I am a sigh of relief...

On Feb 19th, Christine, aka Tinz aka Bun, celebrated her ____st bday. The number remains blank for fear of aforementioned gf's wrath =p Besides, if you know her, you know how old she is. Anyway, since I didn't post last week, I felt that she deserved some praise on the bliznog...Happy Bday sunshine of my California Days :) Celebrated with dinners and lunches and most of all, BROOMBALL! Pics to come soon, I hope.

Of Mondays and quick thinking
Mondays are indeed a tough day on the 9-5 psyche...I'm always slow to get up, slow to move around, and just...well, slow. Start of the workweek, 1st work day before friday, 5 days before the weekend, etc...I guess it's like school. So consequently, my mind is stuck in 1st gear until late Tuesday night, just before my league basketball games, he he he. So monday posts are usually just ramble bamble entries that are more of a practice session for my fingers whilst they type more than an exercise in mentality, ha ha ha. That sentence made me laugh right now... But I digress....wait, from what? Nothing...I'm digressing from nothing. Man, it's tough. I was once shown a mental exercise that one should type for 60 seconds straight about whatever is on their mind...so in light of the slow-moving mental monday, I shall perform said exercise...starting....NOW.

In 60 seconds, so many things can happen, just like the movie, "Gone in 60 seconds." If someone can steal your car in 60 seconds, then imagine all the things that can occur. A meteor landing on the earth, the sun setting on the ocean horizon and turning into night, a basketball score, game winning shot, by Kobe... END TIME...

Wow, that was short, I wasn't able to write much at all....so much for my state of mind...gonna need to figure out something about these mondays...sheesh.

Quote of the day
"Light travels faster than sound thats why some people appear bright until you hear them speak!"

I am my thoughts pushed to the back burner...

This is a pic of jos and me @ London's 6th b-day...wow, that was a long time ago, taken 3 1/2 years ago. Wow...even 3 years ago, I looked so much younger than I do now. Man, time sure does fly.

Of lenten sacrifices and the meaning of the Easter season...
So it's Fat Tuesday...and it's that time of the year again...to think about what I want to give up and what I'm going to do this Lenten season, in preparation for Easter. As so many people have already tweeted or posted about on FB the various things that they're giving up for the next 40+ days(sometimes Lent is more than 40 days)...I think about those sacrifices. Soda, cussing, candy...etc. I remember back in elementary school when we would have to write down exactly what it was we were hoping to give up all the way from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday(or Saturday if you count the Vigil). Anyway, many of us carry that tradition with us all the way into adulthood. But as we grow up and mature, shouldn't our Lenten sacrifices grow and mature as well? Do we still give up the candy and cussing and such? Well, I would like to provide my own opinion here; these are things we already SHOULD be giving up on a normal basis. Well, not the candy part, but the cussing, and being mean to people...and the foodie stuff, well, those are things one gives up to be healthier. But Lent isn't really about PHYSICAL health - in fact, it doesn't have to DO with being physically healthy and going on diets. I would almost have to say that it is purely selfish to just relegate one's self to giving up only these material things. Because at the end of the day, only the individual benefits...and again, probably only physically. Again, the Easter season has nothing to do with self-improvement in the physical realm. It has to do with SPIRITUAL health and how you affect everyone around you. It is a way for us to improve ourselves in that aspect of our lives so that we enrich ourselves and grow and by the time Easter comes, grow to be better people. I find nothing wrong w/ giving up something that you love or find yourself addicted to as a symbol of sacrifice during Lent. In fact, I admire it. But let's not lose sight of the real goal. I would like to challenge you and say what else? What are you going to do to be a stronger and spiritually healthier person? What are you going to do to help others around you? How will you be more Christ-like? That remains to be the big question, and one that I myself haven't even figured out yet...but here goes:

This lenten season, I am giving up:
Ramen, Pho, noodles, and McDonald's. - If you knew me, you'd know how deep my love runs for Ramen, Pho and all things "noodle." But particularly Ramen. Anyway, I'm hoping to give up all noodles in the process of lent...which I define as actual noodles, such as pasgetti and pancit. I will not count other types of pasta though, simply because I don't even eat those often enough to consider them even remotely on par with said love of Ramen and Pho :) Additionally...if you knew me, you'd also know how much I love McDonald's, especially big macs. So those are the symbolic things I will be giving up for Lent.

Now as far as the spiritual side is concerned - I am resolving to make myself a more giving person - by giving time through volunteer work. Whether or not it is an official volunteer event, or just donating time to someone who needs it, that's how I want to be a better person. We are community, as the popular though process in my mind goes, and community I want to be. So here's to 40 days of a noodle-less, big mac-less, and time-generous life!

