Merry CHRISTmas!

May the Lord continue to bless you and your family!

Thank you, LORD! Forgive me for not always placing my trust in You and for trying to do things on my own. Without you there isn't anything worth while.

Pray that AO1 will be able to get together once again to praise and worship our Lord! It's been way too long. AO1 check your emails and let's do this.

This afternoon the team I'm coaching will be playing in another semifinal tournament game. If we win then we'll be playing in the championship game on thursday. Really excited for these kids. Hopefully they are LEARNING how to really play the game of basketball! PRAY for us.

PEAS

ALL DONE

first of all i gots to say is that...I AM DONE...no more school...yeaaaaaaa boooiiiiiiii!!!!!!! now i just need to find a job...please pray for me...

oh yea...thanks to everyone...always praying for me and keeping me in your thoughts...your prayers always gets me through the toughest times...

Enough about that, cuz I really wanted to blog and congratulate my basketball team for winning the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME...yea baby!!!!! that's how we do it! we started with a negative mindframe but have finally reached a point where we believe in each other and believe in the talent that we have as a team...RECORD: 5 WINS - 0 LOSSES... and a championship trophy to be added to the Mater Dolorosa trophy case...can't ask for anything more...still have a long season ahead of us, but this momentum will definitely bring us far!!! Keep working hard and always remember to play with RESPECT and CLASS!!!

Peas

I SEE THE LIGHT

so i am now in my last week of school...no more semesters to worry about until i decide to return back for my advanced practice nursing certifications!!! yeaaaa boooiiii...it has definitely been a long journey. i am just so thankful to God for giving me the strength and knowledge to get through it all... i got 2 finals this coming saturday, which i don't really care for... i just need to pass these classes and then my transcripts can be sent to the board of registered nurses so that i could sit for my NCLEX exam in january... ive been applying to jobs but haven't heard anything back yet... please pray that i will stay patient and trust in Him that He will place my in the right place! i definitely look forward to just working and doing the thing i have such a great passion for!!! i wish all those taking finals the best of luck... just remember to do the best you can and never give up studying!!! it's hard but its definitely worth the knowledge...take advantage of it!!!

PEAS

JOB HUNTING

I forgot how exhausting it was for resume and cover letter building! I want to just get these things sent out to the potential hospitals and pray that things go well! PRAY FOR ME! And good luck to all those who are in the process of finding jobs/careers!

PEAS

saturday is probably the best day of the week...maybe its because i get to wake up late...didn't have to wake up until 10:30 without any alarm clocks going off. if feels like my high school years when i used to wake up at 12 or 1 on saturdays...and if i did wake up early enough got to watch saved by the bell and saturday morning cartoons...damn those days were freakin awesome! anyway...

Dee and I got new cell numbers, but our other phones are still working for a couple of months. If u need to hit us up call our other phone for now and we'll get u the new ones.

Peas!!!

Definitely one of the hardest exams I've taken in a while!!!

HEY...just need to PASS!!! Good enough for me at this point!

IDEAL BREAKFAST

CORNED BEEF

+

SCRAMBLED EGGS

+

RICE

=

FILIPINO BREAKFAST!

too bad my clothes and house smell now! =)

i forgot one more thing...2 MONTHS to go!!! and school is over! NCLEX here i come!

LONG NIGHT

it was definitely a long night on my shift...the shift went by pretty quick, but i just found myself making little mistakes here and there and it just kinda made my shift feel a little longer than it was...my preceptor said i did a "great" job, but in my head i was thinking "is she just saying that"? anyway...i called dee at around 2am to tell her that my shift had been getting "bad" and she just kept reminding me that i WILL have "off" days and that it is okay...it's that perfectionist in me that gets me this way...I HATE IT!!! that personality trait can really be detrimental to one's being, and it puts a lot of pressure on someone...so much pressure that i feel that there is no room for ERROR! i hate errors, but i know they are inevitable, and they only allow you to learn and get better at what you do...anyone have any clues how to get rid of the personality trait, cuz if you do send them right over cuz i'm in need of an awakening! i try really hard every single day to do things and let them be the way they are suppose to be, but my mind keeps telling me to "do it better" "no mistakes"...need to step back and look at myself...look at how much stress and pressure i put on myself, when mistakes only allows for learning opportunities! pray that i may allow myself to see that in MYSELF!

peas my brothers and sisters...time to sleep!

Working out will begin today...Hopefully I stay consistent...I feel myself getting fat and out of shape. Need to get back on a routine and stick with it!

