Besides video games and not sleeping, I figured out what else has consumed my time here in Houston. We've been watching a lot of Food Network and a lot of Iron Chef. Tonight's special ingredient is Shanghai cabbage with Yaginuma (Hei Chin Rou's head chef coach) vs. Iron Chef Chen.
Update: way to pull through Kenichi.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Hours:
Happy New Years Eve Eve!
My days here have been filled with lots of video gaming, movie watching, and odd-hour sleeping. Actually, not a lot of the last item when I think about it and I've been sleeping in make-shift places so my back has been fairly achy. I could use a good massage right about now.
Driving around Houston reminded me of two years ago. In that summer, my grandmother passed away. It was a pretty difficult time for everyone, and that first Christmas without her was a strange. Anyway, I was reminded of the funeral day because we were driving on 59, which is one of Houston's main highways. It's huge and flat. The gigantic caravan (police escort, seven limousines, and 30 to 40 following cars) and the fact that the police shut down the highway for us (drove ahead and pulled anyone on the road over)... it was the city of Houston paying respect to the amazing woman who definitely impacted the community in huge ways.
More random thoughts. A couple of my cousins, not to mention my sister, have been getting engaged and married. There's been the infusion of a few non-Chee's into our family get togethers. The sad thing is that it's discouraging. I like these infused people, but it's just that they have to undergo such torture to become part of the family. It's mostly my dad's generation's fault, but I guess that's normal. So I guess that's another thing I'll have to add to my list- an iron constitution and the will of a mighty tornado.
Lastly, a real huh: Last night we went to go play some Halo at my cousin's boyfriend's house. We got to play with a few of his random friends. One guy was briefly on my team because he received a phone call into his first game. It was his girlfriend, and we all had the opportunity to listen him argue with her about how he didn't kill her fish when she was away. He did feed them everyday according to him. I don't know, as far as I could gather he did what he was told to do. But at the same time he seemed a tad bit sketchy. I wouldn't trust him with my fish for a week, given what I could tell from those 15 minutes.
My days here have been filled with lots of video gaming, movie watching, and odd-hour sleeping. Actually, not a lot of the last item when I think about it and I've been sleeping in make-shift places so my back has been fairly achy. I could use a good massage right about now.
Driving around Houston reminded me of two years ago. In that summer, my grandmother passed away. It was a pretty difficult time for everyone, and that first Christmas without her was a strange. Anyway, I was reminded of the funeral day because we were driving on 59, which is one of Houston's main highways. It's huge and flat. The gigantic caravan (police escort, seven limousines, and 30 to 40 following cars) and the fact that the police shut down the highway for us (drove ahead and pulled anyone on the road over)... it was the city of Houston paying respect to the amazing woman who definitely impacted the community in huge ways.
More random thoughts. A couple of my cousins, not to mention my sister, have been getting engaged and married. There's been the infusion of a few non-Chee's into our family get togethers. The sad thing is that it's discouraging. I like these infused people, but it's just that they have to undergo such torture to become part of the family. It's mostly my dad's generation's fault, but I guess that's normal. So I guess that's another thing I'll have to add to my list- an iron constitution and the will of a mighty tornado.
Lastly, a real huh: Last night we went to go play some Halo at my cousin's boyfriend's house. We got to play with a few of his random friends. One guy was briefly on my team because he received a phone call into his first game. It was his girlfriend, and we all had the opportunity to listen him argue with her about how he didn't kill her fish when she was away. He did feed them everyday according to him. I don't know, as far as I could gather he did what he was told to do. But at the same time he seemed a tad bit sketchy. I wouldn't trust him with my fish for a week, given what I could tell from those 15 minutes.
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Froggy:
Random huh: tonight there was a tiny frog (about one inch in length) on the hood of my family's minivan. No idea where it came from. We were driving out of a Chinese shopping center. We just left it alone and went driving... we do not know where it went.
For a future post- reminiscing/blast from the past in Houston again.
For a future post- reminiscing/blast from the past in Houston again.
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Friday, December 23, 2005
Chickens:
I've heard a lot of weird dinner conversation in my days, but I think today's takes the cake.
My mom and my grandfather (father's side) were talking about their days long ago in China and how they used to be in the chicken business. As a child, my mom would help her dad with various maintainence tasks including injecting chickens with antibiotics and hormones. Anyway, they also talked about how the rooster gonads would be removed, often surgically, to keep them under control. And, as I learned, they are considered a delicacy and sometimes are traditionally fed to brides as a wish for fertility. You apparently cook the chicken gonads in wine. There were other details discussed on this topic, but it's just too weird...
