November 26, 2003
*sigh of relief* Assignments are nearly over! Namely, the second critical thinking test is over. Just one more history discussion to submit, then it's exam crunch time. I'm not too fazed by it yet, which is horrible because I need to study. Now. But not today! Maybe tomorrow? We'll see. ;o)
Anyway, the Urbana meeting was EXCELLENT! We had Donna Dong from IVCF come in to give us the dirt on the Urbana experience (we also had her for our sermon in the morning). She is an awesome speaker... I might just attend one of her seminars during Urbana. Now I'm all pumped up for the conference - it could get hairy and tiring, but God's the one that will determine that. I'm not sure what I'll hear from Him there, but I'm sure it will be spiritually edifying, to say the least. I really wish that all the delegates get some sort of workshop before they go because it can seriously turn into a sour experience if you're not properly prepped. On a less serious note, I think I'm going to pack some Canadian gear with me - they are anticipating 2000 Canadians among the 20 000 delegates... I'm expecting some strange American questions. Thank God for the creation of the Canadian Lounge! It's going to be a great time though, I feel it. Can't wait!
Thanks Jasmine for giving me your Mezzamorphis CD! I love it tonnes! Hopefully we'll get to take pics with the dinos tomorrow after 291. Maybe we'll take pics of ourselves in 261 as well! How about those Hagey Hall sculptures, or the boar at ML? Speaking of taking pictures, I can't wait until the Mok-Leungs gathering on Dec. 21! We haven't had one of those since... June! It's about time we got together and had some fun. It'll be great!
Well, I am babbling now. So I'll sign off so I can actually do some homework! Take care, all!
SONG OF THE MOMENT
I feel lonely when it's you I miss
I feel crazy when I dream like this
I've travelled all this way for just one kiss
Is it bliss?
Is it bliss?
Yes it is
Rock 'n' roll is everything
Everything to a lonely man
And never will I bow to you
I, I'm not backing down
I, I'm not backing down
Take me to the place where eagles fly
Where my love for you I never can deny
If I'm right then you are wrong
If I'm wrong then I really lived
And If I die with no reward
Then I know I had peace 'cause I carried the sword
I, I'm not backing down
I, I'm not backing down
It's the simple things that satisfy
Keeps my feet on the ground and my head in the sky
I love you more than I can say
And I won't change my mind on the choices I made
I, I'm not backing down
I, I'm not backing down
"Bliss", Delirious? (from Mezzamorphis)
Mezzamorphis is one of those mixed reviews albums - but I think it's great. I like the harder sound they go for, although of course they're awesome at more worship styled music as evidenced by King Of Fools and Glo. "Bliss" is such a great rock number, one of those that you want to turn up and annoy the housemates with. The third chorus that Stu G sings is great, and I'm in full agreement. There's no backing down now! Rock on, you d:boys!
November 22, 2003
Back in 'sauga this weekend - surprised the cousins! JOY last night was small, but enjoyed. I suppose I get a little bit lost in the larger group meetings back in the home church too, but our 10 people praise and worship night was great. The after-activity of eating Tim Tams (or Arnotts, as they are sold in Canada) was fun as well, and of course the mini-jam session we had was just like old times (except this time with a djembe). As Cecilia said on her site, we gotta do it when the Leungs are around! Maybe get a few shakers going, and whatever instrument else we can scrounge up (recorders? clarinet? pots and pans?). It'll be fun.
Niette came by today! It was really nice seeing her - thanks for the beautiful angel! Wished we could've hung out a little more, but hey, Christmas! Or perhaps a visit to London is in order... we'll see. Went to Square One for a bit of Christmas shopping - didn't yield much there, and there sure was a lot of people pushing around! It was nice to hit the mall, but I sure wished it was a weekday, and that we had a bit more time to walk around. I'm nearly done my shopping, it's the baking that's gonna kill! I'll hafta see when I can squeeze that in amidst the exams!
Tomorrow I'll be having an Urbana meeting with some of the other MCBC people. It'll be interesting to hear about what to expect from the conference - honestly, I haven't been thinking about it very much at all. I suppose I've been a little too caught up in life in Waterloo to think that far ahead. Come the end of exams (specifically, the biopsych exam... I'm sure I won't want to think very critically for the final Critical Thinking exam!), it will hit me. Well, I'm sure he 14-hour bus ride will be an experience to remember (one hopes) - pack lots of travel sized games (too bad Clue doesn't come in travel size... "one of the greater atrocities of the world" - haha, I'm such an Everwood geek!)!!!
Alright, I've done next to no homework which is horrible considering that I have evaluations, a lab, and a test to contend with from Monday to Wednesday! So I'll talk to you soon... have an awesome night!
