09.30.04, Thursday:September 2004
*Purple, for PurpleRage, ha ha...^_^
09.30.04, Thursday:
[08:59pm] Home...Sweet...Home...I did all my grading at school before heading to the Book Club meeting. I stayed longer than I planned; I'm dead tired, and wanted to leave early, but was caught up in the good discussion they had about the book, as well as those really yummy crackers, cheese spread, and super-thin deli ham that Sheila set up for us. Mmm. I'm sure I ate more than my fair share. =) Anyways, Heidi brought up a quote that I really liked. Here it is:
"A novel is not an allegory, I said as the period was about to come to an end. It is the sensual experience of another world. If you don’t enter that world, hold your breath with the characters and become involved in their destiny, you won’t be able to empathize, and empathy is at the heart of the novel. This is how you read a novel: you inhale the experience. So start breathing. I just want you to remember this. That is all; class dismissed." (Reading Lolita in Tehran, by Azar Nifisi)
Books are just that good. =)
It's not like I really, really, really like mooncake. In fact, most of them, I don't like too much. I do like the plain white lotus ones though, and only a thin slice at that. But it's more of the fact of sitting under the moon, drinking tea and nipping at these super-fatty mooncakes, and doing this while spending time with people that you care about under a beautiful full moon. It's just nice like that. =) You hear of cultures that worshipped the sun, and others that base things on the moon. Actually, many base things on both. But I think it makes more sense to fall on the side of the moon - you can actually look at it, and it's really pretty. It doesn't have any mysterious, scary air about it for me. I like crisp, cool nights, accompanied with a dark sky sprinkled with some stars here and there...and finished off with a moon hanging over your head, shining down peace and tranquility for all on Earth. Granted, you can't always see the whole thing all the time...but it's still pretty. =)
I'm thinking that I will take a nice bubble bath tonight.
[06:00am] It's been such a busy week...I'm about to die of exhaustion...! I've been waking up earlier this week to prepare for all kinds of things - labs, Back to School night, etc...and home late every day, except yesterday, when I purposely took off earlier - but spent until 10:30pm grading papers. Which actually is earlier than when I've gotten everything else done this week so far. And it's not over yet - this weekend looks even more killer! I might not go camping, for the sake of a little bit of relaxation and time so that I'm not fried out and absolutely dead come Monday...=( I do want to camp...I even had my brother buy a tent for me, and I really want to use it. Camping is always so much fun! Especially with Chinese people - we bring the yummiest food to camp with, like dumplings. What to do?
And to top it off, I've not had any tea and mooncake!
The days are getting shorter, and it's harder to wake up when there's not a hint of light in the sky. But I do love how the weather is chilling down a tad. I love cold weather! ^_^
At least the full Harvest Moon still shines its light onto my bed and "blesses" me when I'm home and going to sleep. That's one consolation that's priceless. It's lovely. =)
09.26.04, Sunday:
[05:23pm] Another hectic week has gone and passed! Along with many, many birthdays! Happy Birthday to Jason on the 24th! Happy Birthday to Lauren on the 25th! And Happy Birthday to Theo on the 26th (today)! ^_^ Oh, I might as well say it early...Happy Birthday to Kate for tomorrow!!! ^_^
Last Thursday and Friday, I was almost bored out of my mind, with nothing to do...but that was last week. This past week, I was swamped with everything possible! At least I have a break now, for a few hours, until tomorrow morning. =) Besides teaching (and we made ice cream this week!), old students visited, and one of them, Nichole, told me that this past summer, Venessa Bean had passed away! =( She was one of my former students, and she died in a car accident when an older teenager was driving way too fast. =( It's so sad to hear of these things...
