Glazed

It's been 3 months... and even today... someone came up to me, "Are you Hank?" "Your speech... your presentation... was so good.  So entertaining and captivating.  You had me on the edge of my seat.  I wish I can talk like you." 

Keep glazin'..... I'm eating it all up.  With a side of humble pie, of course. 

New Year's Resolution - attained.

A week after hitting the 9 minute mark... SW told me he'll pace me so I can hit 8:30.  We went to the track and with some trepidations, I started pacing him.  And every time we turn... I can feel him speed up.  He was cheating.  We weren't just hitting the 8:30 mark..... and that was confirmed when we crossed the finish line.  7:56!!  I PR'ed (in my 40's). 

End of an Era

 After 3 years of teaching ESL… I wrapped up… what is seemingly the last class I will ever teach.  At least the last class I’ll teach as a full time ESL teacher at SJCAC.  The traffic gets worse and worse.  And now that the kids aren’t serving in Tutoring… it makes it hard for me to go solo.  Add on the fact that Joyce has given me an unwritten quota of what I can do with my “spare” time… the time has come to invest in New Vine and no longer SJ. 

 I’ve always felt I had a knack for teaching.  With so many examples and role models in my life… I’ve tried to take the best from all the best… and then roll it together and make it my own.  I’ve had my own struggles.  I’ve tried things that made out like a lead balloon and fallen completely flat and failed.  But for every fail… I probably had over 10-20 wins.  Like how the Tuesday attendance were noticeably hire than the Thursday class.  Or how students flat out tell me they come because of me.  Or when one of the students I demoted tried to beg to stay… because in her broken English and my broken Spanish… she knew the difference in my teaching style. There will always be a special place in my heart for helping new immigrants.  How many angels have helped my family in the past… I long to be able to pay it forward and help someone else.  And perhaps… in some weird way… they too will end up helping someone else. 

 These past three years have been humbling, challenging, and rewarding.  I was able to serve together with N and SW… for a short time.  A lot of times, those 45 minute drives ended up being naps for them.  I can’t express the joy I have when I share a different bible verse each week… and see the students’ face light up when they feel the encouragement of God’s words.  I’ve been graced by the presence and efforts of many of the pillars of SJCAC.  Seeing how many of them have served in ESL for years if not decades… and they continue to bring it, week after week, year after year.  I am saddened to see some of our students come and go… some disappear because of jobs. But more recently, they disappear for other reasons. 

 I end ESL with the same bible verse that was come as an anthem for my time in this ministry… where I set my alarm to go off at 10:02PM every day… to pray the words of Luke 10:2.  “The harvest is plenty, but workers are few.”  How I long that there’ll be a surge and abundance of young adult teachers that will give up a weeknight to be part of this ministry… to be part of God’s vision. 

Crash and Burn

 Oh geez… easily one of the worst worship experience ever.  I blame myself for not practicing on my edrums at home.  I blame myself for not knowing 6/8.  I blame myself for trying to do too much.  I blame the lack of chemistry this team has with each other.  It was so bad… I couldn’t bring myself to listen to it again.  Let’s hope this is rock bottom.

Under my wing

 One of my direct reports recently made manager… and he’s enrolled in a Front Line Leader course.  One of the assignment he has is to solicit comments from his team and peers.  Then process and digest the comments and create some sort of action plan.  I remember doing something like this when I first made Sr. Manager… and it was so natural for me to build a presentation that walked my boss through everything.  Was I wrong in expecting him to do the same? Not only did he not do the same… he was completely unprepared.  Was opening files left and right… pulling up empty PDF’s… moving files from one screen to another.  10 minutes into his presentation… I did what I’ve never done before.  I stopped his presentation.  I flat out told him… this is out of character.  He’s unprepared and this is not professional.  He’s wasting my time and wasting his own time.  After pulling a rug out from him.. I threw him a life jacket and said, “Run it back and we can do this again.” 

 He must’ve felt like crap the rest of the day.  That night, a Friday night mind you, he even texted me and apologized.  I decided to ignore it for one night… and let him stew on it a bit more.  The next morning, I replied, “It was a good meeting!  We shared... we talked... we learned.  I think it revealed some things in both our styles / approaches.  We'll both get better.” 