November 19, 2003
Done all my speeches for SPCOM! Yes! Weirdly enough, I think I actually improved on my art. I tried a more extemporaneous (haha, you can only pronounce this word smoothly after having taken this class!) approach to my entertaining speech on Canada's true national symbol, and I enjoyed putting the speech together, which really helped with the delivery. I have a feeling this might be my highest marked speech yet - but time can only tell. So this week's major assignments are over (the group presentation went quite well for history)... next week will prove to be... interesting. I just hope I can get everything done in time!
Anyway, had cell group Bible study prep with Alan, Betty and Vanessa at Alan's place today. We hit the craft displays in the DC fish tank (what's that room actually called???) before heading over. I think I'm going to go tomorrow after morning psych, get myself a hacky sack and maybe some Christmas gifts as well. So, during the planning, we suffered from lots of digressions (but Robert Munsch is just SO COOL!), but we pulled something together. :o) It'll be interesting - it's on self-control. I think I need to ponder this one a little more... need to find out where I have to improve upon in this area.
Dinner at Taj Palace was really good - I thought it would be sketchy like the vegetarian place beside it, but it was nice and clean. I had a chicken tikka wrap - I bet it's been a little bit westernized, but hey, that's because I didn't go for the dinner with rice and salad combo! All the food looked good, but the spice factor makes things a little bit scary. Oh well, I'll just equip myself with lots of water next time! I'll probably go again - anybody up to Indian food?
Well, I was going to do work, but bedtime has approached. I'll ttyl!
SONG OF THE MOMENT
Everybody sings the blues sometimes
Everybody gets the bends
Everybody takes a knife sometimes
In the back from one of your friends
Everybody builds the walls up high
Everybody guards their soul
Everybody needs to feel safe inside
Even if it makes you alone
And your love is a beautiful thing
And your trust is a beautiful thing
Everybody sings the blues sometimes
Everybody gets the bends
Everybody takes a knife sometimes
In the back from one of your friends
Everybody builds the walls up high
Everybody guards their soul
Everybody needs to feel safe inside
Even if it makes you alone
And underneath the glare upon the surface
I can see you rise
And I know that coming up for air keeps you alive
"Beautiful Thing", Dakona (from Perfect Change)
The lyrics of this song remind me of a certain situation that occurred last year. Kind of appropriate with the whole self-control study we'll be doing next week. Anyway, Dakona's awesome. It'll be cool to see them make it big, and maybe see them live!
November 16, 2003
After a not-so-hot Friday evening (Lifesong, the little that I did see of it, was excellent... not to mention seeing all the MCBC folks!), I had a really enjoyable and relaxing time at Marianne's awesome digs afterward. Had my first Australian Tim Tam experience - I actually bought a pack of it today at Sugar Mountain for a whopping $5.74! Oh well... nothing like biting off its ends, sucking tea up, and shoving it in your mouth! Did you know they were named after a horse? Strange, but true. Check out the website above (also have a peek at the "select a variety" drop-down menu and read about the "Tim Tam Suck!"). Thanks Marianne for inviting me over... God things are awesome. :o)
Yesterday was another relaxing day. Spent the first half with my history group, figuring out our presentation in the comfy 1st floor DP chairs. Our "meet twice a week to inform each other we didn't do anything, again" as Melanie so elegantly put it actually did work! I think it is coming along just fine... need to figure out a thesis for the paper though! Anyway, the second half was spent at home with Nessie, having gnocchi for dinner and crêpes for dessert! The things we do when everyone else is gone... mmm... didn't do much homework as a result, but oh well! There's always today...
Anyway, nothing too interesting about today, except lunch hunting. Ended up at Tim Horton's with a bagel. Ahh, university food. :oP Well, better get back to doing homework. Take care, everyone! And see y'all back in 'sauga this weekend (yay)!
SONG OF THE MOMENT
Soul for sale
She’ll give you everything inside
If you take her on that 15 minute ride
Soul for sale
She’ll light the screen up with her skin
If you take her on that 15 minute spin
Joyride in a hot car baby
Got room for one and a suitcase maybe
15 minutes to make their day
Saying what they want us to say
Soul for sale
She’ll break every rule you’ve got
If you slip her in that 15 minute slot
Soul for sale
There ain’t nothing she won’t try
If you take her on that 15 minute high
She wants to be where you can see
She wants to be where you can see
She wants to yell out from her car
I’m a star...
"Soul For Sale", Dakona (from Perfect Change)
Nothing like when the housemates have all gone home for the weekend, and blasting and hollering this song to myself. A girl can dream... ;o)
November 13, 2003
What a day! Treacherous, horrendous, ridiculous weather! I was really hoping that school was cancelled today, but no such luck, so I braved the 100km/h winds and trekked my way to class (not before the power went out at home). Isn't it just lovely when the winds push you in all directions that you can hardly walk, and when the snowflakes become nasty projectiles stinging your face? When I got to DC, I couldn't even get into the building because I couldn't pull the door open due to wind pressure! Thank goodness there was a guy behind me who yoinked it open for the both of us... "Ridiculous" has become the word for the day, uttered every other second while outside being blown around. Power came back on at 3pm, and the winds have died down now, but I'm still holding out hope that school will be cancelled tomorrow because of the icy conditions!