I got to my clinical site early today so I got the chance to go to St. Paul's and St. Peter's church in Northbeach for a good 20 minutes. I forgot how peaceful it was to sit in church alone to pray and to just be with Him... I can't even remember the last time I got the chance to do that... I am looking forward to more days like that! There's nothing better than having an awesome talk with Him... Thank you, Lord!!!

The fall breeze is in full effect up here in the Bay Area! This is the weather I look forward to! Chilling breeze, fresh air, and sunshine! Come visit and experience it for yourself and you'll know what I mean!

PEAS

PASSED!!! 95% nurse now...5% to go!!! yeaaaa boiiiiii!!!

ANXIETY

In approximately 36 hours I will be taking my HESI test that pretty much will determine if I could sit for my NCLEX board exam in January...I get a total of 3 chances to pass this thing and hopefully this Saturday will be the only time that I will be taking this exam...It's going to be a tough day, emotionally, physically and most of all MENTALLY! I've done my best in the last 2.5 months to prepare and hopefully I studied the correct way...

Please pray for me that I may accept what God has planned for me!

PEAS

SLEEP

it's been a very long night...started at 7pm last night and just got home! I wonder if I'll be able to hang when I become a real MURSE...Good night, Good morning, whatever it is...I'M SLEEPING!!! 2 night shifts on one weekend will poop your A** out! PEAS

It feels good not to be doing anything...Ever since I got back home from school I haven't done anything but watch T.V., listen to the radio, and mess around on the computer...It's been nice...Unfortunately, reality is going to come back in about 7 hours when I have to go to clinical...It was good while it lasted!!! Good night everyone!

HAMI

As some of you may now know Dante freakin' almost broke his nose last saturday in a basketball game...That guy guarding him was pretty dirty (not like smelly, and no shower), but like dirty! Dude Dante's nose was pretty damn bad but I kept a "NURSING" face. haha...Sorry Derrick...I just didn't want you to get any more pissed than you were...You actually scared me...And your DAD! Damn your dad is the bomb...He was about to throw it down and beat some ass...

Anyway, about 3 minutes before Derrick got hurt I in the same freaking game pulled my hamstring and damn was it painful...My classmate pulled his hamstring a couple of years ago and he described it like a rubber band being pulled apart and then .... --> SNAP...That's what it felt like...Didn't even get to finish the 1st game, meaning I didn't get to play in the 2nd game...I have a hard time now walking up hills and for long periods of time. Hopefully this thing gets better cuz it really sucks...Worse than an ankle sprain! Anyway...just thought I'd share this with you all...



oh yeah here's one more pic from my point of view for the next game and a half...Thanks Kathy for all the pics!!!



PEAS

Thank you Lord for this BLESSING!!!

Charles Daniel Khu

(my nephew)

born on September 6, 2006 at 1:19 pm.

Thursday Afternoon Fieldtrip...

Every Tuesday and Thursday I have a clinical rotation at an Outpatient Mental Health Clinic located in Northbeach/Chinatown. It's a great place to be cuz there is food up the a**. Italian, Chinese, American, Thai, Vietnamese, you name it...Anyway, when my shift was over I get to my busstop and wait for the bus. The first bus shows up and it is packed like sardines (not exaggerating) with KIDS (asian kids). So I was like, Imma wait for the next bus...Next bus comes, and shit...the freaking bus is packed like sardines too, same amount of kids...I was like...WTF...is there a freaking fieldtrip going on? haha...Anyway I decide to hop on the second bus cause I wanted to go home. While on this midafternoon fieldtrip, I didn't realize how annoying kids can get...Don't get me wrong but damn, kids up here in the bay area are HELLA GHETTO...GHETTO!!! Everybody talking like "brothers"...I guess it's just a totally different culture up here.

It really surprises me to see kids act the way they do up here though. I really think it's the environment they are in and the culture that is so ingrained into the city. Imagine every single day you have to wake up and take the MUNI (bus line) to school, commute into the city and get on a bus back home. I personally don't think that going to school in the city is a good thing. Kids are exposed to too much of the city's dangers, crimes, drug deals, homelessness, and so on. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, because kids should be aware of what is going on in their own city, but I do think it has a detrimental effect on kids.

Another thing I realized about the city are the cultural and ethnic communities and how distinctly segregated they are...When I got on the bus from Northbeach/Chinatown to downtown, 90% of the passengers were of asian decent. We get to downtown, which is about 2 miles away and ALL the asian kids get off. One block away I get on another bus to go home and ALL the passengers, with the exception of my classmate and I, are WHITE and BLACK. The ride back to my house is about 7 miles. Half-way all the BLACK folk get off and the people left in the bus are the White people and two ASIAN people...me and my classmate. For some reason that really caught my eye yesterday...

