, Jason Chow, Joe Chen, DeHorne, Janet Poon, Charlene Tanhehco, Elizabeth Wong (with her freshly cut hair), and Jamie Fong were there.  Jessie Tan and her boyfriend (who’s name I currently forgot) brought shrimp chips and the Good Humor Ice Cream Variety Pack (drumsticks, ice cream sandwiches, and bars - interesting that it says “not a low fat food” but then the front says “50% less fat from regular ice cream”).  I ate the sundae cone and the sandwich, yum!  My cellphone fell out of my back pocket onto the sofa so Daniel Shen brought it back to my house.  Andrew Fong led the study, following Rick Warren’s guide on James:

How to Profit from your Problems

CONNECT:  Why are you here [at Bible study]?  To be encouraged, to be held accountable in weekly study of the Word, to better our “technique” in studying the Word, to grow - in community.

GROW

  • “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.”  James didn’t brag that he was the half-brother (son of Mary and Joseph) of Jesus but instead emphasized that he was a disciple same as everyone else.
  • Problems: 
    (1) inevitable (it’s “when” not “if”), 
    (2) unpredictable (”face/fall into”, suddenly), and
    (3) variable (”many kinds”, in duration, in shades of colors), and (4) purposeful (”develops”, produces).
  • Purposes: 
    (1) purifies my faith (”Women are like teabags. We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water!” Eleanor Roosevelt),
    (2) fortifies my patience (endurance, staying power), and
    (3) sanctifies my character (mature, like Jesus) through the Word and through life circumstances.
  • Handling: 
    (1) rejoice in (not “for”) the problems (not masochism, not divorce from reality, not martyr complex, I Thessalonians 5:16-18) because “we know“,
    (2) request/pray for wisdom to learn (otherwise God’s going to send us on another “desert lap”), and
    (3) relax (verse 6)
  • Why does Jesus ask us to consider it pure joy when we face trials?  It’s inevitable, so you might as well make it a choice to be joyful in them rather than miserable in them.  Do not deny but seek joy in God, knowing He has a purpose/plan and is in control.  Trials is the first step in the process, pressing on towards maturity/completion/perfectism/prize.  Pure joy can’t be marred by circumstances.  I Peter 5:10-11 says we He will restore us and we will bring Him glory.
  • In handling problems, which of the three is hardest for you?  Relaxing is hard because we are wired with a f(l)ight mechanism, our instinct is to do something about it.  Rejoicing is hard because circumstances are hard and it’s hard to see beyond that.  “It Is Well with My Soul“
  • What does James tell us to do when we find ourselves in circumstances that don’t make sense?  If we don’t know what to do, we lack wisdom, so ask - for wisdom.  He will not punish us for asking.  We are not to be passive but to participate in His process.

SERVE

  • Read II Corinthians 1:3-7.  How has difficulties in life prepared you in service to others?  Encourage another that s/he is not alone, not weird.  Maybe you’re going through something not for yourself only but also for another, someone who will be needing it even more.
  • How has God comforted you?  And how has that been used to comfort another?  Even with a PVC, her surgery went well. 

SHARE with nonbelievers

  • How can a life of problems open doors for evangelism?  They’re able to relate and know that Christians suffer problems the same as nonbelievers.  You can show them the other way of handling it, of using God’s wisdom.  The witness is in the approach, not “if” problems come. 
  • In the five arenas (Family, Fun, Factory/Firm, Fellowship, and Friends), where can you start witnessing?

Walking

Tuesday, May 6, 2008 in God, bro, dad, holiday, mom, romance, stafford, verse | No comments

Last Monday, we had gone to the “park” (Brooks Lake) near Fluor for the first time.  We saw two guys with their truck fishing for catfish!  I also expressed my desire to be back for House, M.D., so I drove there, quickly walked to the end when it reached a road, then returned.  I didn’t drive particularly superfast, but we were right on time (even my dad was surprised).  It’s definitely closer (and quicker) than going to Oyster/Lost Creek Park.

