Loneliness

Had a nice long talk with NN tonight.  "I don't like going to church."  

This was inevitable.  We saw it coming.  And if we don't do something about it... SW will have the same talk with me.  NN and SW, simply do not have friends at church.  They don't have a community.  They don't have body life.  

In a way.. it's self serving.  We never stay after church to chat or hang out.  During COVID, we pretty much stayed at home the entire time (and then some). And we give the kids every excuse to miss Youth.

In some ways... it's digging our own graves.  We do not belong in CS.  We don't really have friends. Our friends are kinda forced.  In reality... we don't hang out.  I might have 1-2 "texting" friends that I enjoy exchanging mindless batter with.  Friends...?? My friends are Nita and Jeff.  Even Anderson is a wild card these days... who knows what his agenda is anymore. 

Church can be lonely.  I don't care how many sermons or sharings there are that church isn't a social club.  It darn well is a social club.  If you truly go there for just choir practice and bible study... then you're kidding yourself.  I've gotten a lot of heat over the years for saying and sticking to this truth... only to be met by the sanctimonious faction that church is "all-accepting" and "class-less."

The sooner you embrace reality, the sooner you can move forward.

I don't fault NN for saying "I don't like going to church."  

Natural Weather Forecaster

Two months ago... I jammed my finger pretty bad while playing basketball.  I've jammed fingers before, but this was the worst I've ever experienced.  I thought I fractured it. The swelling never fully died down.  Till this day... I still can't bend my finger like before.  And then today...  it started screaming in pain without me doing anything.  Which can only mean one thing... I now possess the ability to predict the future. 

Evolution of Card Games

It started with Uno in the 80's.... then things went dormant except for your collector cards like Magic the Gathering and Pokemon.  I think it was in the early 2000's when Monopoly Go revolutionized and resurrected the card game industry and since then it's been a booming steady source of Christmas Gifts.  Gotta hand it to them.. .they do a great job packaging and marketing the game.

Like the game "Dos", the second coming of "Uno".  Great packaging but it was a dud.

We then bought games like Sushi Go, Ramen Fury, A Little Wordy.  

This Christmas... I was gifted with Exploding Kittens "Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza" which is simply Slap Jack with a bit of a twist. 

The one common theme.... all these games last for about 20 minutes before it really needs to become a drinking game. 

Fake it till you make it

 Was invited to take part in church choir on Christmas.  Had rehearsals today where we attempted to sing "Joy to the World" as a four-ranged choir.  I was put into bass.  Sam sent out a notes beforehand and I listened and studied the night before. But when joined with the other three ranges and the lead melody... I was lost.  I tried to fake it... but it was obvious I was lost.  In a sea of noobs... no one would know.  But in a room of professionals... it stuck out like a sore thumb. HA!  Gonna fake it... till I make it. 

Tahoe

Never thought it'll happen.. but our family finally hit the slopes.  I last went in he mid 2000's before getting married.  Since then... the economics have driven me away... and when I tried to make it back, there was every reason not to go.  

The Tat's made a fine recommendation, site wise and economics wise where it was fairly attractive but within dollar reasons.  The Leung's finally kept up with the Jone's and we took our kids to Tahoe; really, Reno, but Tahoe sounds sexier. 

First day... the place was packed!! The lines were so long and the equipment rental rooms has the heat turned way up... and it was filled with so many people, SW got nauseous from altitude sickness.  Not since his allergic reaction to nut where we hit the emergency room did I feel so helpless and cranked up my fatherly skills.  (Don't worry.  Everything will be fine.  Keep him calm.  Stay calm yourself.  Look for help). I ripped his jacket off... took him outside for some fresh air... and he slowly recovered.  Meanwhile.. NN, the teenager, was on her own with the equipment guys.  She didn't need an overbearing parent. 

After about an hour of getting set up... they were finally able to join their lesson, which was also packed.  And here's where I could no longer join them, as they were fenced off.  Lessons aren't fun, but they're needed.  How to get in and out of your skis.  How to get up from a fall.  How to turn around.  How to stay safe.  The lessons lasted two hours... and they were exhausted.  From afar... in the cold... we were watching as they fell.  Tried to get up.  Just to fall again.  Heh... then came time for lunch and they were done.  Spent. No mas.  Once again...the altitude was getting to them.  Along with the fact... skiing is a tough sport!!!  

