Countdown

MySpace Countdown Clocks

Countdown

MySpace Countdown Clocks

Trip Planning

I've been busy with work and just looked at the calendar the other when it hit me. Ireland is six weeks away!!! True I'm working with a company that gives us a self drive tour, where we (the four girls on this trip) can go off the beaten track and meander on our own sightseeing places without the touristy guide. The nice thing about a self-drive tour is that you don't have to worry about your lodging, it's part of the package along with your rental car agreement and a tentative map. Still having a good trip means pre-planning and organizing. You need to know where you're going and since this is a trip that you've waited for all year you sure don't want to miss a thing. People say I'm anal because I make so many to-do list but you read any travel books and they will all tell you the same thing, a good trip takes good planning. Because once you arrive at your destination you don't want to worry about how to get from point A to point B, where to get food, money, bathrooms, etc. You want to enjoy yourself! So I spent this past weekend mapping out how to get from one lodging to another and highlighting it on my Michelen map. Now that I know where to get from our lodging I can see what sights are nearby and then figure out to how veer from the main roadways to get there. The way it looks like right now it appears as though plenty of driving is going to happen and I just hope my travelmates all get along cause we have no choice we will be cooped up in the car 1/2 the time getting out to take pictures, eat (I'm thinking picnic lunches is in order and maybe some picnic dinners!) and walk around to enjoy the scenery. After all isn't Ireland all about the land and it's people??

I'll keep you all posted on how planning goes.

Bleak times ahead

The economy hasn't gotten any better with the new presidency and frankly time is running short. How it affects me is that my work place is laying off 100 more people than they originally projected which means the rollback to my division is going to affect a few good people on my shift. From what I hear due to the budget crisis and the fact that the local Law Enforcement didn't get the necessary amount of money it needs to keep functioning at the current level it is in protecting the citizen, chaos is soon predicted to ensue. I fear for my deputies and family who live in this county, if they don't know how to protect themselves then they are at loss because there isn't enough resources available to them due to budget cuts. I can picture total anarchy going to happen or perhaps we will go back to the days of the "wild west" and that is one ugly picture but it is so going to happen if some money doesn't come in quick! The federal business stimulus money that the President keeps promising just means more taxes in my eyes and frankly I don't put much hope in men lately. What politicians promise and what they actually do is two very different things! But one thing is re-assuring that God is still in control and has a reason for placing people in high power that we don't understand at the moment. Frankly I think He's punishing us for turning away from Him and even though 9/11 happened the country still has yet to turn back to seeing Him. Sad really when you realized that what we need right now is a revival of the D.L Moody, Charles Spurgeon & Jonathan Edwards magnitude. So where are the Godly leaders who will take the stand? Speak the truth? Yes my friends, it is definitely bleak times ahead not just for my department but for the entire country itself.

Bone tired

I've just worked 13 days straight including 2 court appearances. Considering that some of my coworkers who have been at my work place longer than I have and have yet to see a subpoena, I apparently hold some kind of record for taking the stand. My nerves were raw and taunt at the first appearance but yesterday's second was not so bad considering I've already gotten over my first time in court. It was odd and fascinating at the same time to be part of the judiciary system. Needless to say the butterflies were flying in full and that added to the tenseness of my muscles, nerves!

But that isn't the only thing adding to what at times I feel like the weight of the world on my shoulders. Due to California's financial crisis there has been the L word (lay-offs) hanging over the work place and since the shift I work on is mostly composed of new people it is that shift which will be the most affected. When you take away funds to your local Law Enforcement Agency, you are limiting their capabilities of protecting the very citizens that is paying for protection but it feels like everyone has to take a cut. There hasn't been an official word on how many people will be laid-off but it is a significant amount. So now you know why after working 13 days straight I sure could use that Catalunyan Cava right now. =) I can feel the stress and tenseness seeping through the muscles into the bones and it's not a very good feeling. Let's just hope sleep comes soundly because otherwise the bags under my eyes will be larger than the carryons people are allowed to have on planes!

Puppy Love

It is rather amusing to watch my brother these days. He is definitely in "puppy love" which is defined in the dictionary as 'the temporary infatuation of a boy or girl for another person'. Watching this first hand brings back memories of high school and my friends when they began their interest in the opposite sex. The long talks at night where you say absolutely nothing and everything, the notes at school (or these days it's text messages), the smiles between you and that significant other, inside jokes that only you two understand because it happened during one of those late night talks and of course the sappiness in those letters/e-mail/text messages and notes. It's very cute to watch this since he's never been in "love" before. The innocence of it all is endearing and reminds you that not everyone is as jaded as you are!