Yesterday afternoon, my parents and I went a second time.  As we started, the wind was a higher chill factor than I anticipated, so I turned around and grabbed my jacket.  It’s also probably why there weren’t any mosquitoes as I had though (since it had rained earlier in the day and I tend to get bit, I sprayed repellant but my parents declined).  We went all the way to the end, where the trail ends.  We saw more people this time (a guy on a bike, another guy on a bike with a dog, a woman with a dog.  We also saw a large black vulture-like (to me haha) bird picking at something in the water at the edge of the lake.  At first I just thought it was cloth or plastic (i.e. litter).  On approach, I saw scales and fins.  Uh, I think it was a catfish, although I never saw the head, which is was made me feel on edge.  There were two families of ducks: one mom with nine teenage ducks and another with six elementary-age ducks.  I went to check out the cross with many Bible verses on it (I Corinthians 9:19, 22-23; I Peter 3:15; II Corinthians 5:11; Colossians 4:2-6; John 3:16; John 14:6; Matthew 5:16; I Peter 4:8; II John 1:6; Matthew 28:18-21; Psalm 139:17-18; Zephaniah 3:17; II Chronicles 16:9; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Ephesians 5:1-2; Acts 2:42-47; Proverbs 27:17; and Acts 4:32-35).  Then we headed back. 

Mom wanted to go down Fluor Daniel, so we turned onto the bridge but then turned left (straight would take us into the engineering complex).  We passed some new gated communities, and Dad asked if I wanted to check out the Open House (they’ve done so before).  So I turned in (I always like to observe anything art-related, and that includes arthitecture and interior design).  This took another hour.  These houses are big (with arched large heavy wooden-looking doors like in castles) and fancy (one unfinished one even had a dome and inside balcony - the one that sort of reminds me of Romeo talking up to Juliet or Rapunzel having to let down her hair).  There’s not much outdoors space, though, for gardening or anything like that.  We only saw one sold (they already had two of their fancy sporty cars parked in the garage).  I took pictures.

We finally left for home (my mom was quite tired, and I have to admit I was winded) at 5 pm and ate leftovers (shiaw goo-goo’s family’s leftovers of tender beef chunks).  I watched The Big Bang Theory (I simply love how Sheldon talks - of course not as my S.O. and it would probably get old/frustrating as a friend after awhile that he just doesn’t see things like we do, and vice versa), House, M.D., and CSI while doing the Sudoku and Jumble (gave up and used my handy-dandy dictionary at the end) in the Houston Chronicle newspaper.  Then off I went to bed, hoping to get into the groove of a more regular sleep pattern (instead of insomnia up until 3 am).

This early evening, we just went walking in the neighborhood.  I had another hairdo today, haha.  It reminded me of in the past where they really stack the hair up high atop the head.  I didn’t spray bug repellant, and I paid for it around both my knees (I knew it, since the weather is nicer than yesterday’s).  We checked out some of the custom homes, went by Andrew’s (not mine) former piano teacher’s house, and made a stop at the playground.  My dad called it the “castle,” and I had forgotten about that old nickname.  When we were kids, the playground was actually made entirely of wood (except some parts that is typically metal, such as the chains on the swings and the handle and glider of the sliding mechanism).  Practically all parts were connected, save the sandbox in the middle of the area.  Oh, how I loved to crawl through the tunnels on the bottom! and go through all the arches and teeny one-person “rooms”.  I really liked the sliding mechanism, they had a practice-your-balance beam, and there were a lot more swings (that were accessible to us kids). 

Due to safety restrictions and precautions, now everything is made of plastic, and any metal is covered in plastic (which is a good thing, like on the swings).  The sandbox is still there, as well as the baseball field in the back (right next to the Dulles track, but with a fence of course), the sand volleyball court (not very well kept, though), and the pool (popular in the neighborhood).  Everything on the playground is much more open (I guess so guardians can see their child at all times - including slides that aren’t completely cylinders) but also with less options to have fun with.  There’s an area for toddlers, and then an area for older children.  The playground equipments take up much less space.  They do try to include all of the old things, like a tire swing (much smaller, doesn’t look like a real tire as much - I think they covered it with plastic for safety as well) and swings (thank goodness - although they are so high all three of us had trouble getting on and starting). 

As I watch and read more news (and television series related to law enforcement), my heart sinks at how dangerous this society seems to be getting.  I don’t know, since I never lived back then, but did we have to be so cautious in earlier years?  Or because of more awareness we are taking more steps, and thus we can’t assume better things from people (instead always suspicious of others).  And yet, we really can’t prevent everything, because we are going to become at least acquaintances with our coworkers, neighbors, and meet new people and thus assume trust and thus build a new relationships.  That’s the beauty of moving and meeting new people.  You’re trying to change for the better, and so the new people don’t know your old self and can forgive you a couple more times than your old acquaintances, or they won’t hold back due to an old grudge that is past its expiration.  Just rambling…no spectacular closing statement….