Well, I suppose I wouldn't expect any less.
My mom and my grandfather (father's side) were talking about their days long ago in China and how they used to be in the chicken business. As a child, my mom would help her dad with various maintainence tasks including injecting chickens with antibiotics and hormones. Anyway, they also talked about how the rooster gonads would be removed, often surgically, to keep them under control. And, as I learned, they are considered a delicacy and sometimes are traditionally fed to brides as a wish for fertility. You apparently cook the chicken gonads in wine. There were other details discussed on this topic, but it's just too weird...
Well, I suppose I wouldn't expect any less.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Warmth:
Tomorrow's forecast- sunny with highs of 62 degrees in the afternoon. It'll be in the low 70's for a good part of next week. This is all in stark contrast to a week ago when the heat was broken and I woke up to a lovely 30 some degree house. Yeah, the 70 degree weather is nice, but it's not quite as enjoyable as it could be. The air is warm because of the humidity, not to mention that Houston is a top ranked pollution city. Whatever... it's certainly better than dying of pneumonia and freezing to death simultaneously.
I thought I'd just rub that all in while my clothes is drying. I've still got to pack before we leave in six hours!
Random thought: wouldn't it be fun to dig a pit? Not just a hole in the ground, but maybe a good pit trap that's like 8 feet deep. Yeah, that'd be neat.
I thought I'd just rub that all in while my clothes is drying. I've still got to pack before we leave in six hours!
Random thought: wouldn't it be fun to dig a pit? Not just a hole in the ground, but maybe a good pit trap that's like 8 feet deep. Yeah, that'd be neat.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Empty:
14 more hours and I will be free. I plan to sleep 8 of them away. Oh exams.
It seems like everyone's gone already. I miss people.
Four days until Christmas. It's odd. If you were there on that night in the stable, what would you do? What do you think baby Jesus would want you to do? Hah, it's a funny thing to think about, but if you were to be added into the naitivity scene... what would that look like? I hope my cloak wouldn't look like a dress. And I hope they would keep me as an Asian instead of turning me white.
No, but seriously. I would quietly cherish that moment. There exist too many reasons to explain exactly why. However, I do not see myself doing that quiet-cherishing during the next few upcoming days and Christmas day. There's a lot of hustle and bustle and a lot of superficiality floating around. I don't know, I guess I'm caught in a self-created limbo. I don't know what to expect or how exactly to be excited.
I'm also stuck on deciding what position my clay figurine would be in. Would I have one of those neat sheep-herding canes? I'm not really a shepherd, so I guess that wouldn't make sense.
It seems like everyone's gone already. I miss people.
Four days until Christmas. It's odd. If you were there on that night in the stable, what would you do? What do you think baby Jesus would want you to do? Hah, it's a funny thing to think about, but if you were to be added into the naitivity scene... what would that look like? I hope my cloak wouldn't look like a dress. And I hope they would keep me as an Asian instead of turning me white.
No, but seriously. I would quietly cherish that moment. There exist too many reasons to explain exactly why. However, I do not see myself doing that quiet-cherishing during the next few upcoming days and Christmas day. There's a lot of hustle and bustle and a lot of superficiality floating around. I don't know, I guess I'm caught in a self-created limbo. I don't know what to expect or how exactly to be excited.
I'm also stuck on deciding what position my clay figurine would be in. Would I have one of those neat sheep-herding canes? I'm not really a shepherd, so I guess that wouldn't make sense.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Filthy:
Upon fixing Peter's laptop, Ryan and I stumbled across a little something...
6398?!? Not quite the record, so we didn't have to resort to slightly shotgunning it.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Blast:
As in a blast from the past. This post should be pretty fun. It is, as somewhat requested/inquired about a while back ago, a few photos of me...
I think I'm the one to the left. Not really sure because I would think I would be in the position of where my younger brother is (JP, right) because that would be the better viewing spot and I would have the higher ranking to occupy that viewing location. This is probably in our old church building. Notice the sublimital message in the background. Mmm, IBM.
Third grade, I believe. Hawaiian day. Check out those awesome socks.
I'm on the left with Barney. You can just barely see the cool things in this pic. My awesome socks and the Clinton cutout.
Just looking gosh darn cute. With my awesome socks.
Probably the first day of school in fourth grade. And my awesome socks.
Me, just chillaxin'.
On our front door steps. I'm in the middle, holding one of many lego creations. I have no idea what's in my little brother's mouth.
One, by the driveway flower patch looking awfully... um merry. Note, awesome socks. Two, that's my self portrait painting. It was actually exhibited in a Smithsonian museum. I think it was the Hirschhorn? I should put that on my resume.
