I will preface this entry by saying that I'm sure that God doesn't care whether we are in tune or musically talented when we praise. And that I'm quite thankful to not actually have perfect pitch.
That being said, I was noticing something recently that made me think.
So every week I meet up with my sgl to prep for small group, which includes going over the Bible study, logistics, some singing and praying. Good stuff. Seeing as how I can't play guitar beyond three chords and no strums, he will play in the background during the singing and praying part. Which means he gets to pick the songs and the keys.
I noticed when we first started meeting up that he likes to sing songs in keys that are somewhat high. I'm not sure how it works for the average guy's range vs. the average girl's range and I know I'm an alto - but I noticed that when I tried to match his melody an octave higher, I'd often find myself straining to hit the notes in a register that wasn't quite comfortable to me. And when you're singing with one other person - there's really nowhere to hide. If you hit the wrong note, it's glaringly obvious. If you hit the note but only with half your voice, it's glaringly obvious.
So at one point, rather than trying to force it, I decided to take a different approach and try to harmonize with him, so that my part would be in my comfortable range. Not that I'm necessarily good at harmonizing, sometimes I'm sure I'm just wrong, but for the most part, it works out better that way.
I think this is indicative of what working with someone has been like, and how I'm being stretched. Partnering in ministry doesn't necessarily mean that you're both singing the melody all the time. Perhaps you can, and so long as you're together, it works, but even when two people are perfectly in tune singing melody, it's kind of ... boring.
The harmony is certainly not always as 'glorious' or in the 'spotlight' as the melody is - believe me, I've played 2nd violin often enough to know - but it brings a depth to the melody when it complements it, and with that support, lets the melody come out stronger. And in the end, what it does is make the actual music.
The funny thing is, in order to harmonize, you have to know the melody and know it well. To know where it is going, where it has been, and be able to determine on the fly what it needs. It's not really an ignorance or a step back, but requires the ability to plan ahead.
So perhaps all this straining to hit these high notes that my voice was not made in range for is indicative of a greater need to step back and let someone else sing the melody. Perhaps this is a time to learn how to harmonize, because it's something I'm capable of, but doesn't come naturally. And perhaps harmonizing is not necessarily hiding behind the melody - but supporting it.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
hodge podge
I've turned my suitcases upside down, yet again. It's official.
I lost my camera and my cell phone in Argentina. And the irony is, I can't even call Verizon to tell them my phone was lost/stolen - because I don't have a phone to call them with.
My mom thought I died because I hadn't called. And apparently left me a frantic message on my cell every hour since yesterday. I have to say - I'm half glad the phone is gone so I don't have to listen to all those messages. (Until I realized how freaking expensive new phones are at full price).
Usually I never go out with the team on the last night, but I figured I wouldn't be a party pooper this time and forced myself to go out. I must admit it was fun, but...I think this is God's way of telling me I shouldn't be drinking. Impaired judgement and lack of memory = loss of expensive electronic devices.
* * * * *
They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. I thought it was super cute when Jax, my 10 year old student that I tutor and teach in Taekwondo, came out of his room after our session today wearing his black North Face fleece and looking proud of himself. I had just put on my black NF fleece to leave, and he thought it was cool to have the same jacket as me. It was pretty cute. (Even though black NF jackets are pretty common).
Today he asked me what pi was, why there were so many digits, and whether they were important. It was actually really fun to take a digression from fractions to talk about significant figures and geometry.
I love smart kids.
* * * * *
Dazzo picked me up from the airport today and I made the rounds at my old company. Gosh, I really miss my old coworkers. I didn't realize how awesome it was to be in a work environment where you actually have friends.
Dazzo even got me a present - a box of hot n' spicy tabasco flavored cheez-its. My favorites source of fat and salt. We used to eat them all the time, I got him hooked the year I was there. How thoughtful - it made my day.
* * * * *
I came home and my flowers were dead. Last week someone sent me flowers to my work - it was really encouraging (and really embarassing). I think it was someone from sg based on the note. (Thanks!) I haven't really received flowers before (except that time fsgl's got me flowers for Mother's Day - dang that's one way to say 'we love you and you're old') so I didn't really know what to do. Whoever it was was super thoughtful and sent a vase too, because I don't own one. I read all the instructions on how to cut them and added the special powdery thing to the water...but I think I neglected to realize that you have to keep giving them water instead of just sticking them in water. Oops. But they were pretty while they lasted, I love roses. It was such a cheery addition to my apt in the midst of the chaos of packing last week.