Wanton and egg-drop

Sunday, May 4, 2008 in God, phoebe, romance, women | No comments

“That sounds dirty for some reason,” said Phoebe.

Since David’s in town to attend Sophia Hong and Calvin?’s wedding yesterday, we met up today before he left.  Linton drove down from church with Phoebe to pick me up from my house to meet him at Star Snow Ice near the intersection of Dulles and Highway 6.  We spent about two hours there (2-4 pm), chatting and eating/drinking.  Linton, as always, paid for us all.  He got a orange float?, Phoebe got a milktea with the pearls, David got ?, and I got ice topped with grass jelly, taro chunks, the green beans, and the red beans.  David asked what taro was, and Linton said they were like potatoes.  David made a face.  LOL, I never realized how nasty it must sound to him and others who don’t usually eat this.  I mean come on, potatoes, grass?, and beans atop shaved ice? 

Well, the main topic of discussion really wasn’t about food.  It was about masturbation.  For those of you who know Linton, and those of you who know David, and to see them together interacting on the topic, you know what I’m talking about.  Indescribable.  I wouldn’t be too uncomfortable discussing the topic candidly except that we were in that…public place.  Linton, in his normal-volume (which is usually slightly louder than most of the people I hang with) voice, said that he doesn’t find masturbation wrong as long as it’s for release (it’s healthy) and not for lust.  I didn’t hear that last part, and I asked what about other things that give the self pleasure.  At that moment, David thrust his drink away and said, “Sin!” in a high-pitched tone of voice.  Of course, they started giving scenarios.  David said that he’d start judging everyone who eats ice cream, pizza, and the like (keep in mind David adores pizza, it’s his favorite food group).  Linton went off of that, saying that David would bar a waitress from delivering a large pizza, it would fall on the tile, and then David would literally break down and start scarfing down the pizza right then and there.  David added that he’d take only breathing breaks to say “Forgive me, Father, for I know not what I do” and demonstrated by wiping his lips with his arm as if it were occurring at that moment.  Linton then linked more to YMCA (which I didn’t understand since I didn’t watch the same TV that they did while growing up) and apparently the commercial had men (e.g. a construction man) who people suspected were homosexual.  He found it more hilarious than he anticipated, and got up and laughed a good hearty Linton laugh.  And much much more….

Linton helped David with his tire pressure (the one with the two nails stuck in it) and added some gasoline as well.  Phoebe and I rode in the bed of David’s truck for barely any distance, but of course it was still somewhat exciting.  Phoebe said it reminds her of the first time she did it, on the back of VincentTao’s truck, while on ___ (a highway in Austin which is apparently not recommended).  There was a lone lovebug (versus the usual two connected) and Linton exclaimed, “He’s masturbating!”  Linton helped Phoebe down from the bed of the truck (and he offered to help me as well, but I just helped myself).  It looked like he was encouraging her to “jump into my arms” literally, like in figure skating, like in a fairy-tale ending LOL.  They they started elaborating, saying that Linton will also try to maybe “practice” kissing by blowing them, and then Phoebe will avoid them like Neo avoided bullets in The Matrix.  One will hit her leg, and she’s say, “Oh, it burns, it’s like fire.”  Never a dull moment void of imagination with these two guys, my favorite guys besides my dad and brother, teehee!

Hm, I don’t think I was much company this afternoon, but thank God these are my closest friends and they understand.  By the time I got home, I didn’t think there was a point to try to play basketball or football (I was in one of my…moods and decided to keep moping).  Instead, I watched a lot of television:  Psych, L&O:SVU, Dead Like Me (my brother likes this show, but I feel the protagonist is a bit whiny), and Without a Trace.  And time flies, it’s midnight.

Dragon boat racing

Saturday, May 3, 2008 in bro, fbcc, hcc, mom, whcc | No comments

This morning my dad went with shiaw goo-goo to Austin (they stayed with my brother) with shiaw goo-goo’s friend.  I could’ve joined/supported the NAMI Walk, but instead I drove to Jacky’s apartment to carpool to .  Jocelyn, JT, and Ted were already waiting.  He asked if I could drive since I was the only one with a four-door car.  Jacky sat in the passenger seat, JT sat on the right, Jocelyn sat in the middle, and Ted sat on the left.  We got lost briefly trying to find the Metro station, where we have permission and a permit to park for volunteering.  We waited for Jacky’s co-worker Andy? then headed towards the area (man, I forgot to take a picture of the metal see-through sign over the desolate grass area).  We passed an African-American with dreadlocks who was walking and also another man who was napping under the bridge but when he saw us (we were trying to take a picture of a family of ducks) he sat up and put on a shirt. 

