Can you believe it...? 3 championships in 5 years. And on the night that we win the final game of a best of 7 series, I did not have the guts to watch the game.
I come home...and I tell Joyce, "Let's turn it off. We'll turn it back on at 8:30. I don't want to ruin our family tonight."
She dutifully turns off the TV and radio.
I cook dinner... I cheat and check my phone.
I set the table... I cheat and check my phone.
We're about to start dinner... I excuse myself to the bathroom and sit down, checking my phone. We go up 3-2!!!!! I come back out.
I sit down for dinner and say, "I can't do this..."
Joyce admonishes me and says, "Stop cheating. We'll check at 8:30." It was around 7 at that time.
The next 1.5 hour will be one of the longest hour and a half of my life. Every 2 minutes... I would want to touch my phone. NO!! Two more minutes pass by, I'll look at my phone. In my head, I can picture what's happening. (The Royals are coming back!) In my head, I start playing games with myself. (The Giants are busting this open!)
Slowly but surely... it creeps to 8PM. We start getting the kids for bed. Floss. Brush. Storytime. I'm still looking and thinking about my phone. Jonesing. Desparate. Dying. To only turn it on... select that ESPN App... and see the score. It can't hurt. I'll know the score... and go back to putting down the kids. NO!! I promised.
"Can I check?"
"Just wait... it's almost 8:30. Might as well wait till 9."
I'm sitting there... reading them their stories. Joyce is outside doing who knows what. Where is she?!? Is she checking the score?? Will she find out.... but not tell me??? Maybe she'll tell me if we're winning!! Maybe she won't tell me if we're losing.... She walks in, POKER FACE. DARN HER!!!!
It's 8:20PM. Time for bed Nui-nui. I turn the lights off and lie down next to her. It's 8:25. 5 more minutes. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Wait...what do I hear?? In a distance... Fireworks?? No... must be a motorcycle driving by.
8:26. BOOM BOOM....fireworks again?? Could it be? Is the game over?? Are we celebrating?
8:27. Fireworks stopped. Why is time so slow?
I check my iPhone's clock. It's 8:29!! The clock in the room is slow!!
8:30!! 8:30!! 8:30!! Finally turn on phone. Fumbling stumbling bumbling....
Where's that app?? Why isn't it refreshing?!? Why's it still showing the old score from 7PM??
REFRESH DARN YOU!!!!
And there it is.....the headline.... "Giants hold off Royals to capture World Series."
Saturday, November 01, 2014
Friday, October 17, 2014
THE GIANTS HAVE WON THE PENNANT!!!
25 years ago today... was the '89 Earthquake that shocked the world and stalled a World Series.
25 years later... I sit here reveling at yet another Giants Pennant at the cost of those bloody Cardinals.
Unlike the last 2 times in 2010 and 2012, the game wasn't on TV. I guess Network TV's don't draw the ratings to sacrifice their primetime slot for baseball. Amazingly... I come home and Joyce already has the radio going. (Married the right woman indeed).
Was trying to play it down... but I couldn't. During the dinner, when Bumgardner gave up the lead with the go-ahead Homerun... I took it out on NN and yelled at SW for extra measures. Ha!! What a horrible dad. It ended up being a very quiet dinner. And I ended up apologizing.
It wasn't until Nn went to bed that we tied it. I didn't even hear the call on the radio. One minute I was putting Nn down... next minute, I check my phone and the score is 3-3. I run out to the kitchen and see Joyce holding SW and tickling him. He was hysterical... She had a huge smile... the noise from the radio was euphoric. I missed it.
It's funny how you remember exactly where you were when events like this happens.
1989 Earthquake - 5:04PM. I was at Chinese school.
2002 Game 5 - I was in the stands with Jeff, Chris and Joyce. Saw the thing live.
2010 Game 6 - on the phone with Chris (in Hong Kong), streaming the TV via Yahoo Messenger to China, with a 1.5 year old baby girl.
2012 Game 7 - at home. By myself. The kids were asleep.
2014 Game 5. In bed. Lights were off. Radio was blasting. Joyce and I trying to put SW down, but in reality, we were both listening. Jon Miller's legendary voice cracks through our clock radio saying, "AND THE GIANTS HAVE WON THE PENNANT!!" I high-5 my lovely wife in the dark. Turn the radio back to Streams of Praise music.. and walk out of the room.