My sister, my cousin (also pictured previously), me and my older brother. We always wore bowties when we dressed up.
It all comes full circle. I am to the right and you can take a good gander at who is in the middle. This would have been taken in 1996 so I would be 11 and in the 5th/6th grade.
There's lots and lots more photos in that album (one of many) but I haven't the time to scan them. I must have really loved those socks.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Eclectic:
What a random night of things.
Halo, just to mash the brains a little.
ESTIEtotheD (5:48:11 PM): hey you sexy asian
ESTIEtotheD (5:48:21 PM): i'm over joel...wannamarry me?
The Family Stone - funny, but I really disliked a lot of the characters. A lot of whining. Definitely had its moments and points.
Jeff is a movie star. He's got a freak flag... and he's flying it.
In the quest to regain our masculinity (just kidding, but not really), we cooked meat and played more Halo. What a delicious steak! One of the best I've had recently. Are you jealous?
Halo, just to mash the brains a little.
ESTIEtotheD (5:48:11 PM): hey you sexy asian
ESTIEtotheD (5:48:21 PM): i'm over joel...wannamarry me?
The Family Stone - funny, but I really disliked a lot of the characters. A lot of whining. Definitely had its moments and points.
Jeff is a movie star. He's got a freak flag... and he's flying it.
In the quest to regain our masculinity (just kidding, but not really), we cooked meat and played more Halo. What a delicious steak! One of the best I've had recently. Are you jealous?
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Next:
Just gotta keep truckin' through I guess. I really should be passed out now.
So during this season, there's a lot more talk about angels. They're all over the Christmas tunes and represented in every nativity scene. This past Sunday School we read a little CS Lewis where he paints a picture of what it might look like when we die. He sort of says that the first thing that will happen when we enter the spiritual realm is we will actually be able to see the spiritual realm. Like a clearing of the eyes, we will see the angels that have been around in our lives and also the demons that haunted us. It kind of makes me wonder what's happening around me (but on the other side) now. Maybe if I think about it more, I may be more aware of the real angels instead of buying into the commercialized image.
Random, I still haven't had a dream in a really long time.
So during this season, there's a lot more talk about angels. They're all over the Christmas tunes and represented in every nativity scene. This past Sunday School we read a little CS Lewis where he paints a picture of what it might look like when we die. He sort of says that the first thing that will happen when we enter the spiritual realm is we will actually be able to see the spiritual realm. Like a clearing of the eyes, we will see the angels that have been around in our lives and also the demons that haunted us. It kind of makes me wonder what's happening around me (but on the other side) now. Maybe if I think about it more, I may be more aware of the real angels instead of buying into the commercialized image.
Random, I still haven't had a dream in a really long time.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Finals:
The beginning of the end. May I not in this time forget where I have come from.
I was looking through some old blog posts just now. I'm talking about Fall semester 2003, baby. I'm glad I have some accounts and reflections that show me how far I've come since then. It's a good thing to keep on file.
Do you remember... BBB? Who could forget? Me. I guess I've been busy and worried about some other things going on around these days, but that's no excuse. The truth remains, I am blessed beyond belief. There is so much I have and so many people/things I am thankful for right now. Not just thankful. Thankful to God, because I can specifically cite where things happen not because of my own volition.
Something else that has been resonating (I don't like using that word in this fashion because it doesn't fit perfectly with the physical concept) with me recently:
"Oh Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight"
When I've had the opportunity to be a little quiet with myself lately, I've gotten a little more excited about this journey, this adventure. I don't know why. I'll do this weird thing where I'll smile to myself. Huh?
I was looking through some old blog posts just now. I'm talking about Fall semester 2003, baby. I'm glad I have some accounts and reflections that show me how far I've come since then. It's a good thing to keep on file.
Do you remember... BBB? Who could forget? Me. I guess I've been busy and worried about some other things going on around these days, but that's no excuse. The truth remains, I am blessed beyond belief. There is so much I have and so many people/things I am thankful for right now. Not just thankful. Thankful to God, because I can specifically cite where things happen not because of my own volition.
Something else that has been resonating (I don't like using that word in this fashion because it doesn't fit perfectly with the physical concept) with me recently:
"Oh Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight"
When I've had the opportunity to be a little quiet with myself lately, I've gotten a little more excited about this journey, this adventure. I don't know why. I'll do this weird thing where I'll smile to myself. Huh?