 I hate having that power trip… but with this power, also comes responsibility.  I’ve been entrusted with this young man to shape and mentor.  And that’s what I will do.

Performance Review

NN had her AP mock exam… so SW and I went over to shoot some hoops before picking up NN.  Last time… he went a little too far and trash talked a little too much.  This time, it was a lot friendlier.  We both won 1 game… could’ve played a third, rubber match.  But decided it to call it… and head over to 7-eleven to grab a slurpee.  It’s been a little rough since the mall incident and I wasn’t sure what we can talk about.  I decided to do a little “performance review” with him… asking him about his greatest strengths and biggest areas for improvement.  He must’ve been sensing the same tension because he answered without the usual sarcasm.  I was floored.  Then I went one step further… I asked him to rate me.  What are my great strengths and my areas of improvement.

Strengths: I’m well connected.  I can get things done.  I also have drive.  I will get things done. 

Areas of Improvement: be more modest.  Some times, I’m wrong… and I refuse to admit it. 

I thanked him for his honesty.  I think… as father and son… we’ve moved onto a new level of closeness.

Thunder-snore

 Came home in time for SW’s 14^th birthday… and longing to do anything to please the kids these days, I threw the idea of out of watching a sneak preview showing of Thunderbolts… an MCU movie that SW was supposedly interested in. The 8PM showing was already sold out… so we opted for the 9PM showing.  With a two hour run time… three days of traveling… a dark room… a full, hearty dinner… it was the perfect formula for a nice $18 nap.  $36 if you count Joyce’s nap.  The kids loved the movie though… and really… that’s all that matters. 

Happy Birthday SW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pecha Kucha

For our leadership offsite… a bunch of the L6’s had to deliver a Pecha Kucha of our campaigns… The literal translation in Japanese is “chit-chat” but in actuality, is a 6 minute 40 second presentation of 20 slides, 20 seconds each.  The point is to delivery it Ted Talk style to captivate the audience with a short attention span.  For 6 weeks… all of us struggled with it.  In reality, we procrastinated.  But as the date drew near… we started fessing up with our slides and our scripts.  Our dry runs were great.  It seemed like everyone was amped up and ready. 

Then the offsite came and it was showtime.  One at a time… the L6’s started presenting.  And one at a time.. they all fell flat.  I hate to criticize and nit-pick… but all of the Pecha Kucha’s were so boring.  All the L6’s stood behind the podium. They read from a script.  They were lecturing.  Really!??!?! This is the best we can offer?

Day 2 of the offsite rolled around and it was my turn.  In fact… the VP moved me up in the schedule cuz of a conflict.  No problem… I was the smartest person in the room..  at least for the next 6 minutes and 40 seconds on this particular topic.  And in normal me… I did a little warm up to break the ice.  Made a couple of jokes in my deadpan, semi-serious self.  Then I kicked off my speech with an opening question… the Hook.  Almost the entire room raised their hand.  I asked my first question.  Juli piped up and answered to which I said, “You’re ruining it, Juli!!”  (laughter).  And I was off.  The slides were somehow messed up.. .but I improvised.  Never did I hide behind the podium.  I started on the stage… then I walked off.  Started walking around the room to engage.  Stopping every now and then and parked.  One joke after another… it killed.  There were times I blanked… but I kept going.  No one knew.  No one was of the smarter.  Then it came to the end.  I was wrapping up… I circled the floor… got back on the stage.  That’s when I shamelessly plagiarized West Wing – the “Run into the Fire” speech. 

“We will do what is hard.  We will achieve what is great.  And we will not waste another minute looking for missing socks.” 

I didn’t even say “Thank you.”  Flashed my last slide and the room erupted into applauds – with even some folks giving me a standing ovation.  Did my team proud.  Did my boss proud. I can eat all the humble pie and modest cake… but without a doubt… in that moment in time… I was the King of the World.  

 

Of little patience

 NN had her Life Conference car wash fund raising and I dropped her in the morning… thinking I can get my car washed also.  I was the first car there… but they were still setting up on the basketball courts so I parked on the side and waited for the markers or traffic directors.  10 minutes before they opened for business…this lady drives onto the basketball court… going the opposite way I would’ve expected the car wash queue to go.  But the Youth Leaders didn’t correct her.  They started washing her car.  Pretty soon… a second car came.  And a third.  All facing… what I consider… the wrong direction.  Whatever…  they’ll regret it later.  Lemme get in line…. I was 4^th. 

