You are currently browsing the monthly archive for February, 2008.
Monday, February 25, 2008. As soon as I walk into the door a new patient asked to shave, so I threw my belongings into the office, stuffed half a banana into my mouth, then evaluated him before self-care group. He had some hyperreligious tendencies (although of course we have to ask the family if this is “normal” - for him). Since it’s Monday, we had the community meeting. During this meeting, almost everyone, including patients and staff, gather in the day area and answer three questions: (1) your name, (2) how your weekend was, and (3) what is your goal for today. I stuffed the remaining half of my banana in my mouth during this time, then reported clumsily to the doctors, etc. during rounds (I didn’t have time to read the notes written by the other therapist, and I’m the person who needs preparation).
A COTA student from the HCC program (Coleman campus) is here this week on a Level 1 Fieldwork experience. It seems they have it harder than us (or when I went to TIRR) because she has to write some progress notes to turn in and satisfy some other objectives. I think I simply had to journal about my experience. I helped with the horseshoes group then finally ate lunch (well, first I ate my “breakfast” peanut butter sandwich). Afterwards, my clinical instructor quizzed the new student on the symptoms of depression, schizophrenia, and bipoloar disorder. Of course, as Jessica Ng had mentioned before, she had never ever heard of SIGECAPS either, thus she struggled to answer. SIGECAPS stands for eight possible symptoms a person can display while suffering from depression: suicidal thoughts, interest level is decreased, guilt feelings that are inappropriate, energy level is decreased, concentration is poor, appetite is poor, psychomotor retardation (slow-moving), and sleep is poor (either trouble falling asleep or trouble staying asleep - atypical depression involves sleeping too much). He also tested her on drugs, but he tested things that weren’t even available in the student manual to study (e.g. the difference between typical and atypical antidepressants, which drug involves drawing blood, etc.). We ran out of time because our next OT group (soft darts) started.
Finally, I got some time to write my progress notes from the groups, but I didn’t finish my paperwork. Usually the other occupational therapist comes a bit later and thus stays later and so I stay later to finish up, but she wasn’t here today and my CI left early so I left with Sally and Janet. It was good, because I was very tired (perhaps because the student is a talker, which she admits). Additionally, I had a headache, felt slightly nauseated, and had a funny feeling in my jaw muscle (one of the bus passengers asked if I was okay). I got home at 5:30, took a nap, ate dinner at 6:45, emailed Phoebe a revised version of the medicine charts I had created to help me study (i.e. add the difference between typical and atypical drugs, etc.), emailed Vickie and Tiffany Lin, then went to bed at 10.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008. We had self-care group this morning, then I evaluted a new patient and showed her some of the self-care supplies we offer. I attended rounds, observing how the two new medical students interview patients (there are three new medical students). One of the respectful patients wasn’t doing well today, perseverating on a delusion? of a family member not calling him back or helping him. Another patient came up to me and asked how he could get a job. I finally finished writing up my two evaluations and went over my first rough draft of the final project (brochure) with my clinical instructor. In the afternoon, I was supposed to listen to the DARS speaker but instead she couldn’t make it so my CI’s boss spoke on some community resournces (i.e. DARS, volunteering at Ben Taub, etc). I guess it was a last-minute cancellation so she wrote the date wrong and wasn’t very organized. I also got to see Rhonda Moore (Team C social worker) do an intake (sounds like any other interview, i.e. the same questions the medical students ask and the same questions we OT ask).
Wednesday, February 27, 2008. I only had one group today, yay! in the morning (self-care). We had a new patient and his name is sort of funny. For example, pretend his name is Manly Duke, and it reminds me of Duke Man. Okay, well, not the best example but I can’t give out information due to HIPPA. Today is Technician Appreciation Day, so the department went out to eat at Methodist for Tiffani. I bought a gyro (pronounced like “euro”) sandwich ($7.03). When we came back, I showed a bipolar video to a few of the patients. I also did some home instructions for a patient, with his family. They were very supportive, and to me he looked pretty normal at this moment, except that he is in denial. I felt for him, so I shared with them how I was recently diagnosed with MDD and how I am here right now, finishing up my schooling, to let him know that he is not alone and it isn’t always debilitating. When I got home, I worked on my homework (three treatment plans) and also stumbled upon ”Creativity and Depression: Is There a Link?”: http://www.thirdage.com/ebsco/files/25574.html.
Thursday, February 28, 2008. Since the Level 1 Fieldwork COTA student is a fluent Spanish-speaker, Rick suggested that I use that to my advantage and evaluate two new Spanish-speaking patients. Brilliant. One of the patients is so sweet (it seems in African-American culture they’re raised to say “Yes, ma’am” and “No, ma’am” all the time) and recently got some money from family so he was offering to buy the staff food. We declined, so he asked if we would mind helping him buy some stamps and all. When he first came in he didn’t seem very hygienic so my goal for him was in that area, but since he’s leaving soon I went to check on that and he blew me away by how well he did it. Discharges can come on suddenly, as with one of our manic patients this morning before rounds. Today is Janet’s 27th anniversary to Danny! I found it interesting, that at the bus stop, I (an Asian-American) was talking with Sylvia (a Hispanic) and a white woman was talking with a black woman.
When I got my car from the Park & Ride and was about to exit US-59 to Sugar Creek, I heard a beep! and turned to my left to see Linton driving by. I’m sure he was on his way to skiing with the Access peeps (and Chris Sun is leaving to visit his brother in Japan). There were these two boys standing around the intersection of Chesterfield and Country Club, so I took the other way in. Turns out they are currently attending the alternative school and are waiting for their ride home from there. I also saw the same man wearing a mask, sunglasses, and gloves while walking with a stick; he waved so I waved back. I always see him at odd times, so I don’t know if he has a specific walking schedule.
Friday, February 29, 2008. Pretty hectic, especially near the end. We had a vendor speaker today about the Urban League. They sound pretty awesome, even offering free computer classes (to anyone, including us) and helping those who used to be in jail/prison find a job to keep. Rick did an evaulation for me, but then he got me to call Bingo instead (I was hoping to catch up on my notes and other evaluation writeups), haha! I thought he’d do it since I was so behind in discharges (I had to catch a guy while he was going down the elevator with his belongings) and other writeups, but I guess because he had downstairs outpatient work this week as well.