It's funny, that whole exercise with praying for and encouraging someone else in the sg was so people could learn to give without expecting recognition, and to receive and be blessed without feeling like something is owed. Little did I know that it would come back and I would be the recipient of such encouragement. Ministry is so unexpected like that sometimes.
I lost my camera and my cell phone in Argentina. And the irony is, I can't even call Verizon to tell them my phone was lost/stolen - because I don't have a phone to call them with.
My mom thought I died because I hadn't called. And apparently left me a frantic message on my cell every hour since yesterday. I have to say - I'm half glad the phone is gone so I don't have to listen to all those messages. (Until I realized how freaking expensive new phones are at full price).
Usually I never go out with the team on the last night, but I figured I wouldn't be a party pooper this time and forced myself to go out. I must admit it was fun, but...I think this is God's way of telling me I shouldn't be drinking. Impaired judgement and lack of memory = loss of expensive electronic devices.
* * * * *
They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. I thought it was super cute when Jax, my 10 year old student that I tutor and teach in Taekwondo, came out of his room after our session today wearing his black North Face fleece and looking proud of himself. I had just put on my black NF fleece to leave, and he thought it was cool to have the same jacket as me. It was pretty cute. (Even though black NF jackets are pretty common).
Today he asked me what pi was, why there were so many digits, and whether they were important. It was actually really fun to take a digression from fractions to talk about significant figures and geometry.
I love smart kids.
* * * * *
Dazzo picked me up from the airport today and I made the rounds at my old company. Gosh, I really miss my old coworkers. I didn't realize how awesome it was to be in a work environment where you actually have friends.
Dazzo even got me a present - a box of hot n' spicy tabasco flavored cheez-its. My favorites source of fat and salt. We used to eat them all the time, I got him hooked the year I was there. How thoughtful - it made my day.
* * * * *
I came home and my flowers were dead. Last week someone sent me flowers to my work - it was really encouraging (and really embarassing). I think it was someone from sg based on the note. (Thanks!) I haven't really received flowers before (except that time fsgl's got me flowers for Mother's Day - dang that's one way to say 'we love you and you're old') so I didn't really know what to do. Whoever it was was super thoughtful and sent a vase too, because I don't own one. I read all the instructions on how to cut them and added the special powdery thing to the water...but I think I neglected to realize that you have to keep giving them water instead of just sticking them in water. Oops. But they were pretty while they lasted, I love roses. It was such a cheery addition to my apt in the midst of the chaos of packing last week.
It's funny, that whole exercise with praying for and encouraging someone else in the sg was so people could learn to give without expecting recognition, and to receive and be blessed without feeling like something is owed. Little did I know that it would come back and I would be the recipient of such encouragement. Ministry is so unexpected like that sometimes.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
turtle and scorpion explained
as an explanation of the turtle scorpion story...
i purposely didn't expound upon it because i wanted it to be open ended for interpretation, as it was originally told to me. however, upon deeper thought, i guess i could give my opinion.
so by the eneagram personality tests i'm a type 2 - the helper. so it is often that i find myself resonating with the turtle. i really like helping people - it makes me happy to think about others' needs and try to fulfill them, help them get towards a goal, or generally care for them/make them feel cared for. not surprisingly, i also happen to like it when people help me, care for me, or are thoughtful of me. it makes sense that you receive in the same manner that you give. both of these energize me, and i really treasure and thrive in those precious friendships in which this works both ways.
however, no friendships or relationships are perfect, and more often than not (ie. always) the more you get to know someone, the more you will see their flaws and incompatibilities with you. and yours with them. the real question is whether you can accept and grow together beyond those differences or not, and this is what i think the meaning is behind the turtle and the scorpion.
the turtle knew full well that the scorpion had, not only in his power to hurt him, but that it was in his nature that he undoubtably would use it. whether the scorpion's intentions are malicious or not is actually irrelevant - so therefore it's a bit unfair to just label the turtle as virtuous and the scorpion as villainous. - because the end result is the same. the scorpion will inevitably hurt the turtle. that is why the turtle was so hesitant to acquiese to the initial request.