Quote of the day
"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly."
- Buddha

I am perspiration on the precipice...

I was gonna post this pre-Vday, but I decided to wait on it..., plus I had to go, he he he. This is what bun gave me for Vday, my own giant heart-shaped choco-chip cookie. It was deelish...well, IS delish, I'm still trying to finish it. It's humongoid. So to summarize the Vday weekend, I have to say it was a really good one, very chill, very lowkey, and just chill. We decided to do Vday on Friday, since she had work on Sunday. So we decided to have lunch, go shopping, and saw that Valentine's Day movie @ Metro Pointe. It was entertaining...predictable; nothing new and nothing to write home about, but entertaining. Made for some good laughs and was a good date movie. It actually did pretty well in the box office. Sunday, made breakfast for the SO and had a nice lil meal before church. That was about it, but it was awesome. Sounds like everyone else had a great one too.

Of matters of the heart and February 14th
Funny how such a big holiday(one that no one even gets a day off from work for if it weren't on a weekend), can be such a controversial day. Some people despise Valentine's Day; claiming it is a mass-marketed holiday geared towards valentine's day retailers(esp Flower shops), and restaurants, to force all of us "un-suspecting" commoners to spend insane amounts of money and go through a lot of unnecessary stress. Well, I doth protest...a little. Although I agree that the holiday itself is very strongly marketted and attempts to make us...and by "us," I'm talking to the fellas here...feel very pressured to go above-and-beyond to make our loved one feel oh-so-special on this day of amour. Well, it simply isn't so...you don't HAVE to buy into it; in fact, you can do what most of us did, and celebrate on another day and do something small. Or you can let it be the big day that so many people across America do; there's nothing wrong with it. But let's not lose the spirit of the day and be overly angry and completely lose sight of what the day means to remind us; that love is in the air and we should take some time away from our every day lives and do something special with our paramours. Granted, many will say that EVERY day should be Valentine's Day...but again, I have to disagree and say that realistically, that just isn't so. We all need to mix it up every now and then, and why not let a calendar day that falls on the 14th of Feb be that day? I don't mean to overlook a very overlooked section of the populous...those who happen to be currently single. My thoughts to those that fall in this category is this: you can let it apply to you or not. Back when I was in elementary school, we used to pass out Vday stuff to the whole class; whether it was a little card, or those candies with the different mush words on them, you passed it out to your friends, and to your teachers, and even your parents. So don't let that tradition die, there are lots of people to celebrate vday with, friends and fam; it is a celebration of LOVE and relationship, not necessarily one form over the other, although it seems to be marketed that way. Anyway, it's just like if with Christmas, Kwanzaa or any other holiday you don't recognize or are familiar with; you let the people who do celebrate it have their thang, and you just be on your own merry way and do what you normally do. No harm, no foul. Oh Valentine's Day...364.25 more days to go! :)

Of all things social networking
With the birth of the various social networking sites (I myself started on Friendster, moved to Myspace, and have over the past year and 4 months or so, have migrated over to Facebook), it is apparent that our old forms of communication have evolved yet another step further and has become an almost immediate, global, quick update-type of format. You can reach out to any friend around the world and send a quick update, message, picture, etc. You can also update your own status with pics, thoughts, etc...anything and it can be broadcast on your page for all of your friends to see...instantly. It is a phenomenon that has exploded and simply continues to grow by the minute. So it isn't a surprise to have 200, 300 or even 1,000 friends on FB or some other networking site. And that truly phenomenal thing about it...well, at least to this face in the crowd, is the realization that one comes to about how truly small our world really is. You soon find connections between friends of yours that you never knew existed, run into people that you thought you would never cross paths with again, or even rekindle or kindle a flame with someone special. It is far reaching, and immensely efficient at sharing information with others. But therein lies the problem; is it realistic to have a 1,000 FRIENDS? Can all of these people really be those you can be close to? Probably not. As much as there is a growth of social networks and the need for such communities, there is a growing population that sees this type of communication forum as detached and superficial - and there is definitely some truth in that. Every update is quick and short and there is no actual exchange of communication between all individuals, save for the occasional "like" or comment on ones status. What ever happened to a phone call, or gasp...a LETTER?!? Well, let's face it...we are definitely moving away from written forms of communication; so e-mail would be more like it, but I'm sure you get the picture. And then there are those in the middle...who take a little bit of both sides and for the majority. Where friends and aquaintances alike are found and quick catchup sessions, bday messages are shared btwn friends, and invitations are sent out to all who can attend. And it comes down to "who should I add as a friend?" Simply any person who wishes to be added? Well, this depends on your own individual perspective of said social networks. Some people use the site only to add close friends and those they know well, staying away from the general population and utilizing the avenues of communication to share all things personal in their lives. There are those who will add anyone and everyone, because that individual uses the social network as such...a network, with which to communicate and reach out to as many people as possible. Neither is wrong, and neither is right...but personally, I lean towards the latter perspective; the social network as a network. Whether or not people I have become friends with on FB are old old friends or simply aquaintances, and in one instance, a mistaken identity that I eventually became friends with through a series of conversations and mutual friends; I believe that they are still a part of my network as a whole. I may not be close to many individuals, or even remember the last time we hung out, but it's good to occasionally browse through and see what people are up to. So yes, facebook can get a little detached and superficial; but I contend that my close friends are my close friends, and I will always be in contact with them - and even probably stay away from facebook as a form of communication as far as contact(save for the general information shared with all). But I use it as a network, a family tree of sorts that shows just every branch of my life...from family, to high school friends, to college friends, to everything under the sun. It's not so bad to be connected to people all accross the world and I can't wait to see what's next. So no matter how you use your networking site, just remember, it's your tool; so use it to whatever means to improve yourself and your life :)