I had dinner with James, Jonathan, and Steve Mar at Yantze Chinese Restaurant (my first time). It looked pretty nice (marble and gold -ish looks) and the food wasn’t too bad (a bit oily) for the price (it was like $5 a person). As we were leaving, Vickie’s brother Johnny was about to start eating with Nick Chu and Mike Tape? I called Christina Tam (sick) and Henry if they wanted to go to BASIC. Henry declined because he’s probably going to hang with his parents since his dad’s birthday is 3/1 and his mom’s birthday is 3/4, although he was honest with me and said that also after that one/only time he went to BASIC he really didn’t want to go back. We talked about Sunday football, and he says that although he won’t be there (parents) his Brazilian friend Gabriel will be there (with a frisbee). Gas at the Walmart off of Beltway 8 was $2.98/gal (I paid $17.29).
I don’t remember when this came up (over the past few weeks), but Jennifer Garcia asked me if I felt that it was worth all that schooling to come to where I am right now. I don’t really want to analyze that because I’m so tired and I don’t see what it would do when I come to that conclusion. Just move forward. I think for me, I’ve learned a lot, but it doesn’t seem worth it because I don’t feel comfortable/satisfied right now. Well, there it goes, I analyzed. *Sigh* I feel so lost. Well, tomorrow I’ll just eat burgers and such while gazing quietly into the water at Joe Chen’s parents’ house, and maybe play Scrabble. I am prepared with my Tide-to-go.
Feb. 29, 2008, 6:54PM | Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
A story everyone can be proud of: When a young Muslim-American stood up for a group of Jews, he became a hero
By Barbara Karkabi
|
Hassan Askari spoke at an Anti-Defamation League board meeting, at the ADL’s Coalition for Mutual Respect’s Clergy Institute and to several middle and high schools during his three-day visit to Houston.
|
Everyone loves a hero — especially a New York City subway hero.
When the Good Samaritan also happens to be a young Muslim man defending four Jewish train riders during the holidays, it’s a cause for celebration.
And since the evening of Dec. 7, Hassan Askari, a slight 20-year-old student who grew up in Bangladesh, has been celebrated.
He has been showered with praise by politicians, including New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He attended President Bush’s State of the Union speech in January as the guest of Congressman Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y. The Anti-Defamation League, an organization that fights anti-Semitism, bigotry and extremism, honored him with its first Stand-Up New Yorker Award.
But the soft-spoken Askari, a native of Dallas, does not believe it has changed his life dramatically. Though he has made at least four new friends.
“I still have to get up and go to school, do my reports and go to work and do all the same things that I did before,” he said during a visit to Houston sponsored by the ADL’s Southwest regional office. “I don’t feel like I have changed that much.”
Askari was invited here because Jodi Bernstein, senior associate director of the local ADL office, felt he illustrated the group’s mission.
“Jodi thought he would be a good person to talk about how one person can make a difference, even in a situation where he is outnumbered,” said Dena Marks, ADL associate director. “It also shows how important it is to step in when someone is being attacked for race, gender or religion. He kept a bad situation from getting any worse.”
During his three-day visit, Askari spoke at an ADL board meeting, at the Coalition for Mutual Respect’s Clergy Institute and to several middle and high schools.
Farha Ahmed, a lawyer and member of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston, met Askari at an ADL luncheon. She was aware of his story, as are many members of Houston’s Muslim community.
“I think everyone was very proud, and they felt that it was really nice to hear some good news about Muslim-Americans and how well he was treated by the police,” Ahmed said. “This is part of our culture and faith to speak up and defend someone without thinking who they are. But the negative image is so often what defines us.”
And it’s another opportunity for the Jewish-American and Muslim-American communities to continue their dialogue, she said.
Rabbi David Rosen, senior rabbi at Congregation Beth Yeshurun and a participant in the Clergy Institute, was impressed by Askari’s eloquence, humility and gentleness. He said it was heartening “to meet a young man who is so deeply devoted to his faith and its teachings that he felt an obligation to help some young Jewish fellow travelers.”
A hate crime, Askari and the clergy members agreed, is an attack on the entire community.
“But when someone stands up and acts with faith and for justice, that also becomes an act on behalf of the entire community,” said the Rev. Dwayne Johnson, senior pastor of Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church.
Memorable day
Askari said the memory of what happened that December night will stay with him for the rest of his life.
Exhausted after a 10-hour day at the restaurant where he works, Askari was heading home to Brighton Beach about 11:30 p.m. He got on the Q line at 14th Street and sat in front of four young people.
At the Canal Street stop, a loud group of 10 got on the train and at one point shouted “Merry Christmas!” to everyone in the subway car.
When one of the young Jews responded “Happy Hanukkah,” the other group took offense, Askari recalled. “After that, one of the guys came across to Walter (Adler, one of the Jewish riders) and asked: ‘What did you say?’ “
The man showed the group his tattooed arms, claimed he was Catholic and said, “Hanukkah is when the Jews killed Jesus Christ.” The belligerent subway rider continued making nasty remarks and became more confrontational. Askari watched as Adler tried to defuse the situation.
“Walter kept telling him: ‘I’m just saying Happy Hanukkah the way you say Merry Christmas,’ ” Askari recalled. “It’s the same way we would say ‘Eid Mubarak’ on (Muslim) holidays. But no matter what he said, they were looking for a fight, and at one point they started beating him up.”
A young woman from the larger group started pulling Angelica Krischanovich’s hair, and a man spat in Krischanovich’s face.
“I remember she told him that Jesus would turn the other cheek, and at that he raised his hand to hit her,” Askari told Houston clergy members. “I grabbed him and said: ‘What is wrong with you?’ “
The group then turned on the 130-pound Askari, pushing him against the wall and beating him. He ended up with two black eyes.
The assault gave Adler a chance to pull the emergency brake, and the subway came shrieking to a halt. The lights went off, and when they came back on, everyone was keeping his distance, though still saying ugly things.
“I think it was God intervening, because we found out later that they were planning to pull the four out on the platform and beat them senseless,” he said.
Instead, as the subway pulled into the next stop, the attackers were met by police and arrested. In addition to assault and harassment charges, all 10 have been charged with hate crimes, which Askari believes is the correct decision.
“When an incident like this happens, it doesn’t just affect you, but the whole community,” he said.
A devout Muslim
Askari was born in Dallas, but when he was 1 year old, his parents returned to their native Bangladesh. A practicing Muslim, he prays at mosques in Manhattan and Brooklyn when he can — though not as often as his mother would like, he admitted to the smiling clergy members.
“My mom and dad have both grown up with God,” he told the group. “To them it’s important to keep up your faith. You do what you have to do, but you always remember God and everything he has given you.”
Askari, who is majoring in finance at Berkeley College and engaged to a Catholic woman, said he has enjoyed talking to high school students.
“The way I look at it, this generation is going to have to make a lot of major changes,” he said. “I think they will be better informed because the world is a smaller place, but they will also need to come up with solutions.”