but you can't make friendships based on conditions, because then you're asking someone to be someone they're not. perhaps their character can grow into someone better than they are presently (and likewise with you), and perhaps your friendship will be instrumental in that happening - but the fact of the matter is, you have to be ready to get stung, because there is a very real chance and high probability that this will happen.
however, before we go into a pity party of feeling victimized, i think if we're really honest with ourselves, we're never always the turtle. we play the role of the scorpion as well, particularly to those who we're closest to. for example, my parents. i'm not the nicest person to them, not always. and despite that, they will always love me and stand by me. for example (here we go, don't judge me) - whenever i go home, my parents and i will stay up late watching korean dramas and music videos. (yes, we do that as a family). i will curl up on the couch and lazily let myself drift off to sleep, and my mom will come and put a blanket on me and a pillow under my head. then, just as i'm falling asleep (you know the feeling - it's awesome) my dad will say "SOYUN! go upstairs and sleep!"
totally ruining one of the best moments of my life. there is no instance that i am crankier than when someone steals that moment away from me. and no person that i will put my self-respecting pride down for and throw a tantrum like a 5 year old at than my dad.
at first i'll just ignore him, thinking if he thinks i'm already asleep, he'll leave me alone. yeah, right. parks are far too stubborn. give it about 30 seconds and there will be another bellow: "SOYUN! NOW!" this will go on for awhile, before he starts getting annoying and tickling my feet, at which point, there is absolutely no way i can stay there.
so i'll get up, completely disheveled and angry, and here i am, 26 years old, throwing a tantrum at my father.
EVERY TIME I GO HOME. without fail.
there are times when i know that i will snap at them or be impatient or frustrated...and no matter how much i may try, it will eventually come out. why? because it's my nature, and there's no one like family to see you as you are.
when i look at some of the important relationships in my life, i realize that it is a give and take, and that sometimes i am the turtle, and sometimes i am the scorpion. i see it with all the ups and downs sabs and i have gone through in the last 2+ years. all the times their thoughtless words hurt deep, whether they knew it or not. all the misunderstandings, spoken and unspoken. the ways i undermined their authority (again, whether i knew it or not), the ways they bullied me...the list could go on and on. but despite these things, the ways we drove each other absolutely crazy, all the times they made me cry, all the times i made them mad - we've somehow gotten through them.
i see it in the extremely volatile fights that jaac and i would have - particularly when we were grumpy and starving cutting weight. he's one of my best friends, and with that comes the power for me to hurt him with a careless comment, for him to hurt me with a pointed comeback.
in all relationships worth having, there must be conflict and reconciliation. that's how you grow, both in understanding of each other and also yourself. when i look at the relationships that matter to me, the ones that are difficult - i see a more realistic perception of who i am and how i need to grow. and sometimes i get a clearer picture of who the other person is and how they need to grow.
after all, it's all a process of growing. and they don't call it growing pains for nothing.
i purposely didn't expound upon it because i wanted it to be open ended for interpretation, as it was originally told to me. however, upon deeper thought, i guess i could give my opinion.
so by the eneagram personality tests i'm a type 2 - the helper. so it is often that i find myself resonating with the turtle. i really like helping people - it makes me happy to think about others' needs and try to fulfill them, help them get towards a goal, or generally care for them/make them feel cared for. not surprisingly, i also happen to like it when people help me, care for me, or are thoughtful of me. it makes sense that you receive in the same manner that you give. both of these energize me, and i really treasure and thrive in those precious friendships in which this works both ways.
however, no friendships or relationships are perfect, and more often than not (ie. always) the more you get to know someone, the more you will see their flaws and incompatibilities with you. and yours with them. the real question is whether you can accept and grow together beyond those differences or not, and this is what i think the meaning is behind the turtle and the scorpion.
the turtle knew full well that the scorpion had, not only in his power to hurt him, but that it was in his nature that he undoubtably would use it. whether the scorpion's intentions are malicious or not is actually irrelevant - so therefore it's a bit unfair to just label the turtle as virtuous and the scorpion as villainous. - because the end result is the same. the scorpion will inevitably hurt the turtle. that is why the turtle was so hesitant to acquiese to the initial request.