Moments like this lives on forever. I told my friend, Game 5 in 2002 is one the best moments of my life. He was at the game last night. I'm sure Game 5 of 2014 will be one of the best moments of his.
So many story lines. So many angles. So many tales left untold.
My hope... is there'll be an entry in roughly a week that'll detail out where I am when the Giants win the World Series. Until then.....
25 years later... I sit here reveling at yet another Giants Pennant at the cost of those bloody Cardinals.
Unlike the last 2 times in 2010 and 2012, the game wasn't on TV. I guess Network TV's don't draw the ratings to sacrifice their primetime slot for baseball. Amazingly... I come home and Joyce already has the radio going. (Married the right woman indeed).
Was trying to play it down... but I couldn't. During the dinner, when Bumgardner gave up the lead with the go-ahead Homerun... I took it out on NN and yelled at SW for extra measures. Ha!! What a horrible dad. It ended up being a very quiet dinner. And I ended up apologizing.
It wasn't until Nn went to bed that we tied it. I didn't even hear the call on the radio. One minute I was putting Nn down... next minute, I check my phone and the score is 3-3. I run out to the kitchen and see Joyce holding SW and tickling him. He was hysterical... She had a huge smile... the noise from the radio was euphoric. I missed it.
It's funny how you remember exactly where you were when events like this happens.
1989 Earthquake - 5:04PM. I was at Chinese school.
2002 Game 5 - I was in the stands with Jeff, Chris and Joyce. Saw the thing live.
2010 Game 6 - on the phone with Chris (in Hong Kong), streaming the TV via Yahoo Messenger to China, with a 1.5 year old baby girl.
2012 Game 7 - at home. By myself. The kids were asleep.
2014 Game 5. In bed. Lights were off. Radio was blasting. Joyce and I trying to put SW down, but in reality, we were both listening. Jon Miller's legendary voice cracks through our clock radio saying, "AND THE GIANTS HAVE WON THE PENNANT!!" I high-5 my lovely wife in the dark. Turn the radio back to Streams of Praise music.. and walk out of the room.
Moments like this lives on forever. I told my friend, Game 5 in 2002 is one the best moments of my life. He was at the game last night. I'm sure Game 5 of 2014 will be one of the best moments of his.
So many story lines. So many angles. So many tales left untold.
My hope... is there'll be an entry in roughly a week that'll detail out where I am when the Giants win the World Series. Until then.....
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Exhausted
Two days in a row... I drove out to SF.
Day 1 - was to buy and give mom a new laptop. I've been wanting to do this for a while, but I've been lazy. Finally bit the bullet and bought a low-end, bottom-of-the-line laptop so she can stop using those leftovers from the early 2000's. Boy was that a mistake. Not only did Fry's give me the guaranteed run-around, I definitely needed a long night, by myself, to configure the laptop for her. Doing it real time, at her place, with her hovering... was not the way to go. That... and I was famished and parched.
Day 2- picked dad up from the airport and ended up spending the entire morning with him. Got to his place... was going to drop off the luggage and leave. Only... he asked me 1 simple computer question that floored me for another 2 hours. Oh and btw... I missed lunch again. Famished and parched.
Two different incidences. Two separate issues. Same common problem - Windows 8.1. UGH!!!!!
I finally make it back to the comforts of my home. I eat a leftover waffle from this morning. And I inhale a banana. That was my breakfast and lunch combined.
And to top it off... neither one of their problems were fixed. Will have to go out again and relive this do-loop.
Not complaining... merely stating facts.
Day 1 - was to buy and give mom a new laptop. I've been wanting to do this for a while, but I've been lazy. Finally bit the bullet and bought a low-end, bottom-of-the-line laptop so she can stop using those leftovers from the early 2000's. Boy was that a mistake. Not only did Fry's give me the guaranteed run-around, I definitely needed a long night, by myself, to configure the laptop for her. Doing it real time, at her place, with her hovering... was not the way to go. That... and I was famished and parched.
Day 2- picked dad up from the airport and ended up spending the entire morning with him. Got to his place... was going to drop off the luggage and leave. Only... he asked me 1 simple computer question that floored me for another 2 hours. Oh and btw... I missed lunch again. Famished and parched.