One thing that surprised Askari is that he has been added to Facebook pages all over the world.
“I started getting messages from people of all different cultures saying: ‘We heard about you and what you did, and we want to thank you.’ I was very appreciative; that is one of the neatest things for me.”
barbara.karkabi@chron.com | http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/5582838.html
and extra work! Three of my patients were discharged today, whew! And sadly one of our patients who only recently left like last week is already back in the downstairs emergency room, calling himself Ray Love. I don’t think we’ll be taking him this time around. Also, today happens to be Go Texan Day here in Houston, Texas. And since it’s also a leap day, apparently it’s also Sadie Hawkins Day. Today is also the last day to do early voting in the Democratic and Republican primaries.
http://www.chiff.com/a/leap-year.htm
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/5580191.html
WHY LEAP YEAR?
It takes the earth 365.2422 days to make a trip around the sun, and a leap year accounts for that little bit left over on the Gregorian calendar. But simply adding a Feb. 29 every four years doesn’t quite keep the calendar accurate. Therefore, we observe the following rules:
1. Every year divisible by four is a leap year
2. Unless the year is also divisible by 100
3. But if the year is further divisible by 400, then it is a leap year. Thus, 1900 was not a leap year but 2000 was.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Papa John’s and Boston Market are offering free food today to anyone born on Feb. 29.
Saturday, February 23, 2008. The first time I heard of Forrest Gump was when I went to church camp and one of the guys on stage (when we did one of those games where you have to act) said, “I’m Forrest. Forrest Glen.” It was hilarious because the campsite was Forrest Glen. My brother and Myra drove down from Austin to visit, and the three of us went to Linh’s Vietnamese Sandwiches and Noodles next to Wel-Farm in Missouri City for dinner. Their little television happened to be showing Forrest Gump, so when we returned, we watched it off/on. Some details I remembered with remarkable clarity, such as Elvis imitating Forrest’s trouble with walking. Other scenes I didn’t remember at all (e.g. Forrest he had a son). And it was interesting to hear both my brother’s and Myra’s comments: Andrew used to cry at the grave scene, and Mrya aws thinking, “Gross, she’s walking on dirt without shoes” when Jenny threw them at her birthplace. There are still a lot of crying moments. I didn’t know the boy was Joel Osment. She asked Forrest, “Will you marry me?” Jenny always seems to be the one more out there. Who’s pursuing? Well, didn’t he ask her before her transformation? It’s slightly similar to Debbie and Justin’s situation, no? They were meant to be.
Goodbye, Teresa Chii! Sorry I couldn’t attend your going-away party. You will be missed.
Sunday, February 24, 2008. None of us went to church. That’s why I’m like, isn’t my brother supposed to be leading Myra spiritually? But then again, she really is helping him out a lot. When we got up, we at some beef buns and stew. When Mom came back, she brought us lunchboxes from church just in time. Myra wanted to east outside, but Mom said it would be best to eat inside first then enjoy outside (because of sand, if it fell, bugs, etc.). Then, Myra had convinced my brother to buy a flat-screen television set, so I drove them to Fry’s and then Circuit City (they just want to browse so they will know what to do when they return to Austin). By then I was quite tired. But, Myra saw that the Macy’s in Sharpstown Mall across the street was having a big (season clearance?) sale, and I needed to buy socks, so I complied. We were there awhile. They bought a blanket? but perused the cookware for a long tie. I was looking for hosiery-like socks to fit into my already-bought shoes, so I bought 3 pairs of them. But, I also saw these fuzzy socks so I bought the 2 pairs I could find. The total was $14.04. The place was really a big mess, though–really looked the closeout. The couple left for Austin at 4:45 pm.
Then I went to Lost Creek to meet up with Linton (who called me to invite me), Phoebe, Hannah, Braden, Susan, James, and Jonathan. Unfortunately, they were winding down. Hannah and Phoebe went home to eat, and Jonathan went to his family reunion (family of Yee–so big they even have a scholarship!). The rest of us went to Star Snow Ice near the intersection of Dulles and Highway 6. I briefly went with James to check out the bakery that’s on the strip of Welfarm. Then all of us went to FuFu’s (except Linton, to join the twins) to meet up with Jing, Eveline, Michael, Michael’s friend Kelvin, and another friend Jonathan Fong (not the one I met at UT Austin). Jonathan remembered my face, saying that we met at Whole Foods in Austin that one time with Christine Fung (I went there to meet with Vincent Tao with the twins). Michael went because he really wanted hotpot. Unfortunately, not all wanted that. I was on the side that didn’t want hotpot, so I ordered my own thing. Good thing they still shared with me, though (e.g. hollow-heart green vegetables). After dinner, Kelvin had to leave (he says he usually wakes up at 5 am for work so he usually goes to bed at 8) since it was already 8:30 pm. Jonathan Fong left as well since he had to go to the airport tomorrow morning. The rest of us went to Teahouse. We played Connect 4 and then Uno. Then I went home, where James aimed me.
As Hannah said, I’m a sixth of the way there. W00t!