During lunch... which SW barely had an appetite... they just wanted to sit down and watch Youtube/Netflix.  I'm looking at my watch... "Dude!!! I paid $160 for each person!! Get your butts out there!!"  I held my tongue for as long as I can and I finally slipped.  The kids obliged begrudgingly.  

SW was skeptical...cuz he was sick.  NN was determined.. cuz that's how she's wired.  They went back to the bunny slopes just to get their bearings straight.  And off the chute... SW lost control and bowling- balled into a bunch of kids.  NN did a little better... she veered left and made a gymnastic landing into the fences where her she got stuck and needed help untangling herself.  Joyce thought they were gonna be done when they removed their gear and walked back towards the lodge.  Turns out... they were done with the bunny slopes and wanted to hit the mountains.

It was only uphill from there, figuratively. They lined up for the Green Circle and it was no turning back.  Without any instructions... they approached their first lift.  And of course... they didn't know what to do and caused a stoppage.  Heh... after that, they were off.  I have no idea where they were going... as they ascended to the heavens. Just nervously paced at the bottom of the hill hoping and praying that they arrive safely... and not on the back of a snowmobile.  The next 10 minutes... I spent staring at a million people wearing black jackets and pants.  (Mental note, wear orange or yellow next time!) 

Out of nowhere, NN slid down one trail and SW glided another.  Both in one piece.  Barely any damages.  They admitted, one of them wiped out.  But that was it.  They were in love and kept going and going.  Lessons were tough... but skiing was actually fun. We quickly retreated back to the warm confides of the lodge where we brought snacks and libations.  Ahhh......life is good.  Life would've been great... had I been able to join them.  I so wanted to... so so wanted to.  The fear of falling and not getting up outweighed my need for speed... or more so... the wife giving me a look of not ditching her outweighed that jonesing feeling.  Sigh... 

But alas... we can finally make claim... "We went to Tahoe." 

Is there a wrong way?

Interesting topic came up during dinner... for Chinese veggies... which direction do you eat it? Do you start with the stalk and end with the leaf? Or vice versa?

I'm one that starts from the stalk cuz I'm a leaf guy.  Save the best for last.  And by nature's direction... the leaf points "up" so as you're chomping from the end... it'll naturally flow into your mouth.  

That and toilet paper goes over.  Rules in life you mustn't break. 

MVP

 "The 2022 Most Valuable Player for Jr High Basketball Team 6B goes to...."

Freeze time....

Flash back to October 20th... after Basketball Tryouts and Coach Jacob separated the boys to Team A and Team B.  SW did not make Team A.  And he and I sat on a bench outside of school.  He was clearly unhappy and I forced him to open up.  "SW... are you sad you didn't make Team A?"  "Yeah..."  And to pour salt on his wound... a bunch of friends that made Team A were hootin and hollerin right in front of us.  It was a heart breaking moment for me.

Unfreeze time... 

Flash forward to today at the Team Celebration... "goes to.... Joshua!!!"  And there it was.  Big fish, little pond. SW is named Most Valuable Player. 

It came down to SW and Alex.  Legitimately... the two of them carried the team. The point guard...and the shooting guard.  Trying to be unbiased... Alex shoulda won Most Skilled Player. He has better handles. He had a softer shot.  But SW was truly the Most Valuable Player.  Maybe not the best player... but he can fit into multiple positions.  He was a silent leader.  During scrimmages... his teammates would shout out, "Watch out for SW!!".  During knock-out... he had a target on this back.  Some credit goes to his dad... for taking him out to the courts during the summer and on weekends to sharpen his skills.

In reality... the players votes came down to a tie.  The Athletic Director asked what I wanted to do.  And due to a conflict of interest... I told her, "Let Coach Noah decide."  And he did.  We could've had co-MVP's... but in the end... Coach Noah picked the more deserving player. 

Onto our next disappointment... which will lead to the next triumph. 

Winless

There is a certain lore of being undefeated.  There is an equal amount of unicornism or bigfootity for the exact opposite.  Winless.  That's what I became today.  In 2022... I was winless as a basketball coach.