Anyway - an interesting evening with the cell group at Chris and Simon's house. We had dinner together (I over sugared the pasta sauce! go Vicki's liberal pouring of ingredients!) and made some cookies for Lifesong, although I think we should've made more. I suck at estimating portions though... really badly! Things could have gone better, but not everyone functions on the same wavelength so really, I shouldn't let little things get to me. The leaders have a lot to implement and learn from today, and I really hope I can personally learn to become more of a servant rather than a dictator.
Well, that's all for now. Lifesong's tomorrow, and I should hit the sack soon. Take care all!
November 11, 2003
Remembrance Day
To all the men and women who served in wars and peacekeeping missions to help keep peace in the world - thank you.
Something I wrote down a few years ago. It's a true story I read in the newspaper:
The longest surviving prisoner of war is András Andreyevich Tamás, who was captured in 1944 and found in 1997 after 53 years of being held. Speaking no Russian at the time, his captors thought his native tongue of Hungarian was gibberish, and declared him crazy.
In those 53 years in prison, his memory of the past faded away. He probably began to question his memories, if they actually happened or if it was just something out of his imagination. His doctor fears that he will soon realize tha this life had wasted away. How tragic that a man had spend his whole life in forced solitude, not knowing the war was over, not knowing about his family, not able to start a family of his own. The war he had decided to fight in to defend his country left him lacking in what his life might have offered him, leaving him in an era of the past, and reducing his promising life to one void of any experiences.
This is the brutality of war.
More info on András Tamás:
The POW Who Came in From the Cold
November 10, 2003
It's official: I'm working at Newnham Learning Centre at Seneca College, aka the Don Mills location. Well, I'm kind of sad I'm not at York (can't spend mroe time with my partner-in-crime, Ceci!) but thankful that I wasn't stuck at the King City campus. Commuting is not something I'm looking forward to. Especially in the winter. The fun will have to be left for the non 9 to 5 weekday times - do I smell trips to Toronto (Mama's Pizza, or whatever that place is called!)??? Or coffee at Timothy's/Second Cup/Tim Horton's? Mmm... drooling already with excitement. ;o)
On another note: "This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes." Yes, folks, I have taken the red pill @ the Embassy service today! Well, okay, so the "pill" was actually a red Swedish berry, but hey, still! Waiting to be unplugged any moment now...
Anyway, before you think I'm nuts (if you don't think that already), today's sermon was titled "The Gospel According to The Matrix." Brandon, as always, drew some interesting analogies between the movie and the Christian faith. It is really sad that many people remain in bondage to the "matrix" - that is, this temporary earth. Now, I gotta say, Zion is not really the ideal place to go to, but the Christian version, heaven, is much more appealing. And all you have to do is swallow the red pill - place your faith in God. Simple as that, and you'll reawaken to your real self. What one will you choose?
"You have to let it all go, Neo. Fear, doubt, and disbelief. Free your mind." - Morpheus
November 8, 2003, part b
Just came back in from admiring the lunar eclipse for about half an hour by myself, sitting on the attic stairway, sipping some Hong Kong milk tea. Nothing quite like marvelling at God's creation - breathing the crisp, cool air, seeing the stars twinkling above, watching as the earth blocked the sun's rays from reflecting off of the moon, even catching a shooting star! Thanks Kary for the heads up! Would've missed it, burying myself in psych texts and other boring stuff like that.
People nowadays just don't spend time admiring God's creation anymore. It's sad, but I remember reading from Purpose Driven Life that marvelling God's creation is a way of worship too. I guess God wired me to really enjoy nature a lot - I loved it when I went on WAY retreats and camps, being able to live in the woods and especially enjoying the stars that came out at night, seeing the big dipper. Praise God for giving me a clear night, after a whole week of gloomy weather, so I could take in the awesome eclipse.
Anyway, I think I'm going to head back out after a shower, just to see the earth's shadow move away from the moon. Have an awesome Sunday tomorrow, worshiping God in whatever way you can!
November 8, 2003, part a
Watched the final installment of The Matrix today. Seemed like they left it open for more movies, and the ending definitely mirrored revelation a lot. A WHOLE lot. Like Brandon said on Thursday, some of the best Hollywood movies rip off stories from the Bible! Anyway, the first one has still got to be the best one. The dialogue was awesome, the action sequences are awesome... just a well made movie with lots of unintentional humour and smart lines. Script and action have both slipped since that time - like I was discussing with Marianne after the movie, the hand-to-hand combat scenes were really enjoyable, and sorely missed in Revolutions. It's nice that Neo did his little martial arts move near the end. The ending wasn't satisfying, but there really wasn't much else it could have been given the circumstances. Nonetheless, some of the action sequences and fight scenes were still spectacular. But I think I need to rewatch the original to re-understand what the hype is about. Anyway, now we all dig in and gear up for Lord of the Rings: Return of the King! Thanks Marianne for treating me to The Matrix Revolutions!