Monday, February 18, 2008. Rick is a generous person: he bought breakfast tacos for the OT staff. He asked all of us our preferred filling, so he brought me a chorizo to try. I had two evaluations this morning. I didn’t do one because the patient had thrown milk and threatened a medical student. The other was easy to talk with (she has depression) but she denies her previous bipolar diagnosis. She’s taking Spanish classes from her parole officer? I had two OT groups back-to-back (I dislike these because I don’t have time to write the notes and get what the patients do in each group mixed up sometimes). Each facility has a different way of correcting mistakes, and in the past they would write “void” or “error” after crossing out the mistake. Today, however, they came to the conclusion that now it’s only cross out, initial, and date. Thus after lunch I finished writing up all the notes. I like to have all my items with me (e.g. lotion, chapstick, pen, paper) so I had asked if I could carry them in a bag/purse. Rick said sure. However, I picked a bad purse because it hangs across my chest and he said that patients could grab it and pull me down. I didn’t think of that; I am not very good at forseeing possible threats. We did our weekly feedback forms and then went home. I finally did laundry, showered, and worked on my evaluation checklist to help myself.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008. I observed Victor Holman lead his psych tech group in the morning. Basically he asks everyone who they are, remind them who is helping them get better, and then encourage them to stay up during the day in the day area. Rick complimented me on my initiative this morning in getting the precautions list (since Tiffani doesn’t come in on Tuesdays) and setting up for our self-care group. Rick let the MSW know about one of our patient’s desire to return to class, but didn’t he tell me that I should encourage the patient to do that for herself? Miscommunication really is the main culprit of a lot of problems. That’s why if anything is up, clarification is needed with the other party involved. However, you have to pick your battles. After task group, I realized that Michelle had finished writing our self-care notes for us. Wow! Gracias! So I only had to write the task group notes and finish writing up the evaluation from yesterday. I spent the extra down time brainstorming for my rotation’s projects: the brochure and the task analysis. It seems a lot of patients like the Bible. One came up to me talking about God, so I referred her to Philippians but later I realized I was thinkng of I Thessalonians 5:16-18. The bus has been off lately: it was late and drove past us anyway! There’s a Vietnamese lady who I think works at Ben Taub. Last week she saw me without crutches and asked about it, so we chatted briefly before the bus came. Today she was waiting, too, and we said hello to each other. When the bus finally came at 5 p.m., I got home and worked on the brochure. James Wei called to let me know he, Linton, and Jonathan Eng were at Dimassi’s across from Wel-Farm but I had already eaten dinner.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008. Every third Wednesday of the month Rick has his Patient Education Committee meeting at the building on Holly Hall. Thus in the morning Michelle went over my two evaluations with me instead. It was the medical students’ last day here (Dongni Yang and Brian Kelley) so they brought coffee and cookies for breakfast while presenting their powerpoints during rounds. The rest of the morning I helped with task group, gave home instructions, and then got to know the new COTA Jennifer Garcia during lunch (she’s Filipino, lives in Richmond, and went to Elsik HS). Rick had EPIC (new charging system) training so he wasn’t on the floor in the afternoon either. He did call, however, to let me know that another patient is leaving today, so I did his home instructions as well. He told me that he’ll probably come back in a year! He is still delusional but keeps it to himself now and is even paying attention to other people, letting someone know that it was his turn. We played horseshoes this afternoon and the winner wanted a pair of gloves. One female wanted to braid another’s hair, so we gave them mini hair ties for that African-American row look. One guy is homeless at the moment so he wanted some clothes from the back closet but I was told to ask first because the tech who keeps up with the closet is particular in its order.
The event of the day occurred near the end of the day. I was in the restroom when I heard a loud commotion right outside the door. There must’ve been a few times when I thought it was safe to come out but then more commotion would ensue. It turns out there was someone who had rushed into the elevator past the security, and then rushed into the unit wanting a shot for his HIV, just as Margie (a nurse) walked in. Malcolm (a psych tech) had to perform a takedown. It was a “reverse elopement” - the first that has occurred in the memories of the current staff (including Dr. Barber). But I’m glad I got to leave at 4:10 p.m.! Again, the busses have been funny, and it was so crowded that I had to stand on the bus home. There were two African-American women who applauded when an Asian-American male stood up to give up his seat for an older female. That was amusing.
Tonight was the first gathering of the ladies group of FBCC that is discussing Lies Women Believe (I didn’t buy it since I heard there were some major disputes). Carolyn Kee, Jamie Fong, Charlene, Jessie Tan, Elizabeth Wong, and I met at Stephanie Chi’s parents’ house. We START with prayer and then ended on time at 9 p.m. (thus we actually were only able to discuss briefly about the introduction). I went home, talked with my brother on the phone, then emails to Judy Feng, Hannah, and Jennifer Lin.
Thursday, February 21, 2008. We had self-care group, rounds (so many new patients), helped a patient leave for Peachford House, and had task group. In the afternoon I had to practice delegating during Cooking Group. It was nerve-wracking for me, but Rick said it went pretty well. Sally showed empathy, saying “I was born a doormat” and had to learn how to delegate as well. She also showed empathy for the new COTA, who’s working under a temporary license–I guess you always have that thought in the back of your head that you might not make it. Today’s the last day for Michelle for a long while since her brother is going back to the Philippines to visit their dying uncle/father/grandfather (one of them), and then when he returns after three weeks she’ll be flying over to see him.
Friday, February 22, 2008. I had the learning opportunity to evaluate a Spanish-speaker (where I would have to call for a translator in other cases), but I was recommended to hold off. It’s interesting that Paul (a psych tech) makes sure that I have leisure. I said that I like to read, and he told me that it’s really important to have a stress reliever such as running and in general having a life outside of work. One patient in self-care (I didn’t have the group) had to be escorted out due to shaving vigorously with his razor and causing opposition when Elderine tried to redirect him. In the afternoon another guy came in and I tried to interview him but his thoughts were too disorganized for me to really understand where he was coming from (plus he was paranoid). I tried to reassure him that we in the hospital were trying to help him, not sabotage him. interview paranoid foi guy who doesn’t believe in hospital. The good news for the end of the week is that this week is apparently my strongest week so far :-D. I had dinner at Subway with Christina Tam and then we went to BASIC, where Pastor William Hsueh and his wife Cynthia presented on the topic of counseling (e.g. Biblical counseling, Christian counseling, etc.). I went to bed at 11 p.m. (so tired).
Feb. 22, 2008, 10:34PM | Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Popularity of ‘choking game’ with youths raises alarm
CDC says lethal pursuit to get high is on the rise
By Jennifer Leahy
The activity, which is gaining popularity among preteens and teenagers in both Houston and across the country, requires that a youngster choke himself or another person to get high. The activity creates an euphoric state as blood rushes back to the brain. According to this month’s CDC report, the number of adolescents choking one another to get high has drastically increased as evidenced in the increase of unintentional strangulation deaths — 82 probable choking game deaths from 1995 to 2007.
This year the Chinese Lantern Festival just so happens to fall exactly one week after Valentine’s Day (well, Valentine’s Day just so happened to fall exactly in the middle of the two-week celebration since New Year Day was February 7). Today is also a kind of Chinese Valentine’s Day: “Traditionally, the Lantern Festival is a day for lovers. In the past, it was the one day of the year when a woman could come out - chaperoned, of course! - and be seen by eligible single men. In the days when women’s feet were bound, it was often the one time when she could appear in public with unbound feet. Of course, these restrictions no longer exist, but there is still a hint of romance in the air at the Lantern Festival celebrations.” While waiting for the bus I randomly picked up and started reading Skirt!, a monthly magazine for women (http://skirt.com/):
featured artist: Bella Pilar
Celebrate love again!
