Thunderstruck

The great realizations in life do not come by one's own longing for the past, nor does it come by one's willingness to pursue that which brought him to his present state.

Sometimes, perhaps as I write this, I find that such a realization is being made before the achievement. A person once said, It's not about having the will to succeed, but to have the will to prepare.

The laws of man are not always the right laws. Do not see that last sentence as a self-righteous statement that attempts to exclude me from the norm. Rather, it is intended to be a reflection of how striving to conform and fit what "society" deems as right may not be so right, but rather, so wrong.

School's in 2 days.

Now if you'll excuse me, my foot is hurting.

Blog Location: New House, University City, CA
Song Mood - Kansas - Carry on My Wayward Son

Yes, Another Survey!

10 years ago I was: on the verge of starting my greatest academic year. (IE, the closest I've ever been to straight A's...missed it by 5 pts)

5 years ago I was: wondering how I was going to survive with my schedule (Orchestra, Cross Country, Calc, Physics AP, Econ AP, English AP), and where I'd be applying to college.

1 year ago I was: Just starting my senior year at Indiana, refocusing my career choice yet again.

Yesterday: I mowed the lawn with my brother, studied some Chem, prayed, ate food, typed up my sister's homework. Ah, the life of the older brother.

5 snacks I enjoy: Snickers Bars, Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, Beef Jerky, Ice Cream Bars, Pepperidge Farm Goldfish

5 songs I know all the words to: When Can I See You Again (Babyface), I Give Thanks (Brian Thiessen), My Cherie Amour (Stevie Wonder), Fly (Sugar Ray), She Bangs (Ricky Martin/William Hung)

5 things I would do with 100 million dollars: 1. Tithe 2. Donate 10% to the IU Asian Culture Center so that they could get a nice building (with the condition that they raise the same amount in 5 years) and attract some quality Asian American faculty for the AAS program. I think that plot of land across the street from Wright and Teter and Ashton would be perfect! 3. Take care of my educational expenses, along with my sister's. 4. Go to the kiosk next to Ballantine Hall and toss a bag of dollar bills into the sky in the middle of students walking to class. 5. Put the rest in stocks, and pray it grows enough so that I can buy the Dodgers! (:-P)

5 places I would run away to: 1) where the streets have no name. 2) Cliffs by the ocean 3) The countryside on Jeju Island 4) San Diego 5) Bloomington

5 things I would never wear: "anything that doesn't serve a good purpose"...Good answer Won (http://www.xanga.com/wonseok)

But for those who want specifics: 1. Anything pink. 2. A dress. 3. A Skirt 4. A halter top. 5. A UCLA sweatshirt.

5 favorite tv shows: 1. Baseball Tonight 2. The Simpsons 3. Jeopardy 4. Law and Order 5. Sportscenter

5 Bad habits: Keeping my desk clean, not calling home often enough, letting work accumulate to the last minute (especially anything involving writing), expecting less from others because of my own faults, blogging

5 biggest joys: The Goodness of the Lord, Dodger Baseball, Being able to Run, Being able to Dance, Being able to Love (I guess being able to eat helps too!)

5 favorite toys: My siblings (oh, you said toys, not pets, whoops!) My Car, My Ipod mini, My digital camera, my cell phone, my teddy bear

5 fictional characters I would date: Holly Golightly (Breakfast at Tiffany's), Jeon Ji Hyun's character in My Sassy Girl, Gadget from Chip n' Dale's Rescue Rangers...sheesh, can't think of any at the moment.

5 People I tag to do this: Carol Liu, Jon Lee, Saemina Park, Liz Rakphongphairoj, Linda Szeto (probably because they're probably the only people on the planet that read my blog that have blogs too) Heck, if you read my blog, DO THIS!

Checking In

Song Mood - Mary Mary - Praise You

Blog Location: Ridgecrest, CA (in the desert, about 3 hrs north of SD, 3 hrs north of LA, 3 hrs south of Mammoth)

Well, I'm back in Ridgecrest. Can't say it's San Diego, but it's home, and home's good too. To think, all the amenities I have- Mom's cooking, pristine mountain views from my house, the opportunity to play the cello with my sister and my mom. Looking at my old scrapbooks and pictures.

Probably the thing I get most from Ridgecrest is the fact that I'm able to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. I have time to read...for fun. I don't have to worry about driving and hoping there's no traffic. Being with my family, surprising for me to say sometimes, allows me to be centered and humbled. Especially when I see my siblings-they give me a lot to think about, and provide me with the best opportunity to make a significant impact on their lives.

I've been back since Tuesday, and I'm already leaving Friday for San Francisco to attend the California Dental Association meeting with my dad. It's the first meeting I've been to since high school, which means it's also the first meeting I'll be attending where I have interest in becoming a dentist. I'm gonna make the best out of the event and try to imagine myself in certain roles as I go through the exhibit halls, visit the dental school tables, maybe walkthrough a lecture or two.

I should be back in San Diego around the 19th, just in time for fall quarter, getting my new place moved in properly, making final preparations for classes, and saying hi again to all the people I've missed at church, particularly the missions team to Panama that left tonight and for whom much prayer is needed.

I would love to talk much about retreat last weekend, but I will try to save it for another time. It definitely left me with much to ponder, especially about truly surrending myself to God's will, and understanding what it means to serve others.

To my LA and Hoosier friends, I miss you guys immensely!

Prolific Terrific/ Summer Playlist

You know, Andy Rooney's got nothing on me, especially when he gets a whole week to prepare whatever he writes on 60 Minutes.