I was surprised Friday after school, when Shelton suddenly popped up in the back door! ^_^ He brought me chrysanthemum tea and those cream cheese wontons. Mmm!!! It was perfect, as I hadn't eaten all day because of the ice cream lab. Then we went on our mission - explore the new Barnes and Noble, and then Target for birthday gifts for our respective peoples, hee hee. =)
Yesterday, Fred came over and stayed all day long, hee hee. He had to have his car taken care of (Poor thing. So many bad things happened to it this past month! My car sympathizes with your car, heh heh...) and stayed with us, finally cooking for steak, eggs, and super crispy hash browns for our lunch (though I thought I'd die of a heart attack, it was still good! I really don't get the Atkins/Low-Carb things. I think I'd die first. I have to have my rice anyways. ^_^), and playing an endless amount of video games with my bro and Shelton, hee hee. =) DVD came later in the night, and played some bball and hung out. I was tired all day - I think that the past few busy days had just drained me of all energy to play. =P So I napped during the day, and went to sleep early. I did get to go to Rowland Heights with my parents and ate at New Capital (Peninsula), where they gave us a free crab! And then grocery shopping at Shun Fat. Grocery shopping is always exciting. =)
I had a dream of my bird, Emily, who died last year. In the dream, I could feel her chirping, running on my arms and shoulder, and her pecking and kissing my cheeks and lips, hee hee...and then at the end of the dream, she was running around inside my shirt, as she used to, and had stopped on my arm. That's when I woke up and realized that my arm was numb because my head was on it, and preventing blood from circulating in it, hee hee. But I do miss my bird...=(
We led worship at church today, and every time...there's more and more people up there singing with us! To think that back in the days, it was just three of us...and now...there was about 10 of us up there! Tiffany sang with us for the first time (and played with the tamborines!), and Ian decked it out with his oboe as well (not his first time up, but first time with us!). Josh is a regular with the drums now, and Chris and Theo have guitars to play with. It should be more like a YF/CCF Worship team, as it's really not just the college people. =)
Something's wrong with my phone. =( I can't see anything on the screen, but it works just the same. It's not experienced any trauma lately. It's hard though, not being able to see anything on the screen at all, and I'm not so good with remembering phone numbers anymore, ever since cell phones were mass produced and distributed to almost everyone on America.
The Santa Ana winds weren't as bad. I hope winter comes early...I love the cooler weather...=)
09.22.04, Wednesday:
[06:14am] Weather predictions were right on the nose - Santa Ana winds blowin' up the area! It's also been harder to get up on time lately, with the sun not shining at 6am anymore. >_<
We had fellowship at PurpleRage's place, accompanied with excellent food. Tempura even, and nothing raw around! Cosmo, their dog, is humongous! But so cute and sweet! ^_^ Even if it could probably knock me unconscious with one leap!
Monday night, I went to the Rep Reebok class before going to Hip Hop at the gym. The Rep Reebok class always looked interesting, because they balance on these funny little stands, so I decided to try it out, since I actually got home in time for it. It was much harder than it looks, and they use a lot of weights. My muscles are all sore still! But it was fun! Should I have time again next Monday, I'd try it again. Hip Hop is of course, my favorite event of the day, hee hee, and that was even more fun, with Tiffany joining in, and Kevin meeting us up at the gym. ^_^ Hmm. Maybe I should write Kevin L., as there are two Kevins at RCAC now! I didn't know it, but there are other hip hop classes at other gyms, and they're more like step classes. So OUR hip hop class is speeeeecial cuz it's a lot more fun, and actual hip hop. =)
Last night, I went over to Heidi's for dinner! Thanks Heidi! ^_^ I finally met the infamous Kenny, and we all had some yummy spinach and fake-meat lasagna, bread, and a really tasty spinach salad of which I now have the recipe for! ^_^ I even got to see the dim sum flashcards that Heidi got out in D.C. Whoever invented those were brilliant!!! ^_^ It was nice to kick back and though I didn't stay too long, as it's a school night and I had grading to do, I still got to play a little!