After registration and getting our Tshirts, we were put to work doing random setup.  Jocelyn and I stuck together for the most part, trying to adjust/move the stage, transporting supplies to the media/vip area, transporting water.  The water was initially kept in this rundown building which had cool detached drawings of buildings on the white walls with black paint (I took pictures).  Shane Chen (a female), Jacky’s coworker who invited him and thus us to volunteer at this event, gave us special treatment.  We also got Astros tickets (unfortunately they gave us entrance to tomorrow’s and not Tuesday’s game), baby sunscreen, water, vegetable buns for breakfast (I know, sounds nasty in English), and overall better volunteering jobs than the other volunteers I think. 

We went walking around to the tents so that Jocelyn could say hello to Winston and Myrtle.  Myrtle is on the Houston Heat, as is Ying Yeung, my old piano teacher’s older daughter.  She says later I’ll probably see her dad since he’s coming as well.  Other people who I also ended up seeing were Jasmine and Annie from BASIC, John Hsieh (who gave me a large bottle of grean tea with lemon as well as a bbq pork bun), Rean, Christine Fung, and Susan Zhang.  Lol, Jocelyn ended up having to paddle for Lee High School.  I was pulled for Silver Eagle Distributors “Team Bud Light” because I was told one paddler had austism and had changed her mind, but the boat had already gone ahead so I didn’t have to.  I eventually ended up being the runner, meaning I would have to call the teams from wherever they were (usually at their assigned area under the bridge/tent) to get in line for their turn.  

On one trip of mine, I saw Robert C staying a little off from the crowd, on the sidewalk not close to the water’s edge, watching the race.  I went over and said hi, but he had this confused look on his face.  Not until he said, “You got a haircut” did I realize he probably didn’t initially recognize me.  We chatted, each telling the other why we were here.  He said that Joanne (or Joanna? and I forgot her last name, met on the football field, remet more firmly at David Zhao’s Chinese New Year party) had asked him to help out.  The RUCAA (Rice University Chinese Alumni Association) team consists of some current students and alumni, Joanne being one of them.  Another alumni, whom Robert introduced me to, is Ben Chu.  We both comment that each looks familiar to the other, but we have no idea how.  He graduated from Rice in 1995.  When I asked them if they were ready, Robert came up to me and said that actually they need 7 more paddlers.  I wasn’t sure if they’d be able to participate or be disqualified.  By the time they got their bracelets (they also forgot to register) to enter into the filtered area where current teams can be (and appropriate volunteers), they somehow could.  Turned out that they grabbed Jasmine, Annie, and John, and also roped in three Rice freshmen they had spotted.  One freshman came simply to watch her mom participate with the El Paso (Corporate?) Group, but now she has her own team to cheer on.

The guys (JT, Ted, Jacky, and Denver) were assigned to be dock helpers.  However, they are in a restricted area (and understandably so, because the people in charge don’t want that area clogged).  The girls are all running around as volunteers and as visitors.  Since Robert generally has an area he keeps going back to, I kept going back there to chat in between my runs.  It made my day, because he also asked me if I wanted some of their food (they were grilling hotdogs, sausages and hamburger patties on a metal portable enclosure) and man did I ever.  He went and grabbed me a hot dog in a bun (Vickie pointed this out to be that this is above and beyond simply asking if I wanted to eat) and asked if I also wanted ketchup and mustard, which I didn’t want him to go through THAT much trouble so I shook my heard (I was really hungry anyway).  I also ran out of the two bottles of water I had brought so I grabbed their paper cup and drank some from theirs as well (which I’m sure they desperately needed since they were rowing!). 

He’s an easy guy to talk with, and always with that big grin and easygoing attitude (with a humorous streak - saying I should wear my cap this other way, which I thought was true until he jk’d).  Some of the things I picked up:  He is going to finally graduate from residency in…2013.  I think he said he’d be 32 or something by that time.  He definitely never looks tired, though (good time management, eh?).  His family is in Louisiana, but they will probably move since they don’t really like it there.  He wants to go to Boston, but that is unlikely since there is more supply than demand with physicians.  He says there are three-digit-number of universities churning out medical graduates and a lot of people want to stay in the area.  His dream is to start a private practice, probably in San Diego, with two of his friends (who are specializing in oncology and radiation).  If his parents want his house, he’ll let them have it.  Otherwise, he’ll rent out his house.  OH yeah, and he remembered I was studying OT.  Wow.  The jokester again, saying that I should actually sell the projects (crafts) that the patients make during our Task Group in order to make more money.