Do you remember your first crush? Have you seen what they look like now? Do you go back and look at it with a little laughter thinking how naive you were back then or do you still pine for that person? Time is supposed to heal all wounds but sometimes we like to pick at the scab so it won't heal right and it still stings. =) What time of memories do you have?

Oh to be young again...

I’m sorry I haven’t been keeping up on this blog. But this past month has been such a busy month for me emotionally and there are just some things you can’t share. I must say that there have been plenty of times where I wished I was still a kid again. The responsibilities of being an adult can at times be so overwhelming. I mean why did I ever want to hurry and grow up? As a grown up you have bills to pay, a job to go to where at times you may not get along with the people you work with, parents who need you to take care of them, mortgages to pay, your health to worry about. So can anyone remind me again of why it’s so fun being a grown up? Oh and did I mention that being a single person your choices on a mate deteriorate with the years passing you by. Yeah right now I’m wishing I was still 10 years old! Running around the playground with friends, my biggest worry is how to solve fractions and long divisions, and still living at home (okay so the latter part is still true in my life! But hey with the economy the way it is, living at home is cheaper than on your own these days =])

Goodbyes

There is a quote from Shakespear's Romeo & Juliet "parting is such sweet sorrow" that is often cited in different occasions. Tonight I had to say goodbye to one of the best supervisor's I've had the honor to work with and it was just like the quote sweet but at the same time sorrowful. This man was such a great person to work with, he managed to find that balance between authority and comraderie in the work place. For the most part I like my shift but before Mel came to our shift there wasn't that bond between the new peopel and the veterans. Mel brought our shift together by his sense of humor. He would try to scare us by hiding around corners and got me good a few times including once while I was on the radio talknig. But he also managed to maintain his authority and there was never any doubt as to who was in charge. Good leaders like him are hard to find these days! The kind that can motivate their people to work without raising their voice, create an environment where people still feel free to express themselves and yet be productive, and yet maintain a sense of decorum and order. He was wonderful and we're going to miss him.

But like most good people he had to move on and leave us quicker than the rest. So being the good team that we were, we gave him a good farewell to show our appreciation to him being a great supervisor. Hopefully he will stop by to visit once in a while since he's still with the department. He just moved to a different division, so it's not a complete and finite parting!

Letting go of Friends

These past two weeks have been rather trying for me in my relationships with friends. I've had to say good-bye to two friends who I've known for a combined total of 25 years. That's a long time! One of the friendship that I've had to let go I was tried of being the only one inputting time and effort to keep it alive. It was like trying to give oxgen to something that was brain dead, yeah not a pretty picture I know but that it seemed like to me. So I had to cut that relationship and let it go. The other one came out of nowhere! I was not expecting a "Dear John" e-mail from this person even though I haven't heard from her in a month or two when I do call her. But she sent me the e-mail and asked me to not contact her. I was rather sad on reading the e-mail but respected her for letting me know. I wish I could say that I cried but my tears ducts have decided to quit working for me right when I need them too! So now there is just this dull feeling inside. But I know as in life there are many twist and turns in our journey and friends may come and go.

Weekend in VA

This weekend I drove 7 hours to VA so I can visit my old roommate and friend KB. I haven't seen KB since she was a newlywed and kids free. These days she has two adorable kids and I'm so thankful she blogs so I can keep up with her. The drive was long and Friday it was raining from Greenville, SC to VA. All through North Carolina I didn't see much since it was such a torrential down pour that I can barely see the cars ahead of me. Then just as I crossed over the VA state line there was a "traffic jam" which made me laugh because it was a two lane highway and all traffic was at a standstill. A trip that mapquest said would take me 7hours 21 minutes ended up being about 8 hours. But it was lovely seeing KB and her family, the kids were still up when I pulled in and I got attend their bedtime routine which included prayer and a Bible story. It was so refreshing to see godly parenting!

Saturday Laura came up and we all (with the exception of Jon, KB's hubby who had to work) went to the Marine Corp musuem. Michael was fascinated with what he saw and I must say I was very inspired. It made me want a Marine! LOL But seriously the museum is worth visiting if you're near Quantico. First off it is FREE admission and then you learn about the history of the Marine Corps. They had lectures too, which was interesting but you needed more time to sit in and actually listening. I thought it was rather concidential that the lecture of the afternoon was the Irish in the Marine! But I didn't last long since there was more to see and of course a gift shopt to visit! =)

Life size images of Marines getting out of a helicopter.