09.18.04, Saturday:
[09:32pm] Went exploring Riverside with Heidi today, hee hee...we went to eat at Crest Cafe as a late bday brunch for Heidi! ^_^ Then we went to check out Dragon Boating at Fairmount Park. Who knew that Riverside would have enough water (in one spot!) to allow dragon boats to have a decent race? But it does! =) We watched and cheered on Lorie's team, the AeroDragons! ^_^ Brian and Henry were there as well! And then I saw Yo Mama's Party Cows there too - Julia's team! ^_^ It looks like so much fun! I wish I could do it...but practice every Saturday? Out in Long Beach? I can't do it! Roarg...! >_<
We went looking for folkloricos and mariachi bands for us to join in, but didn't find any, hee hee...^_^
I came home, did more work - am pretty much done...and then cooked a bunch! I made a yummy garlic pasta with leftover chicken and froze it, for next week's lunch at work...^_^ As I had nothing else to entertain me, I made some of those irresistible Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies, and did some other housework things here and there. Later, I got a phone call about Simon - he had some major allergic reaction today and went into an anaphylactic shock, and is in the hospital! He's staying over our house tonight, so I prepped stuff for him - some congee (which is like one of those Chinese cure-all comfort foods, hee hee...), towels, the bed, and some water. I'd find some pajamas for him or something, only I don't know where I can find anything like that to fit him. He's bigger (meaning tall-wise) than all of us in this house...somehow, those tall genes skipped me. Or us. Anyways, I hope he is doing okay...! =(
[08:19am] I love this! Nothing to grade (I graded whatever was turned in early at school already) for the weekend, and I'm almost done lesson planning for next week. I just need to type out some handouts. Awesome. =) It gets better and better every, single year, which one would always think that it's impossible. I'm still changing my lessons around, adding new ideas, but it takes less effort. It's like almost natural to look at something and say, "Oh! This or that way would work better!", or "Oh! Students would learn more if I did it this way...". Karazy-goodness. =)
Of course, I may not say that in two weeks, when we start with essays, 3-weeks straight, practically. =P But I already have some ideas even for that, up my sleeves, to make it doable and still keep it student-centered (and not just on writing. But problem solving things and using their minds and not getting bored to death by these 5 paragraph essays. I want to create independent learners!). ^_^
I also have been starting a new "email newsletter" thing for parents that have email, and it's working great. I can get faster support from these parents, and they know exactly what's up with their kids. It doesn't displace good ol' phone calls though. =)
Some news for today:
09.16.04, Thursday:
[05:59pm] So many things to be thankful for...:
09.13.04, Monday:
[06:45am] A meaningful and full weekend indeed! Friday was Heidi's Birthday!!! So Happy Birthday Heidi!!! ^_^ And then Saturday was Jeffrie's Bday party, so I dropped in for a short bit at her house in the afternoon. =) Happy Birthday Jeffrie! ^_^ Virgo Power! ^_^ Hee hee...
After Jeffrie's, I went back home to take Vanessa, Amy, Nina and Tiffany down to SGVAC for the 9/11 Rally! Pastor Joe Lo was the speaker again, and his message was excellent - God used his message and it hit home to a few there that night. =) Church on Sunday was fun as usual, and though I found out that Anna and Jonathan are moving, they're still coming to our church, so yay!!! ^_^ Kathleen also gave me a bday gift - a lamp! One of those paper type ones (I like those paper things)! And it's Ikea! Hee hee hee...it's lovely! Thanks Kathleen! I've missed ya lately, hee hee...good luck on that test! I want that test to be done and over with too, so you can play with us more! ^_^ A gang of us went to watch Resident Evil 2 in the evening down at Ontario Mills. I liked it. =) It wasn't super-super-boom!-good, but it was good. =) Then we played and ate at Dave and Buster's before going home. =)
It's karazy. I've been praying for some people, and this weekend, God answered a few of them. Well no, He answered a few of them and showed it to me! It's crazy because I know that it's not me - that it's Him and His work that stirs up their hearts. It ain't me saving the world, hee hee - He's doing it, and I could see just a bit of it this weekend, and it was...just plain...wow! ^_^ However, some other things happened that made me really think about some other things, and God put some verses and thoughts in my heart this morning to share here. =)
As Christians, we live to serve Him. In fact, because he owns us, we're not out to serve ourselves anymore. As just plain ol' living animals, we probably would serve ourselves, but the fact that we have a soul - that makes it all different. What is our priority? What should it be? It's Him. =) Every day, we aim and strive to please Him, to glorify Him. It really isn't that bad at all, because God is perfect and true - He's pure Love and pure Goodness. Our choices every day and at every moment - do they please Him, or is it just us? For example, premarital sex. Is it to please Him, or please us? Why is it so important to wait until after marriage? What if you already know that he or she is "the one"? Because our bodies are His temples, and they're to remain pure for the right time and place. Sex is supposed to be a good thing - that is, after all, how all of us were made, right? But there's a time and place for it, and it's not for us to decide to fulfill our own desires if we are His servants. And think about it - we are either His servants or the world's. There's no in between. True, we are our own person, but think about it - without God, we are nothing. Of course, we ain't all perfect - but as Christians, we are to strive and achieve for it. If it isn't difficult to do, well then, what sacrifice is there? And are our daily sacrifices of giving up something we want anything at all comparable to the Life He gave to us? No way. And only by being humble enough to do what He wants ("WWJD" - What Would Jesus Do?) instead of just whhat we want will it make that difference in bringing us closer to Him, and it's that relationship with Him that matters so much as a Christian (That's that "vertical relationship" that we have to have as a Christian. The "horizontal relationship" that is also important is fellowship with other Christians, so that we could be here for each other, encourage, help and support each other when we're going through tough times. =) We're all here for each other too. ^_^).