but you can't make friendships based on conditions, because then you're asking someone to be someone they're not. perhaps their character can grow into someone better than they are presently (and likewise with you), and perhaps your friendship will be instrumental in that happening - but the fact of the matter is, you have to be ready to get stung, because there is a very real chance and high probability that this will happen.
however, before we go into a pity party of feeling victimized, i think if we're really honest with ourselves, we're never always the turtle. we play the role of the scorpion as well, particularly to those who we're closest to. for example, my parents. i'm not the nicest person to them, not always. and despite that, they will always love me and stand by me. for example (here we go, don't judge me) - whenever i go home, my parents and i will stay up late watching korean dramas and music videos. (yes, we do that as a family). i will curl up on the couch and lazily let myself drift off to sleep, and my mom will come and put a blanket on me and a pillow under my head. then, just as i'm falling asleep (you know the feeling - it's awesome) my dad will say "SOYUN! go upstairs and sleep!"
totally ruining one of the best moments of my life. there is no instance that i am crankier than when someone steals that moment away from me. and no person that i will put my self-respecting pride down for and throw a tantrum like a 5 year old at than my dad.
at first i'll just ignore him, thinking if he thinks i'm already asleep, he'll leave me alone. yeah, right. parks are far too stubborn. give it about 30 seconds and there will be another bellow: "SOYUN! NOW!" this will go on for awhile, before he starts getting annoying and tickling my feet, at which point, there is absolutely no way i can stay there.
so i'll get up, completely disheveled and angry, and here i am, 26 years old, throwing a tantrum at my father.
EVERY TIME I GO HOME. without fail.
there are times when i know that i will snap at them or be impatient or frustrated...and no matter how much i may try, it will eventually come out. why? because it's my nature, and there's no one like family to see you as you are.
when i look at some of the important relationships in my life, i realize that it is a give and take, and that sometimes i am the turtle, and sometimes i am the scorpion. i see it with all the ups and downs sabs and i have gone through in the last 2+ years. all the times their thoughtless words hurt deep, whether they knew it or not. all the misunderstandings, spoken and unspoken. the ways i undermined their authority (again, whether i knew it or not), the ways they bullied me...the list could go on and on. but despite these things, the ways we drove each other absolutely crazy, all the times they made me cry, all the times i made them mad - we've somehow gotten through them.
i see it in the extremely volatile fights that jaac and i would have - particularly when we were grumpy and starving cutting weight. he's one of my best friends, and with that comes the power for me to hurt him with a careless comment, for him to hurt me with a pointed comeback.
in all relationships worth having, there must be conflict and reconciliation. that's how you grow, both in understanding of each other and also yourself. when i look at the relationships that matter to me, the ones that are difficult - i see a more realistic perception of who i am and how i need to grow. and sometimes i get a clearer picture of who the other person is and how they need to grow.
after all, it's all a process of growing. and they don't call it growing pains for nothing.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
electronics
Reason #2 for why I have to get married: I hate shopping for electronics.
Men appear to enjoy shopping for electronics. OK, perhaps that is not a good generalization considering almost all of the men in my life are Asian engineers. However, the statistic works in my little world. Even my non-engineering guy friends know and care so much more about electronics than I do.
I'm trying to buy a new computer. But there are just too many freaking options. mac? pc? desktop? laptop? That alone gives me a headache, let alone all the other bells and whistles that add hundreds of dollars that you didn't acount for.
And anyone who knows me well knows that I don't deal well with options in arenas I don't know, particularly if it involves money. If you increase the number of variables, my stress and indecision levels skyrocket exponentially. (Hence, if you've ever played poker with me...it's very amusing).
Since my current laptop is 4 years old, the screen has blown out, super slow, and is now making funny sounds when it runs...I've backed up my files, picked the brains of the first 5 guys who would respond to me, spent too much time on the internet, and spent 150% of the budget I had set for myself. Dell.com is freaking sneaky...don't be fooled until you check out and suddenly see the price skyrocket!
Time to exit the Dark Ages. Well, in 3-5 days, by standard shipping.
I really hope my future husband likes shopping for electronics, I think I need a nap from my purchasing experience.
Men appear to enjoy shopping for electronics. OK, perhaps that is not a good generalization considering almost all of the men in my life are Asian engineers. However, the statistic works in my little world. Even my non-engineering guy friends know and care so much more about electronics than I do.