When we were off the hook (we got to eat some of their food, but they also asked the guy to stay longer to help move the drums), we checked out some of the booths.  Jocelyn took me to the Wheel of Fortune put on by Western Union.  You could tell the staff wasn’t too thrilled to be there, just giving us their advertisements (and of course the prize I got from turning the wheel).  We passed one selling beautiful purses, and parasols, and even a tarot reading tent.  She also showed me where I could get my Chiense name written in calligraphy.  I got one for myself, and then when I commented that my mom would like it, she told me I could ask the man to write my mom’s name as well, which he did.  They were written on Beijing Olympics bookmarks.  Jocleyn is quite the social butterfly, taking photographs and contact information with all the people she met (e.g. the teacher who helped with Lee High School).  I also stood by as she talked with Caroline Long (the emcee and co-founder of the races).  Caroline said that initally they hired an emcee just like they hired the DJ.  However, something happened, so she ended up doing–and better.  She would go interview everyone while the hired would sort of just watch because s/he didn’t know anyone. 

Our last stop, right after grabbing extra white 8th Annual T-shirts as given permission by Joanne and Robert (Jacky was desperate for one), we “ordered” not food but some balloon sculptures from Smilez 4 Kids (they also paint faces).  As they were making them (the guys got them for their girlfriends), I started chitchatting with the one closest to me.  Turns out this grey-haired man is a missionary all over the world.  The younger people (like our age) standing behind him are two of his eight? children.  The guy was born in Germany? and the female making my penguin (as requested by Tedman, who personally got a Tigger tiger) was born in Italy.  This is their fundraiser.  Wow.

Hm…seems like I did a lot more.  I guess all that running, noise, losing my neon-yellow Airshow cap, pictures with newsreporters (just Greensheet - look for the June edition), and sunshine really did me in.  But with how things turned out, I am overall very happy.  Check out the link in http://www.buffalobayou.org/dragonboat.html for the official website, where you can click to Channel 13’s reporting with pictures and videos as well as the results (Continental Airlines reclaimed their champion title since 2004, 2003, and 2002) and especially how to volunteer for October’s Regatta ;-).

In the afternoon, I could’ve participated in Hector’s Cinco de Mayo cookout, but I was way too tired.  I took a nap (from 3 to 5 pm) then got up to eat dinner while watching Coyote Ugly on TV.  Turns out my mom went to the same Chinese singer concert as Jocelyn did (must be since she said something to that extent and was asking for directions to the front of the Reliant Stadium).  I also called Inch, Nathan Kim, who referred me to Chris Sun, and Henry (who asked Charles and Elliot who he was watching a movie with) if they wanted to go to the Astros game tomorrow.  Inch says he and Sarah Kim won’t be going because church conflicts (as I suspected).  Nathan is at a ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) conference.  Chris says he “probably won’t be going” and I didn’t press for a reason.  Henry gave generally the same answer, as did Charles, but Elliot said maybe.  We’ll see.

Prayer meeting

Friday, May 2, 2008 in God, phoebe, romance, verse, vickie, whcc | No comments

Jonathan wanted to have a prayer meeting so first we went to Yantze to eat.  Since my haircut Tuesday evening, I hadn’t really done anything to my hair because I didn’t want to bother with it.  I didn’t leave the house.  But I showered and worked on my hair with my Dad’s hairgel for a longer while than usual.  I got to the restaurant a bit early, planning to read a bit of the book Rebecca lent me.  However, I saw Steve Mar go inside so I went in as well to chat.  He told me about his credit cars, complimented me on my new haircut, told me about his haircuts, talked about enjoying blobbing (like a seesaw and jumping on so the other person flips up almost as high as the platform and then back into the water), etc.  Linton and Phoebe showed up and complimented me on the haircut.  I told Phoebe about the book Rebecca had lent me (that I hadn’t really started reading). 