0-6 for Jr. High Girls.

0-6 for Jr. High Boys.

I'm a bit downtrodden... but I am truly playing with house money.  To coach my son... to see him in his natural environment with his friends... to become a "cool, fun dad (with a bit of a temper)" is priceless.  What capped it off... was at the end of our final game... after the final speeches... as everyone was headed home, one of the mom's came up to be and handed me a thank you card.  It was 'one of those moments.'  

Never expected... but always appreciated.  Hopefully... we made an indelible mark in these youngster's lives. 

Raisinets

You hate someone... give them Raisins.

Someone hates you... expect Raisins. 

But that's not even that bad.  What's perpetually worse than raisins... is the ultimate passive-aggressive, bait-n-switch, snake-oil sales man of clothing raisin underneath sweet, creamy chocolate. That trap... can only be summed up as.... pure evil.  

有朋自遠方來

Nita and Brandon came to visit... and we scoped out the entire day to spend with them.

It started with driving out to the city on an early, rainy, Saturday morning.  We walked and got some mediocre coffee and overrated pastry.  Then we headed to Koi Palace... which was amazingly not-packed.  Then we headed to Serramonte to relive our childhoods. So many memories... so many moment in times.  This was the place Joyce and I had, arguably, our first date. 

I still remember that Christmas of 1998... when I summoned her to take me shopping for our church Christmas party.  We ended up buying a Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal which... miraculously... was raffled off to a young child. 

We then relived our child hood footsteps and walked through the malls of Serrmamonte and Stonestown.  Jeff spent about 2 hours shopping for shirts and sweaters.  Nita played her role of the overbearing mother... while Brandon and I screwed around and tried on everything and anything to kill time. 

The weather did NOT cooperate.  It was rainy and wet... but inside... we were dry and high.  I had so much freedom to pour out my life... my joys and miseries... which I can only do to {{someone}}. After my much needed therapy session.. .we found ourselves at PPQ Dungenous Island feasting on garlic crab and garlic noodles.  Yes... it was too much food.  But we killed it.  Yes... it was too pricey... but how often do you hang out with best friends.  Yes... it was bad for my cholesterol... but there's always tomorrow to start eating oatmeal and exercise. 

We ended up back at Jeff's house where we were flipping through VOD shows.... and it got so late... I had to say, "Ok... I gotta go." Only for Nita to say, "Oh good... I was gonna say something soon." In my head... "Why didn't you say something!?!?!?"  Probably exactly what she was thinking.

In a way... we didn't want the night to end.  But at the same time... we're old.  We need to hit the hay.  Which is exactly what I'm gonna do now. 

Lightbulbs

It's getting out of hand... it started with one.  Then two.  Then three.  One more and I won't have lights in my room.  But the high ceilings makes it's easy to procrastinate. I finally buy that extender.. removed the lightbulbs and proceeded to Home Depot for replacements... only... they no longer sell incandescents. Same with Lowe's... only LED's. Geez.... no wonder those Light bulb stores are still around. 

Hank Talk

After several rounds of rejections.. I said, "Screw it... I'm gonna do my own thing." And I held our first annual Bay Area Prod Ops Quality Symposium.  It came together last minute... but it was soooo well received. 

Tony/Anson did their job in going over Lessons Learned.

Winston/Tim knocked a homerun with their Quality Pong and Quality Jeopardy / Family Feud.

Then came time for me to give my talk about "Personal Branding."  I first came across this around 2018... and I took it and modified it for Eden Fellowship.  I then took the Eden Fellowship version and re-modified it for a professional environment.

Man... was I not prepared.  But in the end... it was so well received.  I ripped myself opened and shared my vulnerabilities.  I even forgot (by God's grace) to take out a biblical reference.  And when I saw it.. I went with the flow. Got so many accolades for my "Ted Talk." One person said, "Your Ted Talk spoke directly to my soul."  Another person who is rather soft spoken sent me a 6 paragraph email about what he's going through. 

What originally was a means to share some Lessons Learned became an agent of bonding and reflection.  I am proud to say... that today... I was the salt and light at work.