This man is a statue!

After the museum we went to the mall where Michael got his own Build-A-Bear. He chose a stuffed doggy with a police uniform. The naming part was a bit tough since Michael had all sorts of ideas on what to call his new toy from Boney to Bob Jones, KB finally settled for Sebastian. =)

We stopped off at the Home show where Jon was working and walked around for a bit. It was cool how some of the booths were elaborately set up with a full fountain or patio sets. Michael was fascinated by the fake fireplaces. Then it was back home for dinner, put the kids to bed and a few hours of Dutch Blitz. I must say I got caught up with my lack of Dutch Blitz in years just this weekend! Boy did that bring back some memories of mid-terms and finals at college. =)

Jon and his business

Michael copying the frog pose

Sunday was church then lunch at Olive Garden. Laura had to go home so we took afternoon naps, myself included =) which was nice in KB's couch in the great room. Got an evening service in and then I was taken to a Fredricksberg landmark, Carl's Ice Cream. That was some delicious ice cream and the place has been there since the 1950's apparently. They were still using the same ice cream maker so it definitely had the old fashion feel, too bad I left my camera in the car. But it was so quaint and very All-American to go get ice cream after church =) gave me that warm fuzzy feeling I thought I'd lost due to the harshness of my job. It's nice knowing you can still feel that way around good wholesome people!

Needless to say I had a great weekend! It was fun seeing KB again and getting to know her adorable kids. They were such a joy to be around. KB and Jon are doing some wonderful parenting where they're not afraid to discipline and correct their children. I've never known someone so young who could just start to talk say the "magic word" of please and thank you at that age. That is such a rare thing to find in this day and age.

A challenge

Last night's speaker at BC was Pastor Ollila and he covered Nehemiah 8. He had three points:
1.The Preacher
2. The Preaching
3. The People

I'm not going to go over every note I took just because I took some really lousy notes =) But what I got out of the night was this challenge during the second point. A subpoint under the Preaching was that the Preaching of Nehemiah brought Conviction to the people. It was actually an illustration that he used. Bet I got you curious now right? =) Well the challenge was list 50 "I am" about yourself. Can you do that? I'm still working on my list!

Back at the bubble

Yes I have returned back to my Alma matter, Bob Jones University aka "the bubble". The flight back east was uneventful it was what happened once I got into town that stressed me out. Let's just say that there are times when I wished I wasn't so impulsive to take up a challenge without really thinking it through!

The campus has changed a lot since I graduated and even though I was here a little over a year ago to drop of my brother for his Freshman year; change has occurred since then. The Rodeheaver Auditorium got a much needed face lift and it looks very sleek and modern now to really complete the front entry look of the campus. Lots of new modern looking buildings, lighting around the campus and the general landscaping has changed since my freshman year 10 years ago. Yeah I felt old when I realized that too! =)

One of the first things that made me sigh in contentment and gave that coming home feel was entering the FMA. The ushers were still there handsome, standing tall and directing traffic, the fact that from almost anywhere you sit you get a good view of the whole place and can spot familar faces of teachers in the crowd. Then the singing began and oh my that is when I finally calmed down from the earlier drama at the airport. I missed the beautiful sound of people singing in perfect harmony, at times I used to think this is what being in heaven and singing with the angels must sound like. The music and just the general aura of people glad to be there, smiling wholesome faces of law abiding citizens. It was so refreshing! Of course I had to peek at the first page of the University Hymnal and there it was...the University Creed. For those reading this and who have gone to BJU, can you still remember the creed? =) I only got as far as the first statment! LOL

The speaker of the evening was Dr. Hartog III and he covered Numbers 14 with Murmurring as the topic. It was such a good sermon and reminder of how you miss blessings because of griping. His three points that I got were:
1-Murmurring shows lack of gratitude to God
2-Murmurring shows lack of submission to the Devine leadership
3-Murmurring gives evidence in the lack of fatih.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the week and my visit!

Lasik

Okay so one of my closest friend and I have been talking about getting Lasik done these past few months. She did the research, being a nurse and all, while I just followed. A nice change of pace since on the trips we take, I do the research and she just follows along. But she found this doctor who's had a great reputation for successful surgeries and he's done a few people in the Department. So three weeks ago we both went in together to get our eyes evaluated and see if we are a candidate for surgery. The process wasn't too bad, it was just like going to vist your optometrist.