Monday, December 12, 2005
Friday, December 09, 2005
Organ:
Today I had the opportunity to do a little hiding out. Not only disappearing, but with an organ. Okay that doesn't make sense. Anyway, I love organ music. And it doesn't help that my church spoils me with having one of the best organists in the area. What an incredible instrument. It also helped that just last week they callibrated and tuned the pipes there. The sound was just beautiful... I haven't words to describe the experience fully.
I like the fact that the organist was practicing at the time. Maybe this is just in my own head because I do it myself, but when a musician performs they are concentrating on the sound and being sure not to make any mistakes. During practice, and particularly so in today's case, the musician listens to themselves and has no restriction on how they emotionally approach the notes in front of them. Eh, just my tiny rant. Summary- I feel lucky.
But yeah, kind of a lot of contrast today I guess. Funniest thing (by far) I heard today:
Farrell: Why don't you come over here, Bert. Look over there, Anna's doing a dance!
I like the fact that the organist was practicing at the time. Maybe this is just in my own head because I do it myself, but when a musician performs they are concentrating on the sound and being sure not to make any mistakes. During practice, and particularly so in today's case, the musician listens to themselves and has no restriction on how they emotionally approach the notes in front of them. Eh, just my tiny rant. Summary- I feel lucky.
But yeah, kind of a lot of contrast today I guess. Funniest thing (by far) I heard today:
Farrell: Why don't you come over here, Bert. Look over there, Anna's doing a dance!
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Boneless:
While I may not have a creative bone in my body, I sure can appreciate the talents of others.
More thoughts on Christmas time. You'll get that happiness and joyfulness. There's the thankfulness, time with family. Then there's that one feeling that comes with the season as well... peace. Sometimes it happens during the candlelight service or during some carol singing, but it's just that one moment where I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and bask in stillness. Yes, Jesus is the Prince of Peace and brings healing into anything we let him deal with. But it's more simple than that. It's like when the baby drifts off to sleep as you rock it gently, you look up at those around you and ever so quietly go, "shhhh"... and then you can't help but smile. Nothing else exists in that precious, fleeting moment. I'm looking forward to it. It may hit you too, whether you're expecting it or not.
More thoughts on Christmas time. You'll get that happiness and joyfulness. There's the thankfulness, time with family. Then there's that one feeling that comes with the season as well... peace. Sometimes it happens during the candlelight service or during some carol singing, but it's just that one moment where I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and bask in stillness. Yes, Jesus is the Prince of Peace and brings healing into anything we let him deal with. But it's more simple than that. It's like when the baby drifts off to sleep as you rock it gently, you look up at those around you and ever so quietly go, "shhhh"... and then you can't help but smile. Nothing else exists in that precious, fleeting moment. I'm looking forward to it. It may hit you too, whether you're expecting it or not.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Series:
And continuing on our 20 day series on the "Spirit of Christmas", today we'll be discussing...
Hah, yeah right. As if I could be consistant or coherent. But besides the crazy shopping and the great music, this season brings about the Christmas Ball. I'd say that the ball is my most favorite official IV event all year. So yeah, I'm pretty excited about the whole dressing up thing and the joy of just having nothing to do other than hang out. And something about this year... I don't know what it'll be, but I just have this feeling that something crazy/spectacular will happen. What an odd feeling. But hey, if something does happen you heard it from me first.
Hah, yeah right. As if I could be consistant or coherent. But besides the crazy shopping and the great music, this season brings about the Christmas Ball. I'd say that the ball is my most favorite official IV event all year. So yeah, I'm pretty excited about the whole dressing up thing and the joy of just having nothing to do other than hang out. And something about this year... I don't know what it'll be, but I just have this feeling that something crazy/spectacular will happen. What an odd feeling. But hey, if something does happen you heard it from me first.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Monday, December 05, 2005
Cut:
In Mandarin, it's pronounced 'zhu'. In Cantonese, it sounds a little bit more like 'chi'. Either way, it is a calligraphical representation of my last name character. For some reason the accent line reminds me of a messy slice wound. Hmm... that would make for an interesting tat.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Season:
With today's blustery weather, I figure it's time to whip out some Christmas Spirit. And by "Christmas Spirit" I mean some Christmas music. We're supposed to have the real Christmas Spirit year round, right? Anyway, I downloaded Sinatra's Christmas album and some of Charlotte Church's songs. Other suggestions, please?
Reflections for the night- how can I posture myself so that I have a more humble attitude? All is right in my world, but I'd rather stand tall instead of bowing down.
Reflections for the night- how can I posture myself so that I have a more humble attitude? All is right in my world, but I'd rather stand tall instead of bowing down.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
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