I'm trying to buy a new computer. But there are just too many freaking options. mac? pc? desktop? laptop? That alone gives me a headache, let alone all the other bells and whistles that add hundreds of dollars that you didn't acount for.
And anyone who knows me well knows that I don't deal well with options in arenas I don't know, particularly if it involves money. If you increase the number of variables, my stress and indecision levels skyrocket exponentially. (Hence, if you've ever played poker with me...it's very amusing).
Since my current laptop is 4 years old, the screen has blown out, super slow, and is now making funny sounds when it runs...I've backed up my files, picked the brains of the first 5 guys who would respond to me, spent too much time on the internet, and spent 150% of the budget I had set for myself. Dell.com is freaking sneaky...don't be fooled until you check out and suddenly see the price skyrocket!
Time to exit the Dark Ages. Well, in 3-5 days, by standard shipping.
I really hope my future husband likes shopping for electronics, I think I need a nap from my purchasing experience.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
10 days of birthday...
Had a great time at D&B's with akl, ahyeah, suprman, dmoon, aepark, sera, and bh. We won this really cool poker set for 5500 tickets! Now, how do you actually win that obscene number of tickets in one sitting, you ask?
It was a combination of suprman's ridiculously lucky tendencies (who gets triple 7 on slots on the first try??), aepark's crazy wheel of fortune skills, bh, akl and my flaming fingers, and...the trivia game. Haha. I think all the other people must have hated us. I knew there was a purpose to being geeky and smart. dmoon, suprman, and bh were ridiculous. Highest payout by far per game.
Man this was the best and most prolonged birthday I've ever had. Totally awesome. But I think the festivities are over now, and I will have to just move on...and accept my age. (I went to a tournament to coach this weekend, and a bunch of the Korean kids came up to me and eensah'd...you know you're old when people give you respect.)
It was a combination of suprman's ridiculously lucky tendencies (who gets triple 7 on slots on the first try??), aepark's crazy wheel of fortune skills, bh, akl and my flaming fingers, and...the trivia game. Haha. I think all the other people must have hated us. I knew there was a purpose to being geeky and smart. dmoon, suprman, and bh were ridiculous. Highest payout by far per game.
Man this was the best and most prolonged birthday I've ever had. Totally awesome. But I think the festivities are over now, and I will have to just move on...and accept my age. (I went to a tournament to coach this weekend, and a bunch of the Korean kids came up to me and eensah'd...you know you're old when people give you respect.)
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
setups
Dave, my hand therapist, likes to joke around with me about why I'm not married. Or dating. Or whatever. It's kind of cute though, he's sort of paternal. And he's not Korean so that makes me a little less guarded about being nagged.
"So I went to see my dentist the other day, and he's Korean. And he's Christian. Really nice guy..."
I see where this is going.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah, but he's 34...is that too old for you?"
"Uh, probably"
"Well, he's a really nice guy, all his patients love him. There's one one thing...well, there are two things"
Uh, being 34 wasn't one of them?
"Yeah?"
"So...he's a little overweight."
"So what? Wait...how little is a little?"
"Maybe 20 lbs. I figured that wouldn't work with you since you're like, the other end of the exercise spectrum"
And by 20 he meant more like 25-30.
"Uhh...yeah, there could be a conflict of interest."
"Well, and he's a little..."
"What, awkward?"
"Yeah, that's a good word! You could say that"
Wait, so not only is the guy old, and overweight (which doesn't bother me so much as the fact that obesity can indicate a lack of discipline), but he's socially awkward?
What's with people trying to set me up with 34 year old not-a-real-doctor types? This is the second one in 3 months! First the optometrist somewhere in California who likes to go hiking and canoeing, but was not Christian. Now the dentist somewhere in Jersey who may or may not be able to carry a conversation.
"So I went to see my dentist the other day, and he's Korean. And he's Christian. Really nice guy..."
I see where this is going.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah, but he's 34...is that too old for you?"
"Uh, probably"
"Well, he's a really nice guy, all his patients love him. There's one one thing...well, there are two things"
Uh, being 34 wasn't one of them?
"Yeah?"
"So...he's a little overweight."
"So what? Wait...how little is a little?"