Two different incidences. Two separate issues. Same common problem - Windows 8.1. UGH!!!!!
I finally make it back to the comforts of my home. I eat a leftover waffle from this morning. And I inhale a banana. That was my breakfast and lunch combined.
And to top it off... neither one of their problems were fixed. Will have to go out again and relive this do-loop.
Not complaining... merely stating facts.
Sunday, October 05, 2014
Moving the needle - Boiling the Ocean
When it comes to change... people warn you of "Boiling the Ocean" or trying to make too much change that it's unrealistic.
Some people say, "Move the needle" like a clock... where small incremental changes will eventually equate to huge after effects.
Well... recently, I've finally bitten the bullet and decided to make some changes to my life. I've decided to start using the mouse with my left hand. Imagine... >20 years of doing something with the same hand.. .and now, I have to re-wire my brain.
All those games of Minesweeper... Starcraft... Microsoft Office. Not to mention the patterns I've developed in my head to work the mouse with my right while typing with my left. For example... highlighting a bunch of stuff and using my left hand to type Ctrl-C to copy. Then Ctrl-V to paste.
Life... as I know it... will never be the same. How much slower am I? How much less productive will I become? Can I still beat Mark and Chris using Zergs??
The toughest part in all of this... the stinken touchpad on laptops.
Some people say, "Move the needle" like a clock... where small incremental changes will eventually equate to huge after effects.
Well... recently, I've finally bitten the bullet and decided to make some changes to my life. I've decided to start using the mouse with my left hand. Imagine... >20 years of doing something with the same hand.. .and now, I have to re-wire my brain.
All those games of Minesweeper... Starcraft... Microsoft Office. Not to mention the patterns I've developed in my head to work the mouse with my right while typing with my left. For example... highlighting a bunch of stuff and using my left hand to type Ctrl-C to copy. Then Ctrl-V to paste.
Life... as I know it... will never be the same. How much slower am I? How much less productive will I become? Can I still beat Mark and Chris using Zergs??
The toughest part in all of this... the stinken touchpad on laptops.
Saturday, October 04, 2014
Children's Alpha - Point, Set, Match
After four Sundays and finally... Holy Spirit Saturday... Alpha 2014 can be stashed away into the digital archives of my SJCAC folder. Another one bites the dust.
In the end... it turned out a lot better than I'd imagined. I was basing the "curriculum" off of a previous year's curriculum. "Knowing God." "God's Promises" "Knowing Jesus" "Knowing Yourself." I prepped by researching Children Ministry curriculum and games and crafts. Spent hours researching and thinking of how to link a theme with Adult Alpha and to make a difference.
Then came Roy. He flew in there... without any agenda... very last minute and said, "Let's just have fun." Our 2nd week... we had an Ark building contest. 3rd week... we made lanterns, lanterns that can fly, float and roll on the ground. 4th week... hand puppet contest. The kids loved it. The helpers had a great time. And we tied in some bible teachings here and there.
Holy Spirit Saturday... goodness gracious. 6 hours with the kids. What am I to do?? What do teachers do all day with them?? Just like in football... if you have the lead... milk the time and keep control of the ball.
From 9AM - 3PM... it was all about time management and smart usage of Snack Time. Ohhhh....
And thankfully... KL and CY/JLY came to help out. We baked bread (circled back to Manna) and made ice cream (for no apparent reason). I spent 30 minutes outside... making them do jumping jacks and sorts. A little bit of this... a little bit of that... BAM...we were done.
A text exchange with Roy, earlier this morning.
Roy: Everything under control?
Henry: Making bread
Roy: Good
A few hours later..
Henry: Ohhhh finally done
Henry: 玩完. 收工. 下午茶
Roy: Finally, yes.
In a way... I feel like volunteering for Children's Alpha next year. It's a tough job... especially for a fellowship hampered with a lot of newborns. But in a way... it is our duty, I think, to serve our children. Whether I like doing it or not.... until next year. Joyce says... let's volunteer to cook next year. She might regret saying that.
In the end... it turned out a lot better than I'd imagined. I was basing the "curriculum" off of a previous year's curriculum. "Knowing God." "God's Promises" "Knowing Jesus" "Knowing Yourself." I prepped by researching Children Ministry curriculum and games and crafts. Spent hours researching and thinking of how to link a theme with Adult Alpha and to make a difference.