 I brought my laptop with me and sat on the side to do work.  But after a long time of waiting… and seeing people who came after me already leaving… I got curious.  What was taking so long??? OMG…. What a friggin disaster.  No order.  No process.  No line.  Cars were now parked facing in two directions.  My car was not even touched.  There was one person spraying with water…. And about 10 youths who’ll jump onto soap the car.  Then those same 10 youth will walk over to dry the car.  Then they’ll vacuum the car.  So inefficient.  So impractical. 

 NN saw me… and told me that I should go to lunch and come back.  I looked at her in bewilderment.  No!! I got here 4^th… I should leave 4^th.  Her excuse was… some cars that came late have to leave.  Ok… we’re a Christian organization.  I get it that some people have a schedule to maintain… but still, how about maintain the integrity of order.  I made an audible gasp… and started talking loudly to people that were also waiting… saying how long I’ve waited.  I loudly say… “I don’t need to get it washed… I’ll just donate and leave.”  Making sure the other Youth Leaders heard me.  And making sure everyone knew I was annoyed.

 I was now standing there staring the Youth leader down.  Poor guy.  He was overwhelmed.  He was spraying cars down.  Moving cars out of the way.  Giving directions to his crew.  He bit off more than he can chew.  And with the 3^rd and 4^th car still sitting there… he walks over and starts spraying down a later coming mini-van.  The owner of the van was next to me…  and I lose it.   I call out to the other Youth Leader and say, “Can my car be next?”  Preposterous!!!

 After the wash… which I will say, was done fairly well… they still needed to vacuum.  NN said, “It’ll be another 45 minutes.” And she probably wasn’t wrong… so I told the Youth Leader… “I don’t need a vacuum.  Here’s my donation.  Thanks!!”  And I drove off and leave.  As I was leaving… I hear NN talk to that Youth leader within earshot… “My dad needs to have more patience.”   I was gonna get out of the car and make a scene…. But decided to swallow it and just let it be. 

 Patience my @$$.  This was utter buffoonery. 

 

Day of Reckoning

It's finally come to pass - my day of reckoning, day of awakening, day of.... fill in the blank. 

重出江湖

 After a 10 month hiatus… I’m back drumming on a worship team. But to make it so much more special… serving alongside me as a vocalist is my Nui Nui Ju.

There were some kinks… NGL… we had 40 minutes of practice and I was so raw… especially the third 6/8 song where during practice, I was completely lost. But thankfully… it all came together in time for a wonderful, spiritful worship session. 

Thank you Jesus!!!

貪得無厭 續集

Make it stop!!!

Just got an email today from the library... that the book that was in the bag with the spilled soda was "damaged to a point it can no longer circulate." And I'm being charged $25 + $5 service charge.

Wooo... wooo.... all that for a little extra orange soda.... 

貪得無厭

At SW's volleyball tournament... and he was in a foul mood after gut-wrenching lost. We decided to cheer him up with a $5.50 soda.  Luckily it's refillable.  So I kept going back and forth to get my money's worth.  The concession stands were closing... so I made one last trip... and this time to refill my water bottle with soda (Hahahahhaha!!!) on top of the soda cup.

I refilled it... quickly dumped the bottle in my bag... refilled the cup... and headed back to the court.  By the time I got to the court... I was dripping!! (or my bag was).  Apparently I didn't close the lid of my water / soda bottle and it emptied out everywhere.  Soaked my book... the junk in the bag... and most importantly... my portable battery.

5 days later after drying it out... the battery doesn't work anymore.  Grrrr!!!!  One moment of greed leads to an expensive, EXPENSIVE, cup of soda.  

Jam session

It was supposed to be a jam session... turned out more like an audition!!!  Mean Dean is on his game and here I am.. the guy with no music training whatsoever.  HA!! But alas... I passed and I'm back!!  

At any moment

Was always taught... be ready and viligent... cuz at any moment, you'll have a chance to share God's Word.  As was today... breakfast at McDonald's.