San Francisco is definitely the place of culture, history and tradition! CULTURE SHOCK yo!!!

PRAISE GOD!!! A couple of minutes ago I was offered a coaching position for Mater Dolorosa's 8th grade boys Varsity basketball team...Thank you Dee for getting my name in there! So, this time I get to work with BOYS and take a break from the girls basketball team. It will be different, but I have a feeling it's going to be a successful year. Pray for me that I don't get to angry (hahaha...

Basketball is back son!!!

up really late tonight cuz I finally got my PC up and running...It's pretty cool that I finally have my very first built PC...Wouldn't have been possible without the help of Dee's cousins!!! Off to sleep I go!

Change of plans

In the past week I've made some pretty big changes, especially with school...Pray for me that I am making the right decisions!

SCHOOL SUCKS!

So I just found out that I DO start classes this Thursday!!! Damnit! I thought I was going to start next Monday on the 28th. So that cuts my vaction short yo! At least I can say that I'm in the last semester...

I think I found another obsession other than SHOES...COMPUTERS! So when I first thought about building a computer my budget was less than $1000 and now...well let's just say that it's more than that! But it's all good, cuz it's going to be my first built computer and with all the parts I want!

This computer business however is putting a hold on the SHOE Collection. Hopefully not too much!

Dee is almost officially a TEACHER yo! So check it out...Dee hella bought school supplies like really nice pens, paper, pencils, folders, stamps and all the good stuff that you look at when you go to Office Depot. I keep telling her that her kids are going to JACK all the good pens and pencils! NO DOUBT...Dude imagine being a 6th, 7th, or 8th grader again and seeing a whole bunch of cool pens and pencils...I'd JACK them too!!! haha...hah...the growing up days...

Ever get caught jacking stuff! HIT ME UP on the comments page!

ess eff cont...

Alamo Square Park

Union Square

Coit Tower

Fellaz

Golden Gate Bridge with the BIKERS

Cousins

DEE n DAV

The bay area was rockin' this weekend with the peeps from Irvine...Thanks everyone for coming out to visit...Come again...

Just a little recap...
- Sardines packed room!!! Don't know how we did it...
- Berkeley...telegraph & the bell tower
- Fisherman's Wharf / Pier 39
- Coit Tower
- Lombard Street
- Ghirardelli Square
- Union Square
- Foster City Marriot
- Twin Peaks
- Burlingame Ave - Stacks
- Ocean Beach
- USF
- St. Mary's Cathedral
- Haight Street Shopping
- Emeryville - IKEA
- Biking Fisherman's Wharf to Sausalito through the Golden Gate Bridge
- Oak Town Airport 5 times... MOST EVER

- "dude...i fell like 5 times, but i still had fun" - KA
- "sleep on it" - Puff Daddy and the Band
- Snoop Dog 'n' Wu-Tang 4Eva
- Ang / Kirs ... thought you 2 were going to WUS OUT... but much props!
- Kathy ... Sorry for dragging you like 1 mile ... Next time tell me to STOP before we go that far!!!
- Dee, G-Nat, Chris...thanks for letting us cap on your asses (home videos rock)
- I hate SF cyclists... Quite asses yo... at least the ones on the Golden Gate Bridge
- "Chill out dude...I'm not a professional biker" - DH
- "so glad you all were laughing, about Ang and her fart...cuz mine was the one that smelled" - DV
- HYPHY juice SOLD OUT...
- secret lovers
- 4 Picture photo shoot - organization is the key yo!!!
- Thank you uncle and auntie for DINNER!!!
- Mos Def & Dave Chappelle - "i bet they use moisturizer...their hands are so soft" GP




More pics to come!

LET'S DO THIS!

The room is clean...
The laundry is done...
Vacumming picked up all the dust...
Organizing is complete...

Ready to do this! Where are my Irvine peeps at yo!

Wow...it's almost been a month since I last blogged, so I figured it would be appropriate to blog now since I've been doing a whole bunch of NOTHING since my theory classes finished about 2 weeks ago. Not complaining though! My pediatrics clinical finished yesterday and my maternity clinical went end until 3 more weeks...But that's all good! At least I get to do things in maternity. I think our school is really scared to let us touch kids, cuz they don't let us do crap! Anyway, enough nursing crap!

I'm pretty excited for next week! Some of the homies from the 'vine are coming up to chill. Haven't been able to kick it with you all for a while now. Everytime I do get a chance to go down south something is happening and there is no time to just hang out. Just a bit of advice people. When you do come up here make sure to bring jackets. The weather reports now-a-days have been saying that it's going to be HOT as hell, but that is sooooo wrong...it can get pretty cold in the afternoon here in the bay area so be prepared!