My friend did her surgery last week and I met up with her on Monday. She could see clearly and was able to drive herself to the post-op visit the day after surger. It was amazing and she loved it! So today it was my turn to go. Let me just say that reading the consent form will scare you a lot and then your imagination starts goin off in that "worst case scenario" way. Not a good thing! They offer you some Valium before surgery, which I was told I should take. That totally helped mellow me out and by the time I was going in the surgery room I was really feeling relaxed. The nurse kinda smiled as she said "so you took the Valium? your eyes are glazed over". But hey that made the post op nap really nice and long. The actual surgery was really quick about two minutes long!

When I woke up I could see the TV from where I was sleeping on the couch, the clock on the wall and then looking out the window I can see the trees clearly. It was such an odd feeling to see things without glasses. But I must say the dryness is starting to bother me and I've been using the artificial tears like crazy to sooth my eyes.

Was it worth it? YES! Absolutley! The amout of money you save through the year from not buying contacts, solutions, new glasses and increase in eye prescripting is a big plus.

Slow Dance

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down, don't dance so fast.
Time is short, the music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask "How are you?" do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,
With the next hundred chores running through your head?

You'd better slow down, don't dance so fast.
Time is short, the music won't last.

Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die?
Cause you never had time to call and say "Hi!"?
                              
You'd better slow down, don't dance so fast.
Time is short, the music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,
You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,
It's like an unopened gift thrown away.

Life is not a race, do take it slower.
Hear the music, before the song is over.

A busy month

I'm sorry I haven't updated this blog in awhile but February was a busy month unexpectedly. It started off with a visit to the dentist after I thought I chipped a tooth. What it turned out to be was part of my root canal, the tip, falling off due to poor workmanship. So I had to go back for a root canal and crown. Not a fun two weeks I tell you!

Single Awareness Day (aka Valentine's Day) was uneventful as it was the week after that I looked forward to the most. That was the week I would meet the Sharks and go behind the scenes. My favorite hockey team and me getting to meet some of them! I was so excited!!


Marcel Goc Doug Wilson & Ricci JR's uniform

I also finally finished my Spain scrapbook, one of the thickest one's I have now. But taht is due to so many pictures I took! Oh well, maybe March will be a little bit less frantic. We shall see!

Dinner with a friend

I love having one of my dearest friends in town who doesn't work for the department! Tonight Allison and I went out for dinner since we've not been able to catch up all week. She was working the whole weekend and normally I see her at church on Sundays to catch up but not this week. Anyways I took her to this Thai place not too far from her house called Tuk-tuk. The food was really good and not too spicy.

And no we didn't plan to wear pink sweaters tonight, that was totally accidental!

Heaven help me from well meaning people

So this Sunday a lady at church pulled me over to the side and said "I want to introduce you to someone". I thought she meant a visitor to the church, but that is not the case! This lady wants to set me up with someone.

What I don't get is why do people think something is wrong with me just because I am single? I am content and happy being single. IF God wants to bring a man in my life then He will do it in His time. So thank you for your offers but please....let God do His work.

You never know who's watching

Last night I took some friends out to San Francisco since they've never been out West before. It was pretty fun! I took them up to the Twin Peaks which has this great view of the whole city and part of the other town. Then we rode the cable car up and around the hills of San Francisco. I found out where the ZARA store is located but they didn't have the perfume I liked there. So we rode the cable car back to the 'crookedest road' and then hopped off to take a walk down that road. My brother took some crazy pictures of him trying to do this break dance move on the crooked road. Then I took them to Ghiradelli square so that they could purchase chocolates for their family back hom. I found out that Bill & Jess have never eaten at a Bubba Gumps before and since there was one at Pier 39 we went there for dinner. Being belivers praying before a meal is pretty typical and nothing out of the ordinary for us. Dinner was great with good food and great conversations. My brother told stories of his Society's jokes and pranks, while Bill & Jess shared their stories from the 'good old days' at BJU. What was interesting was what happened near the end of our dinner. This lady comes up to our table and says "I just wanted to tell you that I noticed you guys saying Grace earlier and it just made an impression on me. You guys are Christians right? Well you saying a prayer before your meal just made an impression on me and I just wanted to let you know." We were a bit stunned and didn't know what to say other than Thank you and God Bless you.

What amazes me is how a simple act that is so common to us can make such a impact on someone unknowingly watching us! So you never know who is watching you and your testimony even though you do such mundane, common things. Guess we really are a Light in this world whether we think so or not.