"Maybe 20 lbs. I figured that wouldn't work with you since you're like, the other end of the exercise spectrum"
And by 20 he meant more like 25-30.
"Uhh...yeah, there could be a conflict of interest."
"Well, and he's a little..."
"What, awkward?"
"Yeah, that's a good word! You could say that"
Wait, so not only is the guy old, and overweight (which doesn't bother me so much as the fact that obesity can indicate a lack of discipline), but he's socially awkward?
What's with people trying to set me up with 34 year old not-a-real-doctor types? This is the second one in 3 months! First the optometrist somewhere in California who likes to go hiking and canoeing, but was not Christian. Now the dentist somewhere in Jersey who may or may not be able to carry a conversation.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
birthday blessings
If there is one thing I'm embarassed by, it's being sung the happy birthday song on your birthday. What are you supposed to do when people are singing? You can't exactly sing along. The song lasts for a relatively long time. You can't really look down and be ungracious, but actually looking at the people singing is weird.
Maybe I have issues with receiving with no opportunity to reciprocate. (Food for thought). Or perhaps I don't like being the center of attention for something that I don't 'deserve'. (Though it's not really like you deserve a birthday).
So on Friday after weigh-ins and the open competition, we had dinner at Hard Rock with the tBos crew. Gosh, I missed them...brought back such good memories of what it was like to be on a team - my own team. They are still as awesome as ever. I forgot about Hard Rock and their birthday policies, so at the end of dinner when the waitress comes over and makes me come stand in the middle of the room, I was utterly embarassed when she made the whole restaurant sing happy birthday to me.
So I thought I had read that if you get a drink, you get to keep the commemorative glass. Liza asks the waiter if that's true and he says no, sorry, the glass stays.
Liza: "So what if someone didn't know that?" (hint, hint)
waiter: "Well...I'm looking the other way"
Liza: "Sparky, put the glass in your bag"
me: "Um, but...that's STEALING!"
Liza: "Yes, and on your birthday you should do things like that. Faster!"
* * * * *
Tonight jh tried to get ppl from sg together for a birthday dinner, and lo and behold, the unthinking waiter comes over to our table and says "we're going to bring out the cake now, so please clap along!" And I'm thinking - uh, cake? Dangit, that means singing! Uh...clap along to what??
Little did I know...
If you've ever watched a Korean drama when it's someone's birthday in a restaurant...well, that stuff really does happen. I see this waiter coming with a cake and candles (OK I'm starting to get embarassed, but this is standard birthday fare, so expected) - then suddenly from the speakers comes Turbo's techno rendition of "happy happy birthday" (which, coincidentally, I do happen to like because I really liked Turbo back in the mid 90's) and the entire Kunjip staff comes out clapping to the beat (oh my goodness) and encouraging the entire restaurant to clap along. (I think my face was as red as my shirt).
Man...I'm so blessed. Here I thought it was going to be a horrible birthday, while I was cutting weight, stressed about training, and away to boot. The thoughtfulness of many to go so out of their way to help me celebrate and encourage me before the tournament has been so unexpected and amazing. JH took me out last week for fun at D&B's, C and L put together encouragement cards from sg and football (respectively), my 8 year old TKD student wrote me a story about us going to a tournament together and how I'm her favorite instructor, Scottie and JAAC sent me all these inspirational quotes and comments...I've seriously never been so encouraged.
I am undeserving of such love and care, but very grateful for it nonetheless.
Maybe I have issues with receiving with no opportunity to reciprocate. (Food for thought). Or perhaps I don't like being the center of attention for something that I don't 'deserve'. (Though it's not really like you deserve a birthday).
So on Friday after weigh-ins and the open competition, we had dinner at Hard Rock with the tBos crew. Gosh, I missed them...brought back such good memories of what it was like to be on a team - my own team. They are still as awesome as ever. I forgot about Hard Rock and their birthday policies, so at the end of dinner when the waitress comes over and makes me come stand in the middle of the room, I was utterly embarassed when she made the whole restaurant sing happy birthday to me.
So I thought I had read that if you get a drink, you get to keep the commemorative glass. Liza asks the waiter if that's true and he says no, sorry, the glass stays.
Liza: "So what if someone didn't know that?" (hint, hint)
waiter: "Well...I'm looking the other way"
Liza: "Sparky, put the glass in your bag"
me: "Um, but...that's STEALING!"