On a different note...Dee has been really busy with school and it's pretty weird cuz we are always with each other but we really never chill. She's always doing something for school (well, she is finishing her class in a week, understandable) and I'm always busy playing FIGHT NIGHT - Round 3. Anyone play that game...DAMN it's off the hook yo! Knocking out people and crap. Dee is pretty tired of it. Shoot, she was tired of it the day I bought it! haha...I've even been going to pool halls and working on my pool game, 8-ball, 9-ball. Anyone want to challenge! Naw, I suck!

Hey Dee, if you ever read this, I want to wish you the best of luck on your final TPA project. I know there is a lot on your mind and that you have to get a lot of stuff done! I know you can do it and I know that you are capable of being at the top of your class! GOOD LUCK! I will be praying for you!

What else? Oh yeah...Almost 1 1/2 years ago I promised myself that I would never ever ever camp for shoes AGAIN! CRAP! I broke that promise last Saturday to pick up the Jordan Mars (retro IV). Damn, woke up at 4:30 in the morning, barely awake, and drove to the near by mall to wait for the doors to open at 6:30 to buy a pair of JB retro IV. Worth it? HELL YEAH!!! I haven't been this excited for a shoe in a long time! Shoe season is back!!!!! (i'll post some picks of my latest pick-ups).

So check this out...I had a hospital appointment last friday cuz I've been having recurrent PAC (premature atrial contractions). Basically, it's a feeling that you are missing a heart beat. It's like this..."beat, beat, beat, pause, beat-beat". I bold those last beats cuz it feels like my heart thumps after that pause. Now imagine having that for several days. The first time it ever started was when I was back home for Chris n' Trish's wedding. I went to the ER cuz I didn't know what the hell was going on. Anyway, when the nurse sees me she asks "have you been taking speed, crack, heroin, and any other drugs". I say NO! a few minutes after she takes my blood pressure again, she asks "have you been taking speed, crack, heroin, and any other drugs". I'm like NO! damn she hella thought I was a druggy yo! Then check this out...During my appointment last friday, the doctor asks "do you do drugs, speed, crack, cocaine, heroin or anything of that sort". WTF yo! and then right before I leave his office he says "stay off the heroin, crack and speed" DUDE I WAS LIKE WTF. Hold up it's not done yet. Then on monday I call him up to find out the results of my blood work and EKG. He tells me that he met with a cardiologist and my PACs are benign and my blood work is completely normal. So for the time being he told me to stay off of caffeine products! DAMN that sucks! NO coffee, soda (diet soda)...HELL...that is torture...And then he says "stay away from alcohol, speed, crack, cocaine, heroin" DUDE...I'm not sure if he's serious or kidding...But for some reason people think I'm a freaking Druggy!

'nough for today yo...PEAS out my homies!

Today has got to be one of the most awesome days I’ve had in a while. I got to experience a birth today during my clinical. It was freaking awesome…One of God’s most awesome creations!!! I can’t even explain it. I am very thankful to that family for letting me stay and help out today. Usually, couples are reluctant to let a student nurse, even worse, a MALE student nurse help out. I’m not sure if I already said this, but the first time I got placed in a labor and delivery room I got kicked out cuz the woman had a really long night without her epidural and wasn’t in very good shape when I got there! Totally understandable…But I was very fortunate today. I watched from the beginning all the way to the end. That includes the rupture of her water, to her initial pushing, to the crowning of the baby’s head, to the delivery of the baby, to the delivery of the placenta, cutting of the cord, handing baby to mom and dad, and performing assessments on baby!!! AWESOME!!! It may not seem that exciting but I guess you’ll only feel the way I do when you experience it for yourself…There’s nothing more beautiful than watching mom work so hard to bring God’s creation into the world!

Anyway…According to Dee, I am going through a quarter life crisis! WTF…she thinks I am cuz I just recently bought a skateboard to mess around with…I used to skate when I was younger and ever since I was in Irvine I’ve always wanted to pick up a board at Active, but never did. Low and behold I bought one and started skating again! Haha…Almost ate it last week going down a hill…Board was wobbling pretty bad and I had to get off. But I was going so fast that I almost couldn’t keep up with my own running! Thought I was going to eat the floor! But I didn’t so HAH!!! Freaking Dee was laughing her head off though! SUCKA!