Saturday, Feburary 16, 2008. In the morning from 10 to 11:30 I did something but I forgot. I tried to be productive by uploading pictures and comics, neatening up my room, and showering. After picking up the Lins, we met Vickie at House of Bowls at 5:30 p.m. She just wanted a discussion with her close girl friends without the guys for once. I enjoyed it because it’s not often to hang out as a group of females nowadays. Then, the guys started showing up. Linton came, then David Kalloor, who brought his STIM friend Leslie. They didn’t go to the same locale (she went to the Philippines), but they did the training together, as did Andrew Eng (he went to China) that year. Much later Brad Eng and Denise (who apparently are dating right now) came by as well. Hannah is the first to give me her Bible verse memory scrapbook page from my birthday! I was so excited so when I came home I read it. Along with it and a homemade card (talk about awesome), she gave me Diary of a Wimpy Kid: A Novel in Cartoons by Jeff Kinney. I read the whole thing in one sitting. It’s an easy read, but I found it so dejecting. It’s a story about an immature boy who thinks he’s all that but in reality doesn’t take responsibility for any of his actions. I guess the essence reflects the human condition.
Gladys Aylward in what is thought to be her only photograph
Courtesy of Moody Bible Institute
Sunday, Feburary 17, 2008. It’s the first day that HCC BASIC moved to Willow Park at 10400 Cliffwood Drive to play team sports since Hermann Park is planting trees and Rice University is kicking us off the fields. I knew I wouldn’t get much done at home so I tried to leave as soon after I ate and then I typed up an evaluation checklist in the parking lot in my car until the battery in my laptop died at 3 p.m. It turns out this park is quite popular and promotes a lot of familial and community intimacy. Many Hispanics were playing soccer. They were finished by the time BASIC showed up. Actually, Rachel and Howie (a young couple I met..when Lilly and Edwin visited?..who used to go to FBCC but now attends Mosaic) were two of the first to arrive. Greg from Access came, too. Elliot, Charles, and Henry came as well.
Inch came later all dressed up. Apparently yesterday he and Sarah Kim had spent literally the ENTIRE day (since 5:30 a.m.) together because they drove to Austin to attend Eunice’s wedding. It was an enjoyable day. Unfortunately, the last fifteen minutes of their drive back wasn’t too hot. I told him about Friday. Jeff asked why I wasn’t playing (my ankle). Anyway, tonight Harvest Community Church has an evening service and he was going to attend and thus he just wanted to drop by and enjoy the weather. It really was splendid. Andrew Eng arrived late and he came over to say hi. He said he wasn’t playing because this is supposed to be a ministry so he’s letting the other people play first. Inch commented on how Andrew’s shirt wasn’t as tight as he thought it would be (it’s a medium apparently). We made other random comments, such as James Hsia climbing to retrieve the frisbee that ended up on the awning over the windows of the school. I saw Kelvin so I went over to return the wrap that he lent me for my ankle. Nathan Wang joined in later.
Tiffany Lin is amazing. She struck up a conversation with me. She asked me where I was working, and she said that actually she thinks that’s where she thinks she’s going to go for her psychiatric rotation (near April). She expressed her disappointment in the working world and in herself when it came to God. She said right before she started she had gone on a mission trip where she incorporated her medical skills and at the same time was able to ascertain the patient’s spiritual well-being as well. However, now she’s so busy and on-the-go that she finds that she doesn’t have the time to do that, and isn’t even sure if it’s appropriate. She reminded me of myself, when I went to Mexico with Nathan Kim, Lois Lim, Melvin Feng (”!esta bien!”), and Jane Park the week right before I moved to El Paso. I didn’t even go home–my parents picked me up from Laredo and then we drove up to the Mountain Time Zone. I was so hyped, and I really did feel like I was still in Mexico. *Psi* I find it also interesting that she asked if I found a church community. It was like she got the core of my current issues. How did she know? I explained to her that the past year I had actually attended as many FBCC, WHCC, and HCC events I was invited to. Somehow FBCC doesn’t plan as many or something, but the group I’ve ended up feeling the closest to has been HCC due to their weekly sports outings.
I also asked Jesslyn to walk with me (I had anticipated Lindi was going to come so I could return her jacket, or Teresa Chii since she’s leaving Houston). At the end she asked me if I was interested in missions. I found that interesting; was she thinking about it? She said somewhat, like either supporting here in the United States or teaching overseas or something of that nature. I said that I hadn’t seriously thought of it, but I was always enamored of it even before I believed in God. I told her how just this past Friday I had heard the descendent of James Hudson Taylor speak, and how I grew up being awed not only by him but by George Mueller, Gladys Aylward, Elisabeth Elliot….
I left early to join Phoebe, Hannah, Vickie, and Linton. He decided to cook dinner for us since his sister was away and Vickie was in town and he usually eats with the Lins. Vickie and he went to buy groceries, then the girls did work while he cooked. He made lamb with two different sauces (ketchup with hoison sauce, and one with oyster sauce), baby bok choy (slightly over-cooked), sauteed onions, corn, and baked boned salmon. Rebekah came home later. Vickie initiated a conversation about flirting for attention from guys (doing good for the other versus leading the other on), emotional attachment (is okay), codependency (if the other’s wellbeing is wholly dependent on another), and other similar topics.
A weekend of many thoughts….here’s a list of books about missionaries: http://servinghimathome.blogspot.com/2005/12/missionary-stories-to-inspire-children.html
On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. 20 And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. 21 He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?‘ 22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.” –Joshua 4:19-24 (NIV)
Tonight is the first part of three that Reverend James Hudson Taylor IV is speaking on. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be coming to the next two parts (tomorrow and for Sunday’s service). It’s part of WHCC’s 2008 Missions Conference. As the title indicates, there will be twelve stones, and four were discussed tonight: (1) a family dedicated, (2) the centrality of prayer, (3) zeal for lost souls, and (4) experiencing God’s faithfulness. What really blew me away was that he was speaking fluently in high-level Mandarin Chinese (this guy is white, though is wife is Taiwanese). An Asian man translated for him, and it was amusing because when there was a pause, Taylor would fill in for the translator, or correct the translation. And he was humorous, making comments like, “He was just checking to see if you were awake and paying attention.” Wow, that is amazing.
He recounted many family stories, some I’ve read in the past, such as the mother praying until she knew that her son believed in God (amazing! the power of prayer). He told us about how his grandparents didn’t se their four children until four years later, how his relative received the exact amount of money for theology school without telling a soul, about how the day his antecedent was two hours late to his own wedding due to accepting Christ that morning and his wife was furious for not only having a late wedding but a late wedding to a Christian man (and thus there ended up being no dancing or drinking at their reception)–stories he grew up hearing about. He tells us these stories as encouragement. It is not some family secret, but God’s grace and years of prayer, that this sort of fruit has been witnessed in their family for so many generations. His family motto since the beginning is Joshua 24:15. He’s named his son Joshua. “May the Lord put the world in the heart of the Chinese”–urging us to not only reach toward our own people but to serve others as well. In fact, many are “racing to a Christless eternity”, or statistically, about 40 people per second for 365 days is equal to the number of people in China alone.