I was sitting off to the side, minding my own business when an Asian man sat down and started blaring his mobile device while watching some program in his native language.  I gave him the stink eye and dirty look.  "Have some common courtesy, sir!! No one needs to hear what you're hearing!!"  But I kept to myself and minded my own business.  After eternity and a day... he finally got him to leave.  "Thank goodness.  Took him long enough!" But then... he decided to sit down NEXT to me.  "Good gobbily goop...what did I do to deserve this?!?!?"

Then out of the blue... he started to engage in conversation.  He first asked if I was Chinese, Filipino, Thai...? I said Chinese.  Then he asked if I speak Mandarin or Cantonese.  I said both.

Then he went off..... like a collie in an open field after a weekend of being stuck at home in the rain.

He first asked what I did for a living... Obviously I wasn't going to engage... so I simply said "supply chain."  He didn't care what I said, he just wanted to say, "Are you the boss?" I said no.... and he asked, "Do you know how to write 工?"  I gave him a weird look... "工字冇出頭." 

Chinese culture, is the best culture.  And he challenged me... asking if I knew what 五個火組成的字。  I said no... never saw it.  Is it even used commonly... he said, "有！ 寫符！"  I started noticing the tattoos swimming up and down his arms... a mixture of cultish, taoist designs.  It was time to leave... I didn't want to deal with him or collide with him.  Then I thought... I've got 30 minutes.  I can entertain myself.   So I played along and said, "中華文化博大精深!"  But you've gotta use it.. otherwise it's not practical.  五個火 - it's not used on TV.  Not in newspaper.  What's the use of it... if it's not used.   He wasn't going to win that conversation... so he changed the subject.

He started lecturing me on the different spiritual levels and how blind I am.  Ants... he said... are level 2.  They're in their own world and they're oblivious to anything else beyond them.  They don't know humans exist.  Humans... are on level 3!!!  We're also oblivious to the 4th and 5th level... we don't see demons and ghosts.  He asked if I believe in them... and in honest truth... I said yes.  Then he said I'm not powerful enough... because I can't see them.  He, on the other hand, has his eyes opened.  So he sees things all the time.  

My turn to push back... seeing, isn't believing.  You don't have to see... but it exists.  I asked him... "Have you seen love??"  "Have you seen the wind or air?"  He answered... "I can see wind..." and I said, "No you can't.  You see the air pressure carrying leaves and sand.  You see the effects of wind."  I wish I had memorized Hebrews 11:1 for this moment. 

(I'm having fun!)

He was losing that conversation... so he changed subjects on me and asked me what I did.  And talked about giving me protection.  And that's when I found my opening.... 我信耶穌 and wanted to start sharing my faith.  The bible is so true and fascinating... "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." James 2:19.  The man started to lecture ME about Christianity.  And how he's drank the blood of Jesus.  How a lot of priests and pastors have asked for his help.  I don't doubt him... I'm sure he's studied the bible.  He might even know it better than a lot of self-proclaimed Christians. 

(I was really enjoying this now)

Then he started asking... what's the value in believing in Jesus? Can He cure cancer? Can he make you rich? 

I found my other way in... I told him, "Believing in Jesus isn't a means of prosperity."  

He shot back asking, "What's the point? If you can't make money... why believe in him?"

Perfect opening.... "We're all sinners. Since the fall of man... sin has entered the world and seperated us from God and we're doomed to eternal damnation.  This is eternal, not now, not tomorrow, but forever.  If forever, you don't want to be damned... then accept the fact you've sinned... and Jesus came to die for you and me... so our sins can be forgiven.  And we can now have eternity with our loving Father." 

He asked, "Why would a person die for you and me?"

I answered, "I honestly don't know why... but He loves us.  And He chose to do it.  You don't have to fully understand why... you just have to believe."  

What happened after that....?? (To be continued) 

Super Mario Bro

 Around 6PM, Got a text from our tenant.  The utility sink in the garage is flooding.  I asked if he tried to plunge it... he said yes.  So I personally went there with my plunger and snake.  After about 30 minutes of hardwork... I didn't get anywhere.  Needed a professional power flusher.

Thankfully (maybe), the tenant already called a plumber.  I would've waited until the next day. Roto Rooter came out that night... cleared the lines... and charged us a whopping $630!!! Dang!!!  That's why Mario and Luigi are so rich!!!

Not an agent

Our tenants moved out and here we are... showing our house again.