Another thought - well, verse, is of 1st Corinthians 13:6 - "Love does not rejoice in evil, but rejoices with the truth." As Christians, when we know we have sinned, we should not rejoice in it. It's nothing to be proud of, and really doesn't make a person any cooler - in fact, usually, it makes people around us lose a little respect for us. True, we all make mistakes, and if anything, we need to have the right attitude about it, instead of being "proud of sin". And it's so sad, to see so many people in the world that is proud of their sins - how many times do we hear about people saying, Oh, I drank thiiisssss much and I was sooo drunk...or yeah, we aaaaaaall got him that day...or I cheated on this or that test and got that A...or whatever? Many of us know about mob-mentality - it's easier to sin when others around you are sinning, and okay with it. As Christians, we have to model what is right. We have to show those around us that we really do delight in good, and not in evil. If not, those around us will fall if we fall, or if we act that evil is "cool" too. I do my best to stay away from evil, and hey...I have a fun life. I think anyways, hee hee. =)
Luke 20:25 - "And He said to them, 'Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.'" Laws are here on earth, and they're here for a reason. We need to obey them. The under 17, 18, 21 laws...yep...we need to obey them. So what if we think that some of them don't make sense, or are stupid, or are unreasonable? They're here. And we physically live here. We're held to a higher standard through our souls - God's word, and we obey His laws too. There are very few incidences where any of His laws conflict with the laws we are bound to here as a citizen of earth - even fewer since we live in the United States. Is it bad to drink? To offer a toast at a wedding? To have a glass of wine? No. So why do they say drinking is bad? Because usually people get drunk, and that is often what happens. Personally, most of the time, alcohol tastes pretty nasty anyways. I prefer fruit juice. Or water, since I'm usually cheap. =) And what's with the 21 and over deal? If you're under 21, go out and have a drink, is it wrong? Yeah. Because that's a law that's part of where we live. And as Christians, we need to model that we follow that law, and especially if there are under 21-ers present, even if it's perfectly "safe". By no means should we encourage it! Again, delighting in what is good, and not in what is evil. Our actions count, and is important to those around us, especially to those that are younger and more impressionable than the "older folks" that are already set in their ways. What good is it if we don't model what is right? What does that say about us? And since we're supposed to strive and be like God, what does that say to others about our God?
And now? I better get dressed for work! ^_^
09.09.04, Thursday:
[10:18pm] Ooo...pretty morning skies coming up soon...! ^_^
Every day has been an adventure! That's the glamour of teaching, and I love it! ^_^ I've kept that "Job Satisfaction" bar graph that was in the newspaper a long time ago. By industry, it listed workers who were satisfied with their jobs. Education ranked #1 at 75%. Health Services ranked #2, at 68%. Government jobs had 66% job satisfaction, whereas Hospitality (what IS that?) was next, with 55%. Retail scored a 53%, and Food and Beverage Service got only a 51%. I did like working as a cake decorator, ice cream scooper, baker, and coffee drinks specialty maker...but I guess it wouldn't work out in the long run eh? ^_~
This week has been zooming by, but maybe it's because we all had Monday off. I had a bloody nose again this morning - it's not really bad though, just very slight. I thought it was the weather, because with the weather changes, I got it one morning at church last last weekend. Bleah - I used to get them often when I was little, whenever it was hot. Too much "yeet hay" or something, hee hee...but haven't had them for a while. And then like three times today, I had these weird dizzy spells - like suddenly, I felt completely off balanced, but for only a second. It was funky, like I could feel the Earth rotating on its axis. Maybe I have a tumor? Nah...I think I'm okay...I went to hip hop (finally! Hadn't been there in a week!) last night, and survived. If I could survive that workout, it's all good in the end, right? =)
09.07.04, Tuesday:
[06:18pm] Tofu came over last night to chillax a bit. I didn't get to hang out much, because I was searching online for vacation packages for my parents, for the winter. Time to save more money again eh? Hee hee...^_^
During dinner, my bro walks in, and guess what he found at the bottom of his car??? My watch!!! So now, I have four watches. Oy. I had lost this one a long, long time ago, and somehow, got compensated by three others during the past year (a cheap one I bought myself, another that my mom got me from Switzerland, and another that my cousin gave me as a late Masters gift). This one though, is now out of batteries. =Þ
A'ight. Back to grading...the usual, now that school is up and at it again!