He talked about the perseverance of George Stott (he brought the Gospel to a region where the Chinese dialect was so hard to understand that it was used as code so the Japanese wouldn’t interpret), Robert Morrison, John Wesley, and Antioch, where the disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). They were the first to send missionaries, and the first to not only serve their own people but the Greeks as well. He admonishes parents to allow their children with the desire to become missionaries, because many parents encourage them to believe in God but then discourage them to “be anything but a pastor or a missionary.” He encourages parents to give their parents their blessings to do the work of God. He told us how one person’s faith could save many (e.g. the story of Rahab saving the spies in Joshua 2:1, 14, 21, 6:17). “He doesn’t want us to be bitter; he wants us to be better.”
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.“ –Joshua 24:15 (NIV)
This past Sunday, James Wei called to have dinner with me yesterday. I don’t know his intentions, but I figured one dinner would be okay. He didn’t want me to feel “awkward” haha. I am not romantically interested in him, but neither do I want to cringe when I’m around him. And I feel that we’ve hung out enough in groups that I could tell him about my diagnosis since I’m not terribly secret about it. I’m writing this because some people say that I didn’t give this guy “a chance.” Au contraire. I had barely seen a handful of times that guy who wanted to ask me on a series of date to see where we would go. I am not in a state to be seeing anyone. James just asked me to one dinner. Yes, he may be planning future appointments, but my answer is to his direct question and not to my assumptions of his “ulterior motive.” I figure this one meal would be a good time for me to share what I have to share about my depression, and for him to personally let me know what he wants to tell me–in person.
So I was clear with him, saying dinner would be fine but I really am not a planner and am not sure how I would feel that night (perhaps too tired) or if I would be working on homework for the next day. He called Wednesday night to confirm, and I said I would actually prefer Friday, so he said that would be fine. And then it turns out today I got off work later than usual, so I had to call him again to let him know that I was running late. I told Vickie that I felt like I was a girl trying to say “no” but had the inability so I keep putting it off, but I’m not! By the time I got home it was already 6:15 so I hopped out of my car in my stiff work clothes and hopped into James’s car. He took me to Nan Mang Korean Restaurant? It’s very close to Ko-Mart and WHCC. We kind of had to eat fast because we wanted to listen to the descendent of James Hudson Taylor (the missionary) speak! We left the restaurant around 7:45 p.m. We were late (bumped into Mrs. Lin), but Vickie came later, too. Linton, Jonathan Eng, Greg, and Faye’s husband Simon were there as well. I could barely stay awake by 9 p.m. Afterwards they had different mission opportunities set up in booths in the gym. Braden’s sister was there (wow, sure different from the last time I saw her as a teeny girl camping). There’s a poster with EPCBC; the only people I recognized in the photographs were Linton’s parents and Sunny’s brother. We snacked on Christmas tree cookies…? They were talking of hanging out afterwards but I was too tired so James took me home by 10:30 p.m.
I enjoyed our time at the restaurant (non-date?) because I realized that I knew next to nothing about James. We talked about our families (his father and sister are in Taiwan but his mother, who’s his greatest support, lives in Houston). We also talked about church and God, a general idea of how we came to know Him. It was mostly “surface” topics, but still necessary information in my opinion. Also, I felt the conversation flowed pretty well. I’m not good at asking questions. He doesn’t appear to be an expert on it, either. But we both are also not exactly guarded individuals. He’ll offer some information, and then I’ll offer some stories in response/relation to what he said. He allows me to talk all the way through, and I pay him the same respect. Now I can say I know him as well as I know…celebrities I hear about in the news, haha!
date1 
[deyt]
–noun
| 6. | an appointment for a particular time: They have a date with their accountant at ten o’clock. |
| 7. | a social appointment, engagement, or occasion arranged beforehand with another person: to go out on a date on Saturday night. |
| 8. | a person with whom one has such a social appointment or engagement: Can I bring a date to the party? |
On Monday one of the patients here left for home. Most patients look at Rick more than me because he’s the official therapist and I’m the student. And if you know me I don’t convey much confidence in the first place. But this patient seemed to make more eye contact with me than with him. I wonder if it’s because I am younger (she’s only 21 years old). It’s unnerving for me to be “over” people since most of these people are around my age or older. She forgot her picture frame. I came home and typed up medications usually used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Depression, and Schizophrenia. I stayed up until 10:30 p.m.
On Tuesday I started Self-Care group (patients can comb their hair, apply make-up, shave, etc.) late because I thought it was at 8:30 like on Mondays but apparently it’s at 8:00 a.m. most days. Mondays are later because they have weekend check-in, making sure all the patients are still there. I felt like I wrote an endless array of notes for Rick to sign off on. I discharged one of my first patients (gave him some handouts of community resources). One of our patients requires someone to watch over her all the time (they’re called a 1:1 mental health worker). They met with the patient’s husband, but I missed it. Task group had 13 patients attend! Sally reviewed some medical records with me to finish off the orientation checklist. After lunch, Rick told me that in fact I can’t take a nap. Last week he said noon to 1 p.m. is my time to do whatever I wanted, and of course the first thing that popped into my mind was taking a nap considering how tired I was during my last rotation (plus Rick said I yawned too much, which is true). Well, turns out that if I wanted to take a nap I can’t take it there (boo I don’t park my car in the garage) because Rick’s boss’s boss over HCHD (Ping, who I’ve met) disapproves of it. And it does make sense, from one perspective..oh well…. I practiced writing up an evaluation since Theodora (Rick’s boss) had a staff meeting with Rick, Sally, Janet, and Elderine. We played bingo. It’s the first day I drove home by myself. (The past week and days my Dad has been coming with me in the mornings all the way to Ben Taub and then coming home with me in order for me to take the HOV lane while driving to/fro. He still comes with me in the mornings but today he went home after I got on the 292 bus.) When I came home I did my ankle exercises. I felt sick.