Then came Roy. He flew in there... without any agenda... very last minute and said, "Let's just have fun." Our 2nd week... we had an Ark building contest. 3rd week... we made lanterns, lanterns that can fly, float and roll on the ground. 4th week... hand puppet contest. The kids loved it. The helpers had a great time. And we tied in some bible teachings here and there.
Holy Spirit Saturday... goodness gracious. 6 hours with the kids. What am I to do?? What do teachers do all day with them?? Just like in football... if you have the lead... milk the time and keep control of the ball.
From 9AM - 3PM... it was all about time management and smart usage of Snack Time. Ohhhh....
And thankfully... KL and CY/JLY came to help out. We baked bread (circled back to Manna) and made ice cream (for no apparent reason). I spent 30 minutes outside... making them do jumping jacks and sorts. A little bit of this... a little bit of that... BAM...we were done.
A text exchange with Roy, earlier this morning.
Roy: Everything under control?
Henry: Making bread
Roy: Good
A few hours later..
Henry: Ohhhh finally done
Henry: 玩完. 收工. 下午茶
Roy: Finally, yes.
In a way... I feel like volunteering for Children's Alpha next year. It's a tough job... especially for a fellowship hampered with a lot of newborns. But in a way... it is our duty, I think, to serve our children. Whether I like doing it or not.... until next year. Joyce says... let's volunteer to cook next year. She might regret saying that.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Pro Democracy Demonstrations
Hong Kong has engaged in a peace movement in hopes of being granted democracy from China. And though I am from Hong Kong... and I claim to have a lot of ties to Hong Kong... I'm honestly ambivalent to what's happening in my homeland.
My entire Facebook feed are people changing their profile picks to a yellow ribbon. People are shedding tears of sadness when seeing what's happening. A friend even broke his 2 year Facebook silence to show support.
There's a theory... that if enough people stared and concentrated on an object, that object will explode under the stress of all the telepathic powers. Makes you wonder... can all these collective thoughts and will power on social media really move the needle in pushing for Hong Kong democracy?
I really wish I can take part in this movement... but I simply don't have any affinity to this sort of thing. Sad. So so sad.
My entire Facebook feed are people changing their profile picks to a yellow ribbon. People are shedding tears of sadness when seeing what's happening. A friend even broke his 2 year Facebook silence to show support.
There's a theory... that if enough people stared and concentrated on an object, that object will explode under the stress of all the telepathic powers. Makes you wonder... can all these collective thoughts and will power on social media really move the needle in pushing for Hong Kong democracy?
I really wish I can take part in this movement... but I simply don't have any affinity to this sort of thing. Sad. So so sad.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Children's Alpha - Part Deux
There's this extra hyper kid at Children's Alpha. Not sure what any other leader would've done... but I made the effort to really discipline him. To the point he was almost in tears.
And amazingly enough... he stuck next to me the entire night like bee to honey.
Can it be true... some kids are just thirsting for some parental discipline?
And amazingly enough... he stuck next to me the entire night like bee to honey.
Can it be true... some kids are just thirsting for some parental discipline?
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
9 Year Anniversary
9 year anniversary today. Suppose to be very special... .cuz 9 signifies 長長久久.
It's been an amazing 9 years. A quick 9 years. 9 years full of ups... and a whole bunch of downs. Still remember those sweet, early years... when it was just the two of us, struggling to make ends meet and pay that mortgage. Then came the first child.... then the second. Work, ministry, life got in the way.... and at one point, the marriage red-light went off. But through and through.... God has kept this 3-way relationship in tact.
And I must say.... today.... I love my wife more than I've ever loved her. My wife... my best friend... the mother of my children.... the only one that truly understands my greatest joy and laments with me in my greatest sorrows.
We didn't do much this year. Last year, we took the day off to go shopping. This year... .we stole a quick lunch at McDonald's. Then I snuck off work early to get her a necklace as a gift.... which she didn't like.... and wanted me to return. I also go the kids a nice set of formal clothes for a formal dinner. Went to the same place we went to for our 2nd year anniversary.
Then at night... it was late. We were tired. We watched a little TV as a family.... and that was it. A quiet, uneventful day. But regardless... it was a day spent with 'you.' And that's all that really matters.