Man, quite long-winded today...next up:
Lent

Quote of the day
"The secret of success is to do the common things, uncommonly well."
- John D Rockefeller

I am the drumming of fingers on the table...

Today's pic features Lou jumping off the diving board and trying to land on the floatie-bed thingy right there below him. This pic was taken at Jovan's pad a few summers ago, back when we were all a little bit younger, a little less mature, and a lot more care-free I think. We have so many responsibilities now, it's crazy to think that we've come such a long way since then. Oh, what I wouldn't give to be able to just dive into a pool right now...not that I can't, since it's raining...but it just represents a more free-spirited time in my life. Definitely gotta make sure not to let that part of me die....ever.

Of daily diets...
How did "they" ever figure out exactly what type of diet we needed? X amount of servings of fruits, veggies, meats, etc. I mean, did anyone ever actually have this type of diet daily? To be completely honest, I don't think I have ever gotten my expected "daily" servings for even one straight week in my life. In fact, I'm lucky if I get the "daily allowable servings" once a month. So it's a little ridiculous to think that the average person adheres to said allowable servings. And who cashes in on this? All of the multi-vitamin, vita-drink, get all of your servings-in-one companies. We're paying bucko bucks for things that our parents and parents parents never got, and will probably live to be older than all of us. In my most humble opinion, the best course of action is....get this...MODERATION. We are such an addictive overloading society that we don't know how to exercise self-control. McDonald's and other fast food restaurants once in a while don't affect you, but McDonald's and other fast food restaurants 3 to 4 times a week is a big problem. A glass of wine with meals is actually good for you. Binge-drinking every weekend however...well, you get the picture. I'm sorry, but the reason we have such a wide variety of foods is for taste. I want to eat things that taste good. If it's healthy, then even better, but as long as I live, I'm gonna like steaks, pasta, beef bowl, and big macs. I won't eat them every single day, but I'm not gonna stay away from them forever either. I just like food too much. So the next time you're lookin at yourself in the rearview mirror and asking yourself whether or not you should go to Taco Bell, just ask yourself 2 questions: 1) Have I already been here lately? and 2) Is it necessary? Sometimes, it is...so go for it. You work hard, you study hard, you live hard, so you deserve it :) Unless you have some other underlying health concerns...then by all means...reward yourself.

quote of the day
"There are only two great trajedies in life. One is not getting what you want, the other is getting it."

I am the sound of silence...

In honor of the Kings curret 8-game winning streak. This pic is from a few years ago, when I went to the Kings vs Quacks game w/ Chris, Joes, and Ry. It was awesome...Kings won! ha ha ha.

Band of Brothers
GF and I just finished this HBO mini-series on DVD recently. I had watched 1 or 2 eps back at the Diche household and had been meaning to get back into it, but time did it's thing and this mini-task was put on the back-burner. Not until I got the DVD set from the Diches as a Christmas gift! Awwwwwesome! So took a little over 2 months, but we finally finished it(it's only 10 eps long, but for those that know about the gf's work sched, it makes it difficult to watch it every night) and cannot stop singing its praises. Awesome awesome movie, I was very into it from start to finish, and almost moved to tears on several occasions. I think it's a great historical acct mixed with movie magic to just drive more emotion into the piece as a whole. A great way to teach us about the accts of the men of E-company and the 501st. Now I can't wait for "The Pacific."

