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And what would Satan do?  And what would Linton do (sometimes)? LOL.  I finished reading Evangelism For the Rest of Us: Sharing Christ Within Your Personality Style by Mike Bechtle that I started reading at Chris Sun’s apartment’s common area (yesterday I ate dinner wtih James, Jonathan, and Linton at Yantze.  They bought some alcohol from Kroger next to Tapioca Express then played pool with Braden and Chris.  James watched cable, Linton downloaded antispyware, and Jonathan looked at the Vegas wedding pictures.  Jonathan won and then Chris won their 3:3 “cutthroat” games).  It was one of those books that I bought in a frenzy after quitting counseling, trying to find anything related to personality/temperament/type and hopefully spirituality/Jesus/God along with it.  Curiously, I only found a few books so I ordered and bought them all.  Now, searching again, there has now turned up twenty-some extra books.  I don’t know how I searched before and missed them and how this time it’s different, but I certainly can’t order and buy all of them….

I could summarize the book here for you, since I enjoyed it and found renewed enlightenment and encouragement for sharing God with others.  But I usually do that when I don’t plan on keeping the book.  The author just expresses how he transitioned from loving to guilt in witnessing, how before it was like a doctor prescribing without examining, more focused on his solution than your illness.  He says probably most methods we were taught were more ideal for extroverts (solar panels) than introverts (rechargeable batteries), and like guys and girls, may never really quite get the other side (although of course we’re not either extreme, and we still try to understand).  He dismantles 7 myths (e.g. “you shall be my witnesses is a command”) with the truths (e.g. “it’s a description of fact, whether we feel qualified or not”).  The chapter that really helped me was when he told us the function (what needs to be done) is spreading the Gospel but the form (how the function is carried out) is to be tailored to how you were made and where the person is spiritually.  We’re to be salt, light, and seed to the world (all centered on influence rather than control or coercion), helping others move a notch or two along in their spiritual journey (for nonChristians, toward finding God; for Christians, toward maturing).

For the past couple of years everything seemed to be slowly falling apart, but now they’re building back up.  I’ll just quote from Real Life Preacher, a pastor in San Antonio:

Always there will be breaking and disillusionment. Always I will be building, and never will I achieve understanding…Tomorrow I will tell you the story of a time when I was terribly disillusioned…I will tell you this story because on the spiritual journey, disillusionment is as important as enlightenment (”The Disillusionment Chronicles“).

Wednesday, May 14, 2008.  The twins left this morning with their parents to visit Hong Kong for two weeks.  It’s the twins’ first time!  Phoebe was so sweet and sent me a postcard right before she left.  Linton called in the afternoon and asked if I wanted to hear a speaker talk about Darfur that evening.  Sure.  He called Vickie (still in San Antonio), and I called Elliot (visiting cousin).  Greg Wang and Chris came, too.  Later the three of us went to Two Rows to meet up with James and Peter to eat.  We didn’t get seated at a booth until 9:30 pm.  While waiting, James was on the phone and the three guys were chatting about who knows what.  They each ordered a Strawberry Blonde? beer in the meantime.  I was standing idly around awkwardly.  Then, the benches were empty so Linton and Chris sat down on one bench and Peter sat down next to me.  I picked up the Houston Press that was on the bench.  I flipped it open and the top said “Art” so I started reading.  He asked, “Do you you like art?”  I answered that I did, that I’ve had comments that I was pretty good at it (but I admit it’s only because I was copying), but I never thought to pursue it due to the influence of my upbringing.  Now that I’m out of college, I’ve starting contemplating the meaning of art, that it ISN’T a waste of time.  Peter agreed, saying that our parents push only for business, medicine, or law.  I said that they didn’t exactly push those specifics, but they DID push in their nondirect way for something that is likely to be viable soon out of college.  Somehow we segued into comedy.  He informed me of The Aristocrats (which initially I was imagining The Producers previews).  He said he wanted to be able to do that someday, just on-the-spot give a sparkling rendition of the joke.  I didn’t know that the Bob Saget was a well-rounded comedian, meaning that he also uses pretty foul language when not on family-friendly shows.  We discussed comedy in general, like cussing at every other word (or faking stereotypical accents all the time) is really desperation, not smart humor (this includes the Silk Mangos).  He tried to name a few that weren’t too sexual, but it was funny how Chris and James completely refuted them, saying that they were pretty bad.  After we were seated, Braden showed up with Jennifer Ma.  Jennifer didn’t remember Chris or me, but she did realize that she knew Peter.  I learned about Braden’s brother Daven’s marriage.  Jennifer left, Susan came later, then the couple left with like 5 beers ($1 during Wednesday Happy Hour).  I ordered the pot roast sandwich with beans, which the waiter recommended, but I got mushrooms, so I asked, and so I got to eat both, hehe.