It's been an amazing 9 years. A quick 9 years. 9 years full of ups... and a whole bunch of downs. Still remember those sweet, early years... when it was just the two of us, struggling to make ends meet and pay that mortgage. Then came the first child.... then the second. Work, ministry, life got in the way.... and at one point, the marriage red-light went off. But through and through.... God has kept this 3-way relationship in tact.
And I must say.... today.... I love my wife more than I've ever loved her. My wife... my best friend... the mother of my children.... the only one that truly understands my greatest joy and laments with me in my greatest sorrows.
We didn't do much this year. Last year, we took the day off to go shopping. This year... .we stole a quick lunch at McDonald's. Then I snuck off work early to get her a necklace as a gift.... which she didn't like.... and wanted me to return. I also go the kids a nice set of formal clothes for a formal dinner. Went to the same place we went to for our 2nd year anniversary.
Then at night... it was late. We were tired. We watched a little TV as a family.... and that was it. A quiet, uneventful day. But regardless... it was a day spent with 'you.' And that's all that really matters.
Friday, September 12, 2014
我嘅夢想
My dream...or dare I say fantasy... is quite simple. I want to own and run a restaurant.
Walking through Monterey Fisherman's Wharf the other day, I saw a restaurant owner wearing a nice polo, nice slacks and all he did was laugh and chat away with his customers. He knew some of their names.. but was a stranger to most. But his main purpose in life was to feed people and make sure the process was enjoyable.
I want to be that owner. Where the only thing I do the entire time is to take care of people's needs. If someone is having a bad day.... Free bottle of wine, on the house! If some kids are misbehaving and the parents are extremely stressed out.... free dessert, on the house! If some delivery boy is feeling under appreciated... I'll offer him a job with a bright future. Or at least mentor him and connect him with other friends.
I've been advised too many times... don't ever own a business, cuz you'll never stop working. And furthermore, if you own a business, don't ever own a restaurant cuz it's bound to lose money.
Well dangit.... how am I suppose to live out my dream with all these naysayers?????
Walking through Monterey Fisherman's Wharf the other day, I saw a restaurant owner wearing a nice polo, nice slacks and all he did was laugh and chat away with his customers. He knew some of their names.. but was a stranger to most. But his main purpose in life was to feed people and make sure the process was enjoyable.
I want to be that owner. Where the only thing I do the entire time is to take care of people's needs. If someone is having a bad day.... Free bottle of wine, on the house! If some kids are misbehaving and the parents are extremely stressed out.... free dessert, on the house! If some delivery boy is feeling under appreciated... I'll offer him a job with a bright future. Or at least mentor him and connect him with other friends.
I've been advised too many times... don't ever own a business, cuz you'll never stop working. And furthermore, if you own a business, don't ever own a restaurant cuz it's bound to lose money.
Well dangit.... how am I suppose to live out my dream with all these naysayers?????
Sunday, September 07, 2014
Children's Alpha
Was asked to lead Children's Alpha this year.... and the past few months, I've been dreading this day. Well, the day finally is upon me... and as expected, I did not welcome it with open hands.
I don't know what it is.... but I really can't do Children's Ministry anymore. I use to love kids. I use to want to dedicate my life to them. But when I sit in a room full of kids that are not my own... and they complain... or run off.... or go wild.... I have that unquenchable thirst to discipline them!!
It amazes me how hyper some kids can be. Or how disrespectful they are. Or how impolite they are. Where are their table manners? Where are their social behaviors? Goodness gracious... I sure hope my kids won't cause any teachers the same grief I'm having.
But in the end... I recognize this as an act of obedience. I'm asked to do it... and I will do it. Whether I like it or not, that's another story.
I don't know what it is.... but I really can't do Children's Ministry anymore. I use to love kids. I use to want to dedicate my life to them. But when I sit in a room full of kids that are not my own... and they complain... or run off.... or go wild.... I have that unquenchable thirst to discipline them!!
It amazes me how hyper some kids can be. Or how disrespectful they are. Or how impolite they are. Where are their table manners? Where are their social behaviors? Goodness gracious... I sure hope my kids won't cause any teachers the same grief I'm having.
But in the end... I recognize this as an act of obedience. I'm asked to do it... and I will do it. Whether I like it or not, that's another story.
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