On Wednesday I performed an evaluation for the first time, but then she was quickly discharged to Illinois (against the rest of the team’s judgment). Rick finally had a chance to review my three evaluation write-ups: they were poor because functional levels weren’t right and my goals didn’t fit the primary problem. We had a new patient in scrubs with disorganized thinking. We had another family meeting this week but I didn’t know the history and how come she wasn’t staying with the other parent who seemed more responsible. Sometimes we have another OTR come in to help since we’re short on staff. Her name’s Michelle Funtanilla (they call her “Mimi”). During lunch I asked her if she celebrated Lunar New Year since sometimes it’s called Chinese New Year. She says it depends. She loves the sticky rice cake, though. I asked about the apple in the mouth of a whole roasted pig (the one I saw at Luwalhati’s party back in El Paso when her mom visited). She says it’s true that Filipinos are known to talk a lot. She asked about my brother so I asked about her siblings: she has an older sister, and her younger brother is also an OTR who works at Quentin Mease like her. It takes me about an hour from leaving work to arrive home (today 4:40-5:40 p.m.), and by then I had finished off seven bottles of water. I’ve definitely come down with a cold. I ate dinner, drank lots of soup, took some children’s antihistamine, then went to bed at 8:30 p.m.
On Thursday, we heard from two questionable patients that two patients were having ”relations” in their bedroom restroom. We think it’s not true. Rick treated me to lunch at la Madeleine “because I know students are poor.” It was because it’s Valentine’s Day (and perhaps because Theodora was gone?). Afterwards I performed two evaluations back-to-back. I did a poor job, and I knew it, but I think Rick expected too much from me. He was exclaiming how come my second one didn’t improve from the first one. I didn’t say anything, but you guys know me, areas like this I can’t progress that fast. At least I’m getting better at writing notes (e.g. I’m learning terms like “constricted affect”) after groups (we write one for ever patient, even if they don’t come). The rooms have been extra cold lately so we asked them to turn up the temperature, but there seems to be no middle ground. The most eventful thing that happened was that I took the wrong bus home. I accidentally took the bus that usually comes before 292. At first as I settled in, I noticed that the bus took Montrose instead of Main. I just thought that Main had bad traffic and the bus was taking a different route. I closed my eyes. After awhile as I opened them, I didn’t recognize any of the buildings or bridges. I asked a white lady what bus we were on and she reported that it was 298, which runs towards Addicks, which is in Northwest Houston. My first thought was Vickie. Oh no! I called my Dad. The lady next to the aisle, sitting next to the white lady, heard me speak in Mandarin and started answering my Dad’s questions to me, which I relayed to my Dad. Eventually I handed her the phone (she told me the route to take back), but my Dad made the final decision that it was best to pick me up at the first stop that the bus makes. I called Vickie, Phoebe, Hannah, who called me back. She asked me some questions and we discussed our experiences. She said tonight’s the first night that she actually gets home before 10:00 p.m. and that she has some time to unwind and watch television. Wow!
On Friday I got off work at 5:00 p.m. instead of 4:30 p.m. (unanticipated; in fact, I was hoping to get off work early). At the bus stop I chatted with Rachel Harrington, who’s a psychology intern also on Team B (Dr. Barber’s psychiatric team). She’s 28 years old, married, lives in Katy, and is earning her degree from U of H, where she met her current husband. The bus finally arrived at 5:30 p.m. I went off to dinner, then went to WHCC.
In an email from Professor Susan Leech:
Nearly a dozen students from USASMA and about a half dozen graduate students from UTEP’s occupational and physical therapy departments work to complete two handicap access ramps. Photo by Sgt. Maj. Cameron Porter.
USASMA builds handicap access ramps for needy
UTEP program enlists help from Class 58 sergeants major
Sgt. Maj. Cameron Porter, USASMA Class 58 Public Affairs
Imagine not being able to visit your relatives or do something as simple as go to the grocery store because it is too hard to leave your own home.
While this may be the case for many elderly or handicapped citizens with mobility issues, the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy teamed up with the Occupational and Physical Therapy Department at the University of Texas at El Paso to help alleviate this problem for many El Paso residents who need assistance.
What started out as a modest goal for a small team of UTEP occupational therapy students headed by Dr. Susan Leech, their professor – building six handicap ramps in six months – has seemingly blossomed into something much bigger, thanks in part to students from USASMA’s Class 58 Sergeants Major Course.
Working as a team throughout the morning, Master Sgt. Randall Boss and Sgt. Maj. Nelson Blankenship, both USASMA Class 58 students, help build a handicap access ramp Saturday as part of the El Paso Ramp Project, a non-profit organization established and managed by UTEP’s occupational and physical therapy departments. Photo by Sgt. Maj. Cameron Porter.
“If you want something done for the community and you want it done well, you pull from the community,” said Stephanie Perez, a UTEP occupational therapy graduate student and volunteer team leader and research assistant for the ramp project. “But if you want something done with conviction, you pull from the military.”
With a $10,000 community outreach grant from the UTEP College of Health Sciences, Perez and several other occupational and physical therapy students are learning the ins and outs of operating a nonprofit organization.
Their organization, El Paso Ramp Project, began building handicap access ramps for needy El Paso residents late last year, and they have been averaging about a ramp per month. But with nearly a dozen USASMA students there to assist Friday and Saturday, they completed two more ramps in less than six hours.
“Yesterday they were so enthusiastic and ready to go, they just took charge,” said Rocio Alvarez, a UTEP occupational therapy graduate student and volunteer team leader and research assistant for the ramp project. “So today, I said, ‘I’m just going to stand back’ and let the (USASMA students) go for it. It’s nice to see Soldiers so willing and eager to get out and support their community.”
Cutting out support planks for a handicap access ramp proves easy for Master Sgt. Wayne Baker, a USASMA Class 58 student. Photo by Sgt. Maj. Cameron Porter.
“Because they’re so enthusiastic,” Perez said, “we decided to just go ahead and build two ramps today.”
“I think it’s great, offering freedom to people who need help and to their families who assist them every day,” said Master Sgt. Marc Hickey, a USASMA Class 58 student and ramp project committee chairperson at the academy. “Otherwise, these people are restricted to their homes, and that’s just not right.”
Maria Seguna, 85, is one of those people who became more and more restricted to the confines of her home. After slipping and falling in her bathroom about a year ago, and with her mobility issues compounded by severe diabetes, she is completely dependent upon her daughter to assist her with getting in and out of her house. However, with a new access ramp installed at her back door, she can now enter and exit her home much more safely, which she said makes her very happy.
“It is very nice of (the USASMA and UTEP students) to support us,” Seguna said. “Thank you very much.”