Again, another time to laze about, another time to write.

I had two ideas for posts last night, so you might see them sometime.

Meanwhile, here's my summer playlist...kinda late for my Hoosiers and my buddies working in the Midwest and the East Coast, but just right for the California people still trying to get mileage out of their summer, finding ways to bask in the sun, hitting the beach.

I assure you, you will know most of the songs I have on the list too. They're in no particular order:

1. Lil' Rob - Summer Nights
For you low riders out there.
2. Will Smith - Summertime
A standard, no question.
3. Fantasia - Summertime
Gotta have vintage stuff too. Really good rendition.
4. Toni Braxton - Unbreak My Heart
This song makes the list because everybody's gotta recover from the aftermath of a summer hookup.
5. DJ Sammy and Yannou - Heaven
To the class of 2002.
6. Heatwave- Always and Forever
The ULTIMATE slow jam.
7. The Bangles - Eternal Flame
A 80's Summer Ballad
8. Bay City Rollers - Saturday Night
I don't know if roller rinks exist anymore, but I'm sure this was the rage back when the Ice Rink in PV was one.
9. Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
For those of you in favor of hot days in the urban ghetto. Ok, just urban.
10. Notorious BIG - Goin Back to Cali'
Bounce with me.
11. Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground
Gotta have Stevie somewhere on any song list I have.
12. Babyface - Reason for Breathing
More sappy summer drama.
13. Santana and Michelle Branch - Game of Love
(OCPSSS) - Overplayed Catchy Poppy Santana Summer Song. (can be replaced with Smooth)
14. Westlife - Uptown Girl
Wong Fu Productions needs to make their next video with this song.
15. Jon Lee--I mean Jay-Z- Big Pimpin'
N.O.H.O.I.N.V.A.F.O.Z.K.J.
16. LFO - Summergirls (the Abercrombie song)
It's just silly.
17. Ain't Nothin but a G Thang - Snoop and DRE
Compton and LB together now you know you're in trouble...
18. Madonna - Ray of Light
Probably the best Madonna song in the late 90's
19. Green Day - When I Come Around
Back when they hated ALL authority, not just Bush.
20. Coolio - Fantastic Voyage
This song makes me want to get a pimped out Pepsi truck.
21. Jagged Edge feat Nelly - Where the Party At?
Wave your arms like this: Left side, Right Side, Left, Left, Right Side, Left Side, Right, Right
22. Baby Bash - I'm Back
Listen to this while driving a fast car off the coast.
23. Ruff Endz - No More
Ditto.
24. Rihanna - Pon da Replay
Non-techno song with the most bass.
25. Bryan Adams - Summer of '69
You know, you can love only one woman, but you can love many guitars.
26. Chicago - Saturday in the Park
Find it. Oldie but goody.
27. Jason Mraz - The Remedy (I Won't Worry)
Just happy.
28. Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx - Gold Digger
For those of you in favor of Prenups.
29. Lucas Prata - And She Said...
Ever since I heard this on So You Think You Can Dance, it's been in my head.
30. Mariah Carey - Fantasy
For those of you who liked her when she could actually sing instead of moan.
31. Montell Jordan - This is How We Do It
He could never top his first single. That being said, this was as good as it got in 1995. Sheesh.
32. Naughty By Nature - Hip Hop Hooray
The adult version of Kriss Kross' "Jump Jump"
33. Nelly feat Murphy Lee - Shake Ya Tail Feather
To the road trip where we heard this song 80 times Charlie.
34. Notorious BIG feat. Mase - Mo Money Mo Problems
When sampling is a good idea.
35. UB40 - Red Red Wine
Reggae without the Dancehall.
36. Savage Garden - The Animal Song
It makes me feel free.
37. U2- Beautiful Day
Yup, have to have U2 on this list too.
38. Tupac - California Love
Yeah, this playlist is about Cali love.
39. Jars of Clay - Sunny Days
Definitely a song that puts you in a good mood.

Others I forgot about?

Summer Nights - Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta
Len - Steal My Sunshine
Mase - Feel So Good
Sean Paul - Get Busy

Tell me!

Just Writin...Not Much Else

Song Mood – Quad City DJs – Come and Ride it (the Train)

Well, it’s already been about 2 and a half months since I came down to San Diego. Though school has gone by quickly, I still feel like it’s been an eternity. I have one more week to go, so I’m going to do my best to finish up on a high note.

I’ve definitely felt like I’ve grown up a little bit- changing my academic thinking has been much more difficult that I anticipated, and it has caused me to be a little more cynical in my approach to studying.

I think for that matter, I might have become more irritable at times--not just from lack of sleep! I think it’s a result of getting rid of as many distractions as possible. I’ve grown tired of living a life where social norms were all I knew, instead of seeking righteous, godly living. Call me a Bible-toting nutmeg crackhead (I bet you love that line), but I think I might be alright with being known as one. At least one who happens to be a dentist or something like that. And I am NOT a nutmeg (remember what show that came from?) or a crackhead.

I’ve been content living my life as follows:

Mon-Friday- School
Saturday- "Chill" and or study
Sunday- Church and or study

Perhaps it’s a more boring approach, but well, I anticipate that the structure will help. I hope to slowly institute a more regimented workout schedule involving running and biking whenever I can. Now that I’m back in California, I can be glad knowing that I’ll be as tan as my bookshelf.

Song Mood Change-

Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx (as Ray Charles – sweet) – Gold Digger

Damn, this album is gonna be off the hook! And yes, that’ll be the last time I ever say that on my blog.