Liza: "Yes, and on your birthday you should do things like that. Faster!"
* * * * *
Tonight jh tried to get ppl from sg together for a birthday dinner, and lo and behold, the unthinking waiter comes over to our table and says "we're going to bring out the cake now, so please clap along!" And I'm thinking - uh, cake? Dangit, that means singing! Uh...clap along to what??
Little did I know...
If you've ever watched a Korean drama when it's someone's birthday in a restaurant...well, that stuff really does happen. I see this waiter coming with a cake and candles (OK I'm starting to get embarassed, but this is standard birthday fare, so expected) - then suddenly from the speakers comes Turbo's techno rendition of "happy happy birthday" (which, coincidentally, I do happen to like because I really liked Turbo back in the mid 90's) and the entire Kunjip staff comes out clapping to the beat (oh my goodness) and encouraging the entire restaurant to clap along. (I think my face was as red as my shirt).
Man...I'm so blessed. Here I thought it was going to be a horrible birthday, while I was cutting weight, stressed about training, and away to boot. The thoughtfulness of many to go so out of their way to help me celebrate and encourage me before the tournament has been so unexpected and amazing. JH took me out last week for fun at D&B's, C and L put together encouragement cards from sg and football (respectively), my 8 year old TKD student wrote me a story about us going to a tournament together and how I'm her favorite instructor, Scottie and JAAC sent me all these inspirational quotes and comments...I've seriously never been so encouraged.
I am undeserving of such love and care, but very grateful for it nonetheless.
Friday, November 03, 2006
what is 26?
26. It's not even mathematically significant.
23 was prime. Seriously the best year of my life. Graduated but no formal job, freedom to do ministry and train to my heart's content, where my "job" was to love and teach students in the two arenas I love most...young enough to blend in with my students and be friends with them, to live that extended campus life and enjoy it. I think I laughed the most this year. I miss Boston so much it hurts sometimes, but I know that I'm really just missing this time of my life and the people from it.
24 was perfect. (1x2x3x4) That was the year I strove to be "perfect" - the year of growth. The most crying I've ever done, the most psychological trauma I've ever gone through, the most I've ever travelled, and the most progress and development I've ever made. This was the year of risks, of learning that God will indeed provide when you take a leap of faith, and above all, learning how much I need community. The year of personal breakthroughs and what can happen when you really believe.
25 was square. (5x5) This was the year of balance. Between a new church, changing jobs, training, tutoring, and teaching TKD - it was a massive juggling act of learning how to sacrifice, how to optimize, how to give everything and everyone the most I can and still remain standing. But some of the most rewarding moments, when you see people growing, learning, overcoming their fears, and pushing them past their excuses and perceived limitations.
27 will be cubed. (3x3x3) Oh gosh, who knows, maybe it's the year everything will converge and make sense. But at least it's a special number.
But what is 26? I eagerly await to see what God can make out of this insignificant number. (If any of you have the gift of prophecy, well, sharing is caring!)
23 was prime. Seriously the best year of my life. Graduated but no formal job, freedom to do ministry and train to my heart's content, where my "job" was to love and teach students in the two arenas I love most...young enough to blend in with my students and be friends with them, to live that extended campus life and enjoy it. I think I laughed the most this year. I miss Boston so much it hurts sometimes, but I know that I'm really just missing this time of my life and the people from it.
24 was perfect. (1x2x3x4) That was the year I strove to be "perfect" - the year of growth. The most crying I've ever done, the most psychological trauma I've ever gone through, the most I've ever travelled, and the most progress and development I've ever made. This was the year of risks, of learning that God will indeed provide when you take a leap of faith, and above all, learning how much I need community. The year of personal breakthroughs and what can happen when you really believe.
25 was square. (5x5) This was the year of balance. Between a new church, changing jobs, training, tutoring, and teaching TKD - it was a massive juggling act of learning how to sacrifice, how to optimize, how to give everything and everyone the most I can and still remain standing. But some of the most rewarding moments, when you see people growing, learning, overcoming their fears, and pushing them past their excuses and perceived limitations.
27 will be cubed. (3x3x3) Oh gosh, who knows, maybe it's the year everything will converge and make sense. But at least it's a special number.