The El Paso Ramp Project is a nonprofit organization supported by an all-volunteer staff who take referrals from health care providers, survey homes for ramp placement and feasibility, search for volunteers to assist with the builds, and solicit monetary donations to fund the program, which is provided at no cost to the beneficiaries. To volunteer or to receive more information on the El Paso Ramp Project, send an e-mail to elpasoramps@gmail.com.
http://www.fbmonitor.com/2008/02february/021408/news/021408news3.html
Ah, Valentine’s Day. There’s controversy to its exact beginnings, and there is deep-setted controversies as to what it has become. Some hate it; others love it. I never paid attention to it since those class valentines in elementary school. Then I was confronted with the “big deal”ness in college. For me, though, I started viewing this day as one of my favorite holidays because I saw how it could also be a day of celebrating friendships, the other “lovers” in our lives. As the dictionary says, a “friend” is a lover, literally. The word “friend” in Old English originally meant “to love.” I am still grateful for the single sophomore guys in our class in CBS who threw a Valentine Day Bash for us single gals. I remember two things: us playing personalized Taboo and the person imitating Linton with “we’re all beautiful in our own way” while shaking his finger, and me laughing so much I started having tears coming out of my eye ducts (I think we were playing chubby bunny). Also, I’m pretty good at living vicariously through other couples (yay for romance!). And the couples I’ve been around a lot (e.g. Linton and Phoebe, Ruth and Danny, my UTEP classmates) have been extremely gracious and accommodating.
Even with friends, this time may be a time of nursing past wounds (http://thepivotministry.com/PDFs/Friendship%20and%20Fear%20of%20Man.March.theirs.pdf). Indeed, it’s a command from God, to first reconcile with our peers before we can offer a pure gift to God (Matthew 5:23-24), before we can come to the next level of intimacy with Him (I John 1:5-10). As Phoebe said back in the day, He is our most faithful friend, one who ”broke His own heart so that ours might be healed.” [T]he Stranger..and I lived in separate worlds. It didn’t need to be this way, and he didn’t want it this way—I could choose in a moment to enter his world. Not to do so meant keeping the Stranger a stranger….It was a soft call. “Come. Come, now.” I told him, “Yes.” And a quiet knocking on my door roused me from the bed where, shivering and now soaring, I had surrendered my life to him. I realized, when I opened my door..that she was now my second love” (John Vanderhorst). A Dr. Ron Tottingham wrote “That Love Which Is Of God” and is available online in its entirety at http://www.gospelweb.net/RTottingham/FS_love.htm; never read it, but might be interesting. Celebrate your First Love (Revelation 2:4); happy V-alien-tine’s Day!
“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4)
I sprained my ankle so the first week of work I had to limp around on a pair of crutches. This week I’m still recovering from the sprained ankle but now I have to contend with a cold as well (thank God it’s not the flu). Last night I was in bed before 9 p.m., so I’m trying to copy that tonight. As soon as I came home, I ate dinner, organized some papers, and then propped my right leg up and gave myself a dose of Pushing Daisies from the web (since the show hasn’t come back yet from the writers’ strike). Apparently they have a comic outside of the show (thus it is more gruesome). But they also have comic-ized versions of the episodes. Aren’t they sweet?
I’m at Jessica Ng’s house right now, and she just left to meet up with Katie Chong, so I have the entire house to myself and not a thing to bother my thoughts, except my thoughts. This is the best time than any other to write/type, to get my thoughts straight and process through my anger and frustration and suffocation with my Dad and reflect on my first week so as not to become overwhelmed and get assignments done, but I’m too emotionally tired, making my body physically tired, and my mind unable to focus at all. Maybe just sitting here in silence with cakes baking in the oven is what I need. Pray for me.
Interesting that my clinical instructor (who’s Mexican) told my dad (when he picked me up) “Happy Chinese New Year”. He brought tamales from Telles from San Antonio for the staff to eat at lunchtime.
However, “Spectacular fireworks have ushered in the Chinese New Year, but not everyone is celebrating. Millions of people are spending the holiday in miserable conditions, with power and essential services cut off by the worst weather in a century. Chinese leaders spent New Year’s eve visiting badly-affected areas. One city in the south of the country has been without power for three weeks. Scores of people died in snow-related incidents in the runup to this public holiday, with millions of people delayed as they tried to return home for celebrations. And it is not just power that has been cut off. “Everyday we use water from the fire hydrant,” said one woman in Chenzhou in Hunan province. “We carry five or six buckets of water up to our home every day. I hope the city government can do something about this. It’s so difficult.” Observers say many parts of the country simply were not prepared for such bad weather. Officials insist they are working hard to restore services” (http://www.euronews.net/index.php?page=info&article=468836&lng=1).
Still, you can celebrate in a traditional way by writing a wish on red paper, tying it to an orange, and then throwing it up into a tree. If it sticks, then your wish is going to come true! Well, the tree is supposed to be the Lam Tsuen Wish Tree, but I’m not about to travel to Hong Kong for that. And in 2005 one branch was so laden with branches that it broke off, so now wishes are placed beneath the tree until recovery (http://www.jacekphoto.com/hong_kong/hk75.htm).
I find it funny that out of my three xanga sites (one I’ve never used because I never really liked the username), I only get one email from them. I initially thought it was my latest one since I had posted an entry saying I had moved elsewhere.
|
||||||
[edit] on 2/10/08:
|
||||||
[edit] on 04/03/08 with “prayriefayrie, Xanga misses you!” again. And on 04/19/08 (has a “67″ on the bottom?).
The Wednesday after Quinquagesima Sunday, which is the first day of the Lenten fast, derives its name from dies cinerum (day of ashes). On this day, before the service, all the faithful are to approach the altar, where the priest, dipping his thumb into ashes previously blessed, marks the forehead with the sign of the cross, saying the words: “Remember man that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return.” The ashes used in this ceremony are made by burning the remains of the palms blessed on the Palm Sunday of the previous year. In the blessing of the ashes four prayers are used, all of them ancient. The ashes are sprinkled with holy water and fumigated with incense. The priest himself receives, either standing or seated, the ashes from another priest, usually the highest in dignity of those present.
The reception of a sacramental which is full of the symbolism of penance is mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon homilist Ælfric assumes that it applies to all classes of men. “We read”, he says, “in the books both in the Old Law and in the New that the men who repented of their sins bestrewed themselves with ashes and clothed their bodies with sackcloth. Now let us do this little at the beginning of our Lent that we strew ashes upon our heads to signify that we ought to repent of our sins during the Lenten fast.”
Ash Wednesday marks the onset of the Lent, the 40-day period of fasting and abstinence (Joel 2:12-18). It is also known as the ‘Day of Ashes’. So called because on that day at church the faithful have their foreheads marked with ashes in the shape of a cross. In the Old Testament ashes were found to have used for two purposes: as a sign of humility and mortality; and as a sign of sorrow and repentance for sin. The reference to the sealing of the servants of God for their protection in Revelation is an allusion to a parallel passage in Ezekiel, where Ezekiel also sees a sealing of the servants of God for their p