09.06.04, Monday:
[02:32pm] Happy Birthday Tiffany!!! ^_^ A gang of us dim-summed for Tiffany's birthday, followed by Collateral! I wanted to go watch it! But I couldn't...I have so much work to do. My cousin Simon took me home - thank you thank you for driving me way back here! I probably won't be hip hoppin' tonight after all! =( I'm taking a little break right now though. =) So have a happy, happy, happy birthday!!! ^_^
09.05.04, Sunday:
[07:33am] It's been daaaaaays...! ^_^
Wednesday was the first day of school for 7th graders, as well as Spirit Day for 8th graders. Seeing all these students again made me sooo happy! ^_^ I was a little bleah about coming back to work after China, but my spirits were picked up immediately after hearing a multitude of greetings and "Ms. Lauuuuuuu!!!"'s. ^_^ I ran into Sean D., a 7th grader last year who often spoke in monosyllabic phrases, or would tell me jokes that had a spiteful edge to them (which I heard, if he told me a joke, it was a good thing and meant he liked me!) and often did no work except to disturb those around him. I don't have him again, but he had his arm in a sling, and I said Hi and asked him what happened. He answered me back in paragraphs! Full on sentences with descriptions about what happened and how everything else is going and how he's bummed that he doesn't have me for science this year. I was completely shocked and happily amazed that despite the many times I had to send him out, he knew that I cared and that he appreciated me as his teacher! Wow! ^_^ The included visits from former students to tell me how they're doing now, which was neat. =) One kid is a Christian, and he knew I was too, as we talked about it once after school, and he's telling me now how he's serving with worship at his little church (doing sound) and the choices he had to make in the past year to stay true to his beliefs. Very neat indeed! ^_^
Wednesday night, Heidi and Chris and I had dinner at Papi's to catch up! Turns out I might house-sit for Chris during the winter...ooo...fun! =) Then Heidi and I went to the kayak meeting to get oriented for ocean kayaking on Saturday! =)
The first few days of school were great! I have like 9 or 10 brothers and sisters of those that I had taught before, and lots of students with the same names - Jasmines, Caitlyns, Nicks and Davids, Breannas...and three girls that have boy-ish names: Frankie, Johnie, and Taylor. It's confusing when I haven't matched the faces to all the names just yet. O_o But we're off to a great start. The only trouble I've had are about 3 kids that had me last year - they're so comfortable that they're starting to talk and be a problem. So I tackled them right away, and hope it lasts. =)
Friday night, I went out to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. Mmm...how I love the Cheesecake Factory...^_~
I went kayaking yesterday down in La Jolla! We went out into the beach, saw beautiful scenery, saw all kinds of birds, sea lions, fish, seaweed and kelp...and lots and lots of waves! We even went into a little cave, which was cool. Heidi and I shared a tandem boat, and we got into that cave (and out!) smoothly. I was afraid that we'd tip on the way out, because at the meeting, they were saying that you had to go out straight into the waves, and if you didn't, it'd tip over. I was imagining big 10 feet waves coming straight at me, hee hee...it wasn't anything like that, and easier than I thought. I'm tanned, agaiiiin. And I have beautiful sock lines to show for it!
Happy Birthday to David today! ^_^ It's his bday today, and we have fellowship tonight at his place. Come join, one and all! ^_^