Weddings

My friend, Anne, got married today. I was one of the bridesmaid and it was a nice, typical American wedding. I say typical because it was less than 30 minutes long and so far the American weddings I've been to are like that short, sweet to the point. You march down the aisle, light the unity candle, say the vows, the minister says a few words (or a sermon) in the midst of all these are special number(s) and then boom it's done. The minister pronounces you as husband and wife, walk back down the aisle and out the door. What I did notice today was that the pictures took longer than I thought it would. Anne hired a professional photographer and I can't wait to see how her pictures turned out. The bridesmaids were all in the same shade of red but different styles and the groomsmen were rather dapper in their suits. But as usual the show stealer were the ring bearer and flower girl. =) The ring bearer was Anne's nephew and he just skipped down the aisle while the flower girl meticulously dropped a flower carefuly as she walked slowly down the aisle. It was a nice and lovely ceremony and the bride and groom were very much in love. Then it was over and the reception was held at our church. I sat at the kids table, (mind you not on purpose!) where basically the flower girl and one of the guest daughter sat down to where I was and the ring bearer occasionally came over. He had too much energy to sit still. When they did the boquet toss, the bride purposefully threw it to me but I deflected it and sent to a younger child whose brother caught the garter. Yeah I wasn't ready to be the next one to get married and as one of the bride's friends whom I also know pointed out...I travel around too much to stand still long enough for a man to catch me. =) Now that was a nice thought (even though I don't belive it myself that that is the reason why I'm still single) for her to try to ease the extremely annoying thought of "WHY AM I STILL SINGLE?" that has been trying to get me to go down into the depression spiral. But the wedding was lovely, the reception was casual and fun with plenty of leftovers and Anne is now Mrs. Christopher Dorband.

Of course if this was an Asian wedding it would've been much longer! An Asian wedding is usually about an hour to two hours long (depending if you are Catholic and have a Mass) due to all the ceremonial things and the march of the sponsors alone takes at least 20 minutes. The principal sponsors could be godparents, counselors, a favorite uncle and aunt, even a parent. Secondary sponsors handle special parts of the ceremony, such as the candle, cord and veil ceremonies. Candle sponsors light two candles, which the bride and groom use to light a single candle to symbolize the joining of the two families and to invoke the light of Christ in their married life. Veil sponsors place a white veil over the bride’s head and the groom’s shoulders, a symbol of two people clothed as one. Cord sponsors drape the yugal (a decorative silk cord) in a figure-eight shape–to symbolize everlasting fidelity–over the shoulders of the bride and groom. Then there is the sermon or speech given by the officiating person, saying the vows, exchanging rings and in between all these are a few songs and "special numbers". So needless to say it is a large and long ordeal, but the reception after is worth the wait! Because there is a ton of food at the reception, you can have everything from roasted pig, lumpias to this elaborate wedding cake. And then there is the dancing to do, part of the ceremonial dance at the reception, some couples incorporate a ‘money dance’ where guests pin peso (or dollar!) bills on either the bride or groom in return for a chance to dance with them. Also at the end newlyweds release a pair of white doves during the reception to signify a peaceful and harmonious marital relationship.

New Year's Tradition

Every year my family and now our church sets goals for the upcoming year instead of resolutions. It is a five part goals and then we do a Verse to claim for the new year. Here is the format with some examples.

I. My relationship to God-COMMITMENT
1. Make a list of blessings
2. Memorize verses
3. Have devotional time everyday

II. My relationship to my family-CONFIDENCE
1.Take kids out to the library
2. Invite teenage daughter for a special breakfast
3. Do family game night once a month

III. My relationship to my self-COURAGE
1. Develop a daily exercise plan
2. Try a new hair style
3. Treat myself to a manicure

IV. My relationship in homemaking-CONCERNS
1. Make floral arrangement or centerpiece table
2. Clean out linen closet and rearrange according to size
3. Paint the dining room

V. My relationship to others-COMPASSION
1. Write notes of appreciation to two people
2. Take food for needy friend
3. Send the missionary a care package

Verse to claim for the year.

The great thing about this is when you look over your list on Dec. 31st and see if you've accomplished your goals there is that feeling of accomplishment. What I also find amazing is the verse that you claim at the beginning of the year is woven throughout the whole year in such unexpected and unique ways that allows you to truly see God's hand at work.

I hope this list will inspire you to set goals for the upcoming year!