Of blaming it on the rain...what was forecasted
It's a little funny how ppl get so annoyed when rain is forecasted, but doesn't come. Forecasts aren't locks, theyr'e just forecasts...possibilities. So many things can change and prevent a forecasted storm; wind, pressure systems moving in and out, course change, etc. The weatherman/woman gets the brunt of our frustrations when said rain, or weather pattern doesn't occur as expected. But why the frustration when we can easily find out for ourselves? Have we become so lazy that we need to be force-fed every bit of news and information for our daily lives? Just go on any website and look at the weather and moisture patterns as they move. If there is a giant green thing moving over your area...it's gonna rain, most definitely, and most definitely. If it's sparce and moving away, then probably not. Come on folks...let's do a little research on our own here...

Can't really think too straight today - not focusing...gotta go to Holy Cross...

quote of the day
"The man who does things makes many mistakes,but he never makes the biggest mistake of all - doing nothing."
- Benjamin Franklin

I am the balancing act on the edge of the knife...

February already? in 2010? My gosh...

The fambam @ Grand Lux in LA for my b-day. Thanks guys!

Of the why's in the world...
Lately, things in life seem to be riddled with nothing but trajedy, the on-going war against terrorism, the seemingly insurmountable of violence happening both globally and locally, natural disaster, torrential rains, you name it. Even all around me, in the lives of the people I care about, ppl are going through turmoil; sickness, financial struggles, emotional pain, family, and so many more things that I can't even remember anymore. I cannot even fathom what all of these people are going through...so is it any surprise at all that some people can be frustrated, even angry with God? Not to me...and in a way, I don't blame them. But at the same time, I don't think God should be blamed for all of this either. One of life's most popular questions is: "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Well, if I were to try to explain it, I would simply say this: That we do not get punished or dealt bad hands with the purpose of tearing us down. Rather, it is important to realize that there are other forces in this world, meant to bring us down, and to affect us, to put us in emotional distress. The way I see it, it isn't God doin the bad things to us; it is the "other" stuff in the world, the hate, the greed, etc. And of course there are just things we cannot understand, the sickness, the loss, and everything else. Maybe we will be made to understand them later at some point. It says right here on my blog, "in HAPPY moments, PRAISE God," but in Difficult and Painful moments, Seek and Trust. Job had no idea about the tests that he was being put under, and proved his faith by never relenting when all of those bad things were happening to him. His example shows us all that even through the distress, it was his faith that carried him through. Because when you lose everything and then your faith? What do you have to hold on to? We have to trust that God will carry us, for what God puts is through, He will pull us through. But again, it's natural to get frustrated with God when all of this stuff is happening, that's what relationship is all about. It's a real relationship, one of loving father and creator and child. The important thing is that even when you get mad and frustrated, you dont' just walk away and slam the door, as with everyone else you love in your life. There is a bigger plan for each of us, but what exactly that plan is, we may never know until you come face to face with God yourself. So my heart and my prayers go out to all those in the world who are hurting, who are suffering, who are in despair. I pray that you can feel God's touch, and hold firm onto your faith that you will get through.

Along the same lines of a bigger plan for each of us, I also wonder why we think it so wrong to believe that there is nothing wrong with accepting that people come in and out of our lives? I have come to the realization that it's life, and just how things go. There's nothing wrong with it. Because just as much as people come INTO your life for a reason, there is a reason that they leave. Sometimes, these people come back in and out, so long as there is still a reason for them to. I have to admit that some of my friendships have gone by the wayside because I haven't done my fair share of keeping in touch, but more often than not, I believe I do try to keep up my end of the relationship and it's the other party that isn't reciprocating. You can only try so much, and if you're the only one holding on to the rope and there isn't someone holding on to the other side, the bridge falls away, and it's even harder to build it up again. Not impossible, but difficult. But I'm digressing, I'm talking about situations in where neither party is to blame really. The paths down the road just diverge rather than converge. Maybe you were meant to teach one another something, or perhaps there was an important lesson to be learned in your own actions that may have affected the relationship, or just maybe you were to pass through each others' lives without ever glancing back, until that one day when it hits you...why that person was a part of your life after all. Whatever the reason is, just accept it and take what you will from each relationship and experience for the better.

Woah, a post full of thoughts...who would've thunk?

quote of the day
"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with a strong and active faith."
- Franklin D. Roosevelt