But what is 26? I eagerly await to see what God can make out of this insignificant number. (If any of you have the gift of prophecy, well, sharing is caring!)
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
surprise?
Man. When I woke up this morning, I was dragging myself to go running and wondering how I was going to make it through yet another day. And half peeved that I had no idea as of 8am as to whether the sgl mtg tonight was on or off because JH hadn't let me know.
Little did I know...what a funny progression of email strings. I feel so difficult.
Are we meeting tonight?
Can we meet at the palace tonight (32nd & broadway)? It is pretty close to our new church space, and II wanted to show you our new church office. I'll order food for you. What time can you come by? Let me know yo!
Paul is having a football meeting tonight @ Palace for the defense to go over plays. Unless you want to just meet there and go to the office. My second kid cancelled on me, I can get there between 7-7.30.
what food are you ordering? there are some foods i can't eat right now because i have to weigh in on friday and they just changed my weight class so it's 2 lbs less than it's always been.
HAHA shuddap. Dang it. I was going to surprise you with sangyupsal dinner, but man, I don't think that will work out. Well how about this, you pick your fav restaurant (that you are allowed to go to) and I'll take you there. Think about it as a pre-birthday thing.
Aw thanks, that's really nice of you to remember! though now all I can think about is sangyupsal.
Can we do it next week instead? I've been eating early or no dinners this week because my weight is so close. Everywhere I like to eat is food I can't really have right now.
I left you a vm on your cell, can you call me @ work when you get this?
I think he was getting frustrated by this point. Poor guy. Man, yet another reason why this tournament is ruining my birthday - I can't eat and I'm missing everything this weekend!
So in the end, he ended up taking me to Dave and Busters with the challenge that he would beat me at every game in there. He was pretty close, actually. Demolished me in basketball, Time Crisis, DDR, race car driving...yeah. BUT. He's still upset that I beat him at air hockey. My one redemption for the night. And he won at the trivia game and I beat the flaming finger - that was so freaking satisfying. (You know, one of those games where the jackpot is like 200 tickets because it's really hard?)
The fruit of our labor:
I think it really means a lot to me when someone does something thoughtful, or goes out of their way to try and surprise me. And in a lot of ways, the timing fell at a time when I needed to just be frivolous for a few hours and not take life so seriously.
Little did I know...what a funny progression of email strings. I feel so difficult.
Are we meeting tonight?
Can we meet at the palace tonight (32nd & broadway)? It is pretty close to our new church space, and II wanted to show you our new church office. I'll order food for you. What time can you come by? Let me know yo!
Paul is having a football meeting tonight @ Palace for the defense to go over plays. Unless you want to just meet there and go to the office. My second kid cancelled on me, I can get there between 7-7.30.
hahahaahha
yeah lets meet there and go to the office
wait, but the church office is being dedicated this weekend...how can we use it before then? what food are you ordering? there are some foods i can't eat right now because i have to weigh in on friday and they just changed my weight class so it's 2 lbs less than it's always been.
HAHA shuddap. Dang it. I was going to surprise you with sangyupsal dinner, but man, I don't think that will work out. Well how about this, you pick your fav restaurant (that you are allowed to go to) and I'll take you there. Think about it as a pre-birthday thing.
Aw thanks, that's really nice of you to remember! though now all I can think about is sangyupsal.
Can we do it next week instead? I've been eating early or no dinners this week because my weight is so close. Everywhere I like to eat is food I can't really have right now.
I left you a vm on your cell, can you call me @ work when you get this?
I think he was getting frustrated by this point. Poor guy. Man, yet another reason why this tournament is ruining my birthday - I can't eat and I'm missing everything this weekend!
So in the end, he ended up taking me to Dave and Busters with the challenge that he would beat me at every game in there. He was pretty close, actually. Demolished me in basketball, Time Crisis, DDR, race car driving...yeah. BUT. He's still upset that I beat him at air hockey. My one redemption for the night. And he won at the trivia game and I beat the flaming finger - that was so freaking satisfying. (You know, one of those games where the jackpot is like 200 tickets because it's really hard?)
The fruit of our labor:
I think it really means a lot to me when someone does something thoughtful, or goes out of their way to try and surprise me. And in a lot of ways, the timing fell at a time when I needed to just be frivolous for a few hours and not take life so seriously.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)