Then Chris, Jing, James, Jonathan, Peter Lee, and Perry came.  The guys ordered family style (the 12-person combo wasn’t a deal).  Phoebe ordered hollow-heart vegetable (go, Phoebe! hehe).  Linton felt compelled to clean all the dishes, as always.  Jonathan introduced Perry, who they had met on Meta retreat.  Perry grew up in Portland, Oregon, and went to OSU for EE but then moved down here for his job (and doesn’t really know anyone).  We went around saying where we graduated from, where/when our job, and what our favorite food is.  Steve said Mexican, I said Chinese, Phoebe said curry, Linton said BBQ and anything cheap, James said ?, Chris said Chinese, Jing said steak, Peter said ?, Jonathan said spaghetti, and Perry said ?.  Michael and Eveline came later.  Jonathan’s really stepping up!

Outside, we took a group picture with Linton’s camera.  He said he would upload it (which I interpreted as onto facebook because the others were talking about facebook), so I asked him to email it to me (but the way he nodded I think he was thinking, I just said I would, so I guess he meant he would upload it onto his computer and subsequently email it to us).  Then, we dispersed to go to our cars to go to James’s apartment (I was hearing some guys asking who was driving and who was riding/carpooling).  Linton or James asked me if I knew how to get there, to which I answered not at the top of my head but as always will use the dependable GPS to direct me as in the past that I have gone to James’s place.  James responded with his usual, “Oh no!”  I did not think twice about it until I was going to put my GPS in place and James knocked lightly on the passenger side of my car.  I unlocked the door and he came in, so he could direct me.  I was annoyed because I don’t need anyone to direct me since I’ve already made multiple trips to his place by myself–the only reason anyone would do that is to talk to me (like if Phoebe had sat with me).  And usually that reason is fine–except in this case, because of our past conversations and incidents.  I was too upset (I’d admit it was disproportionate, which bothered made it all the more worse) to really think of how to address it appropriately and delicately (also because I was driving) so I listened as he told me he was starting a three-month-Bible-study-group boot camp.  In essence, with Simon Lee, they’d wake up like at 5 am to exercise before work.  It also involves no junk food for the three months (easy for me), memorizing verses, and….  I don’t know who else is doing it with him.  He can only miss two times or he’s kicked out (to prove his commitment).

We went around talking about our worst/best moment of the week.  We were all pretty vague and lackluster in our answers, until Peter remembered an incident that happened this past Tuesday.  I don’t think Chris would have mentioned it except that Peter brought it up.  Peter had ordered a drink for him, who was enjoying it when around 10 pm the security people started checking IDs around the bar.  Turns out Chris never renewed his driver’s license since January when our licenses expired.  So they literally snatched the glass from his hand and asked him to leave.  Then, he was told Friday mornings are the best times to go to the DPS so that’s what he did, except the line was so long he couldn’t wait without missing work, so he had to leave. 

Then prayer requests were next.  Linton shared that David Kalloor was driving from Austin to Houston right now–with two nails in his truck tire, with Rean in the passenger seat, and with eyes needing glasses (which he has not been prescribed yet).  Phoebe said, “When I think of something, I’ll let you know.”  I asked them to pray for my NBCOTE, although I had a lot of deeper issues that need prayer, but I wasn’t willing to tell this group about it.  But Michael and Peter were, if only but vaguely.  Michael in summary said he needed spiritual renewal.  Peter was even more vague, saying that whatever he had vaguely mentioned at the beginning of the year the situation is still the same.  It’s a “waiting game” that will “need some luck”, and he doesn’t know where he will be six months to a year from now.  Perry said he thought he was meeting up with his girlfriend but something about that didn’t work out, and that he needed time for himself in order to do things.  Chris said he didn’t have anything.  Jing said he’s leaving for Dallas tomorrow to talk with some people about a family and school issue (he went into details).  Jonathan shared about time management.  Steve and then James copied Chris and said they didn’t have anything.  Jonathan also prayed for Eveline (studying for her UH exams), Vickie (finding an apartment), and Braden (regarding his job situation).  I stayed some minutes to watch the Rockets (turns out last) game then left at 10 pm to drop off Phoebe.  Linton and James walked us out to my car.

Blessed Be Your Name

Friday, May 2, 2008 in God, verse, women | No comments

Last night I opened up my Bible for the first time in….almost a year?!  My God.  It was random (Job 1:21), in the room, dark, using my cell phone as my light:

Naked I come from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart. 
The Lord gave
and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.

Amen.

On another note, here’s my bedhead this morning:  http://prayriefayrie.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/05-02-08.jpg