Thursday, May 15, 2008.  James called to invite me to dinner at Yantze.  He said maybe Linton could pick me up, so I called.  I went to his house, then he drove us to Phoebe/Hannah’s to feed Missy (who’s 10 years old).  They turned off their water, so he had to scoop it up to distribute.  I’ve never really got a good look at her before.  It was cute that they gave her a big umbrella over her doghouse.  Linton told me not to mess with a hole in the ground, which is a favorite spot of hers–interesting.  Linton says he usually gives her two doggie treats, and I got the preferred one (a red cylindrical stick), but I guess since I was a stranger to her she wouldn’t take it from me.  Then, she ate the other bone-shaped treat.  Linton finally said that I probably shouldn’t be taking pictures with the flash because she might be interpretting it as lightning.  Peter was at dinner as well (his Mandarin Chinese last name is the same as mine).  As we walked to decided between JuiceBox and Star Snow Ice and Teriyaki, we saw Jocelyn Chen and Nike eating at FuFu’s.  They joined us at Star Snow afterwards.  Originally it was going to be more people but turned out only the two of them showed up.  James and Jocelyn met him at the Meta retreat.  He got his name because his ex-girlfriend gave it to him.  He later found out that his sister ended up with the name Nike as well, and they were thinking of changing his name to Adidas since he has everything (sponsor) of that, but he didn’t change it.  When Linton found out that this 35-year-old used to be on some sort of official Chinese basketball team, he asked for his autograph (both English and Chinese).  This guy is trying to get his fifth degree (business, computer science, i forget…) and he says ideally he would be married at the age of 37, although he knows that might not be accomplished given that’s only two years away and he is still single.  Jocelyn commented that James really wants to get married soon, which James was embarrassed about.  They asked Linton how he and Phoebe got together.  Then, Jocelyn told Nike that Hannah’s still single/available.  On the drive home, somehow Linton and I ended up briefly discussing instant gratification, and how that has affected how our generation doesn’t seem to stay at a job too long, the rising divorce rates, etc.

Friday, May 16, 2008.   Greg Wang replied that he was going to join us at Discovery Green (he planned to eat at the happy hour at The Grove but they didn’t have one so he had the cheap food at the LakeHouse which he says he wouldn’t recommend).  At the last minute I called Henry, who said he’d come.  I went to Elliot’s house, and he drove us to see if Charles was home.  He knocked and rang the bell, and I observed upstairs, but we didn’t notice a presence there (his car wasn’t there, either).  Then we went to Henry’s, who said he didn’t care if Elliot’s car didn’t have A/C.  However, Elliot did, so he consented.  Henry drove the three of us to Pappas BBQ (it was okay).  Henry got a half/half combo of sausage and beef slices with potato salad and cole slaw; I got pulled pork with potato salad and candied yams, and Elliot simply got a burger with fries (finally decided against a baked potato).  He also ate our breads that we didn’t eat, hehe, like a beggar. 

We caught the second half of the last UH act.  Henry went to explore the park for the first time since the dance didn’t interest him.  Elliot and I tried to understand but was at a lost.  There were certain patterns, such as their head movements and picking up someone and making a turn, but Elliot made this comment:  “I’m going to tell David [Kalloor] that I saw something he would’ve made.”  Greg said that this is the weirdest of all the acts he’s seen (since he was there on time).  “Green”, which was performed by the Travesty Dance Group, Karen Stokes’ company (she’s also the head of the dance department in the University of Houston School of Theatre and Dance), and the UH Dance Ensemble on the outdoor Anheuser-Busch Stage, was followed at 8:30 pm by a screening of The Cost of Living, presented by the Aurora Picture Show. The 34-minute movie takes place in a seaside town where street performers David and Eddie struggle to find work and romance. The film incorporates sharp humor about the notions of how the fit and unfit are supposed to act.  I loved it– what with their friendship, the hula-hoop girl, the “Believe” by Cher guy with his exaggerated movements, the ballet scene, the bar scene, the insanely hyperenergetic Eddie, the dancing after the rude video non-interview, the last beach scene….not so hot on the fondling and didn’t understand the restroom scene.  I also loved how they showed it, on a huge moon-walk-type screen, hehe!

• Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itDRZlc7d8U&feature=related
• Part 1:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDTYRbsKcoQ
• Part 2:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrxuexKFPOM
• Part 3:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyAVLc6t5Fg
• Part 4:  …http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcpcujComks
• Part 5:
• Part 6:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHBLrfs2pJc&feature=related
• Part 7:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGjR5h9kYFY
• Part 8:
• Part 9:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQkhQWBx6us&feature=related
• Part 10: 

Afterwards we somewhat played on the playground.  The design was interesting (what is the mound supposed to be? I took a picture of the two of them).  I didn’t know they had the gliding-across-on-a-handle!  We had that in the Sugar Creek park but they took it away.  Wow, Discovery Green even had two height levels.  Yes, Elliot, I relived my childhood memory :).  Linton had to drop off Rebecca at the airport so he couldn’t join us.  He started driving to join us, but the movie was so short so he went to James Wei’s place.  After dropping off Henry off, Elliot and I joined them, where Brian Hui and Chris were as well.  They never DID decide what to do (they ate at Kim Son at 7 pm).  We ended up just hanging around.  They were watching the basketball playoffs on James’s laptop.  Vickie IMed James, so Chris started typing on it, egged on by Linton.  I don’t know if Brian played a part in it, but they did get James to say out loud “Hey baby” LOL.  Then they called Vickie on the computer; she didn’t have a speaker but she could hear us.  She said she heard a female voice.  Linton said lots of girls were here, and Vickie said she’d tell Phoebe haha.  They said it was the TV, but Vickie then thought it was me so she called my cell.  I actually had no idea what was going on, just playing Sequence with Elliot (he got the first sequence, but then I got the last two - with a wild).  The four guys were drinking.  Chris many times had to put a barrier between him and Linton.  James was so tired he fell asleep.  They started doing push-ups with the bar stool, with one hand, two hands, triangle, and rolling on the floor (which James apparently does a lot of??).  I got back home around 1 am.  Linton and Chris left after the game ended; Chris had to work tomorrow and Linton had an Access meeting at 9:15 am.  On the news on the night news, they showed someone with excessive hair with his family and friends.  I couldn’t find the one mentioned on the news, but I did find someone who proudly calls himself the Wolf Man and others who also have Hirsutism / Hypertrichosis. Below are also some other people with rare diseases/disorders/conditions:

• Hand in Hand, choreography by Zhao Limin, performed by Ma Li and Zhai Xiaowei
• “Tree Man” Dede has Epidermodysplasia verruciformis or something related to HPV
• “Pig Baby“ needs support:  http://www.babymiracle.co.nz/ 
• “Elephant Man“
• Blind boy puts on eyes like contact lenses
• Eight-limbed Asian Indian girl Lakshmi Tatma believed by some to be the reincarnation of the multi-limbed Hindu goddess Vishnu

Saturday, May 17, 2008.  Dad left this morning with Gloria Sun’s parents to Austin (since she’s graduating) to drop off Andrew’s VISA to China.  Mom woke me up to join her in a free lunch at King Bo II to honor her dedication in teaching Chinese school at FBCC.  We took up three big round tables.  Stefi, Jennifer Lin, and Rosanna were there.  Stefi’s finishing up her junior year of college at A&M studying biomedical science.  She’s also getting ready for the MCAT, but “I need a backup plan.”  Jennifer worked on a 6×6 Rubik’s cube.  The Chinese ladies talked up a storm.  Howard’s mom, dad, and brother Brian (but not Howard) were also in the restaurant at a separate table.  In the evening, I went to Jing’s early birthday dinner at Goode Seafood Company.  James said there should be a couples table and a singles table, but Jocelyn wanted to sit with the couples, and I wanted to sit with at least one other girl.  It was awkward because Jing’s girlfriend Evelyn sat in front of me, then to my diagonal right was her friend Christine and thus her boyfriend Stephen sat to my right.  The other table had Steve, Will (who’s he?), Jonathan, Linton, Brian, Peter, and James.  Eve sat with her boyfriend, Eveline sat with Michael, and then it was Jocelyn and me and his girlfriend and friends.  Evelyn met Jing during their internships; she’s studying accounting at UT Austin.  Christine is a recent Rice graduate, and Stephen graduated from UT AUstin last year (May 2007?).  They’re pretty and polite but didn’t really converse with Jocelyn or me, only unless we asked questions.  They had their own thing going.  Evelyn does yoga 6x/week and is not interested in swing dancing.  Afterwards the four of them used the helium from the balloons on the table (it’s prom night) to talk high-pitched.  Linton, Jocelyn (4 in a row), and I took lots of pictures then dispersed.  After yes/no/yes/no/yes, Linton and I stopped by James’s place to “help” him pack for his week in Orlando, FL.  I read James’s binder out loud.  Linton drank a Shiner and chatted on IM with Chris (”hey baby cakes”) LOL.  “is this vicky?”  James asked, “Do you like Chris?”  I was lying on the couch but perked up and asked back, “What?”  I couldn’t imagine him asking that outrightly from me, and I was the only female in the room.  But he was asking Linton, so he answered, “Yes.”  That was odd….  James wanted to share “dark secrets” but ended up explaining his job to Linton on his work laptop.  Masturbation was spoken on, though; Vickie said, “I’m sorry you had to go through that [night]” haha.  Eh, I’m used to guys.