So then we begrudgingly set up an ad-hoc open house.  We meet so many fine people!  Including another lovely family who's relocating from the mid-West.  Then I realized... they'd be commuting, WITH traffic, for over an hour a day.  I told Joyce... we gotta call them and warn them.  We gotta help them find a house closer to their work.  And she said, "You're so not cut out to be in real estate."

Hate wastin'

 A few days after landing from Hawaii... I find pineapples for sale for $0.99 at a local Asian-mart.  Was jones-ing for those Golden Pineapples that can only be found on the island... so I bought one.  Much to my [expected] dismay... it tasted horrible.  I dipped it in salt water to wash away the acidity... but none of the family members wanted anywhere near that thing.

A week of sitting and marinating in it's own juices... I knew it was time to get some bananas and make a pineapple smoothie.  I got the bananas... and then now it's the banana's turn to sit an marinate on the counter.  Just wasn't feeling up to making a smoothie... and uncharacteristically.. we actually end up eating those bananas.  So now... the pineapples are rotting and I'm out of bananas.

I finally made a run to TJ's and got three bananas... was about to make me a smoothie... when I pop open the fridge, roll back the saran wrap and see... mold.  Aye... I waited too long.  I thought for a Hawaii second whether to just toss the moldy ones and keep the clean ones.  "Nah... don't wanna get sick."  Sigh... into the garbage it goes.  $0.99 - wasted.  

To punish myself... I sat down and ate the 20 remaining, dried up, pruny cuties we bought for camping back in the end of May.  

Woe is me

 This Hawaii trip... more than any recent events... are really showing signs of me aging.  SW jokingly says "You're past your prime."  His joke isn't false.  I am aging.  Slowing.  Losing it.  That edge.  That sharpness.  That intellectual and physical prowess.  That energy level...  just isn't what it use to be. 

Shoulda seen it coming from before the trip.  I didn't deep dive like I use to in planning.  I only got one... instead of 3-4 vacation books.  And the pre-travel schedule was... sparse.  I opted to "let it flow" with a mishmash of beaches, restaurants, and a collage of stamp hitting.  It'll come back to bite me - Fail.

Saturday before take off... I buy the 3 day national park pass.  Only for me to forget on Monday morning... and remember Monday evening... to get my Sunrise Tour pass, which by the time, was sold out.  After kicking myself for 30 minutes... and the family trying to console me... I opted for plan B.  Get the Spoiled Rich Asians to log on while I'm on a plane and hopefully get that pass.  Otherwise... the $30 National Park pass... wasted.   Missing my purchasing window - Fail.  Letting the cart lead the horse - Fail. 

Upon arrival at airport... for whatever reason, I skipped the checkin kiosks, and thereby skipped printing the check-in luggage sticker.  I get to the front of the line... only to be sent (wait for it) with my bags packing.  Wasted 10 minutes.  Travel gaffe - Fail. 

Upon landing... being tired, hangry, and a little off my game... I get into a huge fight with NN at the Food Truck stop.  Completely and utterly unnecessary...and I just couldn't control myself.  Fatherhood - Fail. 

Day 2 of heading out... and I can't find the car keys.  Did I drop it? Did I leave it in the car? The car is locked... so no.  I call Lost and Found - nada.  Went back and forth between the garage and room.  Fruitless.  Was about to call the Car Rental Agency for help... and instead, got a call from Nui Nui.  "In the words of Momma - Found it."  It was in my backpack.  Missplacing keys - Fail.

After a round of golf where I was bumbling and fumbling with golf balls, tees, drinks, bluetooth speakers, letting golfers play through, finding lost balls, scraping up divots in the sand pit... returning our golf carts and getting back in the car... I forget my wallet.  Luckily the worker found it and sped it to me.  Forgetting my wallet - Fail. 

Running the rental car into the parking lot column... and scratching the side of the car...  Not with my driving skills.  Not with my parking skills.  No!!  But alas... turning down CDW.  Fail.

For all these fails... I'm sure there were equally as many, if not more, successes.  And yet, these are the things I remember from an otherwise, pretty perfect trip to paradise. 

Graduation

"You have fought the good fight.  You have finished the race.  And you have kept the faith." - 2 Tim 4:6

Another year bites the dust... good job students!!  And now I get my Tuesday evenings back.