Family Altar - Day 1

Family Altar - Day 1

We dedicated that we'll set up our Family Altar and at 7PM every night, come together as a family to worship, pray and intercede.  Big words for a 4 and 2 year old... right?

Can't really do TWA with them just yet... maybe another year. 

So tonight, on our first night, I sat them down and told them a simple story -- the story of Abraham and how he listened and obeyed God. 

I then blessed Nn to obey God.
Then I asked her to bless Mah-mee.
Then Mah-mee blessed SW.
And finally...SW came and gave me a hug and repeated after me, "May God bless bah-bee...Amen."

First night... not even 5 minutes.  Let's see how this goes....

HDTV

When did HDTV first become prominent? Mid-2000's??

Well...this week, Joyce and I finally found an antenna that works!!  We get all the basic cable channels....for free.... but now it's in HD!!  Man HD looks beautiful.  I kept finding nature shows.... sporting events... heck... even public television! 

The best things in life are free... but they're even "best-er" when it comes in HD....

Called AT&T and cancelled our cable... $20 a month in savings!! Boom!!

Days gone by...

Couple weeks ago... I was out in SF visiting the folks.  I found an hour in between with nothing to do.. so I decided to take an aimless stroll through Chinatown.  And my legs instinctively led me back to Sts. Peter and Paul.

The towering spirals could be seen from blocks away.  The whiff of marinara and Italian pastry flooded my nostrils as the sounds of the Muni stopping and going blended in with the laughing old men and the shrill of tourists.  It's been...oh.... 15 years since I've made this trek?

Walking past Washington Square, the panhandlers and the statues are all still there.  The façade of this church, this cathedral, hasn't changed one bit.  The same gargoyles...the same inscriptions...the same mass schedule.

I made a quick stop inside the church.  Everything... the same.  I didn't genuflect when I walked up the middle aisle as I was so accustomed to doing the first 18+ years of my life.  I ambled around the church like a tourist... inspecting, finding, scavenging for each relic and hidden gem.  Once again... nothing has changed.  The priest sits in the same chair... the very same one.  The altar boys...same kneelers. The candles... constant. 

I saw the sacristian come out to prepare for the 12:15PM mass.  He's changed.  It was once Frank... then Bill.  I don't recognize this man anymore.

Time to go... I walked past the huge playground and saw a bunch of kids running out during recess.  Hmmm... no longer are the kids 90% Asian.  It's now predominantly white...with a sprinkle of color.  What happened???

I stood there, probably longer than I should have, looking like a pedophile wannabe.  When all along... I was just thinking of the days gone by.....

西藥頭, 中藥尾

阿媽教落，西藥頭中藥尾。整咗量濟沙溪涼茶，應該冇事喇呱。

但外父好心買咗樽"穿心蓮"比我，個合話係美國製造。我上望搵吓間公司，完來係批發家私㗎噃。 比著係你，你食唔食呢？

Annual collapse of the body...

Two years ago... Hand Foot Mouth.
Last year... return of Hand Foot Mouth.

This year... it was gonna hit sooner or later.  When Rachel came down with the flu two weeks ago, I was especially careful, taking extra precaution by taking Airborne, etc...

But starting last Thursday, I already felt it in throat.  Friday, I started coughing.  Saturday, the fever hit.  Sunday, it went to 100.  Monday went up to 104!!  I was so cold I was buried under a mountain of sheets, but at the same time, so hot I had two ice packs in my armpits.  Tuesday night... fever went down to a mild 102.  But my head was hurting so much I couldn't sleep a wink the entire night.  Wednesday comes around and I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't walk.... headache is still there.  I blame it on Caffeine withdrawal.... so I beg Joyce to go grab me a cup of coffee on the way home. 

Finally around 2pm, my fever breaks.  My head still hurts... my throat still aches.... my stomach is grumbling but I can't keep any food down. 

Oh the joys of NOT GETTING A FLU SHOT!?!?!??!?!

Good Samaritan(s)

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

A joyous moment

It's Nui-nui's second season of Kidz Love Soccer... and at the end of every session... the coach will get the kids to scream, "KIDZ LOVE SOCCER" in unison and then hi-5 all the coaches and assistant coaches.  At the end of today's session... Nui-nui grabs Siu-Wah's hand and brings him with her.

Siu Wah is in seventh heaven! He gets to be with big sister and do big sister things!  And Nui-nui fits the role of the protective loving elder sibling perfectly. 

Bah-B and Mah-mee naturally starts shedding tears of joy. Hahaha.... our little ones are growing up.

Act of Kindness

On our way to Costco...we saw a family of four sitting by the entrance.  The parents are probably my age... their two kids are probably 7 and 4.  The two kids were laughing, joking.  The mom sat their, stoic.  The dad held the simple sign - "Money, Food, or Job.  Please help." 

Joyce suggested we get them a chicken. 

As we exited, we dropped off the chicken... the dad said, "Thank you.  God bless you." 

So... is there a difference between a family of four vs. a shaggy looking drunk?  Yes...
Did the family really need to stoop so low as to use their kids to trigger an emotional response? I don't know...

Finally found one....

Since I lost my sunglasses on our Hawaii trip in May... I haven't been able to find a replacement that fits.  Been using my Air Force Pilot glasses for the past 5 months.

Yesterday... finally located a pair at Nordstrom Rack.  $50 marked down to $15.  Nice!! 

I like cheap stuff... who am I kidding? I'm cheap... the kids will certainly bend or break them.  If not... I'll lose it and need to find another pair.  Only now... I know here to go look!

I cried...again

Currently reading Hillary Clinton's autobiography (in preparation for her 2016 run haha).  And I started weeping uncontrollably when I got to the part where her father was reluctant to give her away to Bill Clinton on their wedding day.

I started thinking... what I would do when the day comes that I have to give Nn's hand away in marriage.  I don't think I'll be able to do it.... :*(

Ohhhh soooo jealous

Was flying red-eye to Philly, hoping to catch some sleep during the 5 hour flight since I had a long day ahead.  Next two me sat a mother and daughter... 6 year old maybe?

Within 5 minutes of taking off...they were snoring away.  And for the rest of the night... I kept on staring at them... green with envy, dying with jealousy..... begging, praying, hoping... that I too can just fall asleep.

But I left the neckpillow in the car and my seat didn't recline.