On another note, I got my room subletted today. It's great not to have to worry about that anymore, but I got a LOT of backwash of how I could have asked for the price I'm paying or lowered by less than what I did. I suck at considering various arguments when it comes to something I want to get over with. Well, at least next time when I'm subletting for the winter term, I'm not doing what I did this term! Life is a learning process...
Still no word on which Seneca Location I'll be working at, although I'm not really antsy about it or anything. Nonetheless, I'm still hoping hard for Seneca@York for obvious reasons. :o)
Oh yeah, yesterday at CCF, some grads came back to share about what they've done with their lives since leaving school. I attended Alfred's Tentmaking session and Wendy's Full Time Ministry one. They were both quite edifying, especially since I'm considering missions or full time ministry. Seems like the right path to take, more so some times than others. I guess it's nice to hang on to something during confusing times in life - definitely don't want to make the wrong move with what God has entrusted into my hands! The flip side to all this is that I don't think I'm ready to do that kind of services, not with the kinds of spiritual struggles I'm going through right now. The instability of emotions does not help with things, especially when I'm learning that emotions isn't our basis of faith (a tough lesson, I tell you). But God uses the weak, and I'll try my best to do what He desires.
Another thing - Jesus Week at UW next week! I'm excited for it... there's a Praise, Worship and Prayer night at Fed Hall tomorrow. I think I'm going to go. I really hope that Christ will be made known to many during the time - it's great that it's being brought back to campus. There'll be events held all week long by various campus groups - I'm praying especially for Lifesong held by CCF. May people be changed by the event.
Well, since I went to the Matrix instead of going to the library for research today, I better get going, do my dinner dishes and read some textbooks to make up for it. I'll ttyl!
November 2, 2003
AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!! I'm twenty! Ho lo ah (heehee... Cantonese Phrasebook - thanks ma petite cousine et votre soeur/partner-in-crime! Figure this one out: "cheng man ni do yau mo nga yi sang a?")!!! So old! Can't believe I'm twenty. Time really flies, even when you're not having that much fun. I suppose it's the university effect. You get caught up with life there, and next thing you know you're done and moving on with life. It's definitely a crazy process.
Thanks to all you well wishers, (e-)card and present givers. :o) I enjoyed a quieter birthday this year, which is nice because I found that I tend to build up these silly expectations and when they fall, I just get disappointed. Crying on your birthday isn't really fun. Neither is reading your history text like mad, but I guess you can't win them all. There is definitely something with growing up and having your birthday not matter very much anymore. I guess I was spoiled with birthday parties and what-not when I was a kid. Time to grow up.
Anyway, pumpkin carving at JOY on Friday was fun. It was nice not to have to use my brain on a Friday night for once. Lovely creations all around. Well... hehe... maybe "lovely" is the wrong word. Let's go with innovative. When I get those pics developed, I tell ya! Saturday involved a lot of driving around. First to Streetsville's Craft Show which was nice since I got to tour the old high school and admire the crafts from hundreds of vendors. After that, we hit a few more random places then I had my dilation done for my eyes. I apparently have a thinning of the retinal wall on the right side. Here's hoping that it won't rip soon (while I sit in front of my computer soaking in the damaging rays!)! Enjoyed a nice and slow hot pot with Becca and dad, and that was that. Today was church, back home for lunch and chocolate fudge cookie cheesecake, then back here to Waterloo. Nothing spectacular, but hey, it's all good!
Oh yes! How could I forget... my most surprising birthday present for this year - a co-op job! Yes folks, I will be working for Seneca College this coming winter term. Location unknown for now, but no continuous for me! I had been saying that I didn't really want the job, but if this is what God has given me, I will take it and try to glorify Him in this position as best as I can. More news will come as it comes to me! The added known bonus is that Marianne will be in town and I'll get to hang out with her once again for this co-op term! I'm so excited about that! It's going to be awesome!!! :o)
As for my spiritual life, it's on an upswing. I'm realizing emotions isn't where I'm supposed to be dwelling although as hard as that can get, and that God seems distant because He's trying to make me stronger. Feels like the opposite sometimes, and it may well be that tomorrow these certainties will not exist for me, but I've got to tough it out and learn to trust Him more and more. Kind of sucks that these ups and downs will last until I die, but I guess it'll keep life interesting.
Okay, I better get going. It's creeping closer and closer to my bed time and I still need to do my history and take a shower! Take care everyone!