Sunday, May 18, 2008.  I talked with my brother on the phone for an hour.  I ate leftovers for lunch, wrote about the weekend, then watched Dead Like Me on TV.  Dad returned at 9:30 pm, as predicted by Mom.  Vickie went out to the UT Rec Fields to hopefully play another game (be recruited if they were missing players, which she was).  She gave me a call.  Dad walked with my mom, then returned and walked with me outside around the neighborhood at 11 pm (interesting that the street lights went off as we passed by, then as we crossed the street and turned around to give it another glance, it turned back on).

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.

Since Vickie was back in town, she wanted to make plans so that during the times of no plans she could structure her studying/schoolwork time.  Linton suggested to Phoebe who suggested to Vickie to eat at Cafe Montrose: A taste of Belgium! because it was different.  Vickie got there first and asked for a table, but they asked if we had any reservations.  No…and your restaurant is empty….  They had to check in the back and then gave us the big table in the back near the criss-crossed wine holders (and fake HUGE wine bottles).  The lighting was “romantically” dim.  Vickie, Chris, Jonathan, and James were there first, and Linton drove Phoebe, Hannah, and me.  (I had asked to carpool but no one had answered me so I called Phoebe then Linton.  After confirmation, James called to say that if i still needed a ride Jonathan was going to pick him up and he could also pick me up as well.)  Jonathan and James ordered the $16 three-course special.  I got the disappointing $16 beef stew with the boiled potatoes (as recommended by the waiter).  Hannah bought the curry mussels (with fries) while Phoebe got the garlic mussels.  Yum!  Linton doesn’t like mussels, though.  And yes, the place did end up filling up by 8:30 pm.

Turns out the other location for Swirll doesn’t open this weekend, so we went to the original location where Oliver Huang works.  He told us to go ahead and try it (even though the grand opening was no more).  I didn’t want to eat all their resources so I didn’t sample again since I had sampled last weekend.  Eventually James and Jonathan had to leave because Jonathan is biking in the BP MS 150 and James is going with Braden, Vincent Tao, etc. to go jet skiing.  We were sitting around on the unique chairs they had.  I asked what people would do if they had one year off (question 1 from below).  Chris and Hannah said they’d travel.  What would I do?  I was thinking out loud and didn’t realize I was vague because in my mind I had some inclining.  Chris teased me that I was giving a general answer that anyone would give, since I was saying “learning” or “doing something”, etc.  So I tried to be more specific, like imitating another’s OT idea incorporating it into missions, or researching the healthcare system, or learning how to tap dance - or any dancing….

1. “If your company gave one-year paid sabbaticals, what would you do for that year?  Are you doing anything like that right now?”  This reveals passions, priorities, goals, secret desires….
2. “Will you share an embarrassing moment with me?”  This reveals security in self, ability to be vulnerable, able to take self lightly, able to continue after failures….
3. “If your house were on fire, what’s the one thing you’d make sure to save?  Why?”  This reveals sentimentaligy, practicality, values, what’s close to the heart….
4. “What’s the biggest misperception people have about you?”  This reveals how s/he views him/herself, how you can adjust your own opinion of others, dispels bad first impressions….
5. “What’s the one life experience you want a do-over on?”  This reveals regrets, character….

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.

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!

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