Oh yea…I think I got stuck in the shoe game again!!! NOT NOT GOOD!!! Too many shoes are coming out and I keep wanting to buy more…Not good! I’ll post again pretty soon with some photos of the latest pick-ups…

PEAS

SUFFOCATION

Do you ever feel suffocated?

I think everyone in this world at some point in their lives experience suffocation. I'm not talking about lacking the oxygen to breathe, to sustain life, but suffocated by the everyday things in our world. Even the strongest of the strong, the wisest of the wise get suffocated. Sometimes, I think that we all get sucked into our everyday habits and rituals that we forget to breath, take the time to ourselves to meditate, to reflect, and to enjoy the company of the self. I just learned that there is definitely nothing detrimental with that! In fact it's healthy for our well being!

When was the last time you felt suffocated? When was the last time you "Breathed" on your own? If you haven't, DO IT!

Just taking a little break from studying...Don't have much time...But I think I need a little break to get my mind off things...

Things are moving really fast now-a-days...Theory classes are almost over for the summer although I still have clinicals. I am doing to rotations right now: 1) Pediatrics 2) Maternity...

All I can say is that both of these rotations are not for me...First of all it's hard to work with pediatrics. I love working with them, but sometimes it gets really difficult working with moms and dads. They get pretty involved with care that sometimes it can alter the way you provide your care. But honestly, that's understandable! When I become a daddy (God willing), I'm sure I'll be as heavily involved in my child's care as I see parents at my clinical. Secondly, MATERNITY!...hmmm...WOW...Labor and delivery, antepartum (before labor), intrapartum (labor), postpartum (after labor), Well-baby nursery, Neonatal ICU....Just so much...Too specialized. Let me add....I'm the only guy on the floor!!! That includes nurses, MDs, or any other staff and this is at UCSF!!! haha...it can get uncomfortable at times and I sometimes think new dads are uncomfortable seeing me in the room! But you know what! I'm just trying to do my job. I have been fortunate though to have worked with awesome dads who are open for help!!! Praise God...

Anyway...I wanted to take the time to congratulate the new grads of UC Irvine! I apologize for not being able to come! Things are really crazy up here and there was just not enough time to go down...It's sooooo bad that I won't even be able to make it to my sister's baby shower!!!! SUCKS! But Dee is going to be representing us! THANKS babe!!! It really sucks cuz I have finals at that time (2 of them). I really wanted to be there cuz it's going to be the first apo (grandson) and nephew for our family!!! EXCITING! Ate, I'll be praying for you! I love you and I am really excited for you and Tan!

I miss my mom and dad! I try to call them as much as I could, but there are just those days where I don't have time (studying, stressing, sleepy, tired, clinicals, class). I love you guys and I hope to see you two soon!!! August? Maybe?

Alrighty ya'll...I pray and hope that you are all doing well and that life is treating you right! Irvine peeps, I can't wait until you all come up!!! HURRY!!!

Oh yeah, Please Please Please, pray for the reposed soul of my unborn cousin who passed two Sundays ago at 7 weeks of gestation! God All Mighty have mercy on his/her soul!!! AMEN! Ate Annie and Dave...I'll be praying for you and Madison!

PEAS

FINALS

Please pray for me...I'll be taking a final tomorrow morning and on Tuesday of next week...After these sets I'll have about 6 months left until I take my NCLEX board exam!!! Times are flying by...

Hope everyone is doing well!!! Miss everyone from the OC and LA!!! Will see you all soon! Take care and God bless you all!

PRAYER

God definitely has plans greater than our own...Sometimes, we are ready to accept the fact that God has something far greater, but I think the majority of the time we are taken by surprise, not because of the actual event that God set forth, but because of our own thoughts that we are in control and we are proven wrong!

The reason why I am writing today, is to ask for your special prayers for Dee's Grandma and family. Last night Dee's grandma passed away...She was a strong, loving, inspiring 90 year old great-grandma, grandma, mother and friend.

It definitely is a surprise to everyone because she was a very strong person, with such determination to get well. She said one day "If God wills it, I will live for a longer time!!!" Praise God for her willingness to leave it in His hands.

As a reminder: The Lord does not take anything away from us rather, He allows us to experience His creations, to embrace and appreciate them, to learn, to grow, and to use His creations as outlets to see His LOVE and GRACES. Dee's grandma was a true reflection of GOD's LOVE and GRACE...and over the many years of her life she has brought hope, inspiration and love to her family and friends (one of Jesus' teachings...AMEN? - AMEN) So let's remember that the Lord has only taken back only what He has created! One day we too will be in the Kingdom of our God, rejoicing in His Goodness! Let's pray for one another and please pray espcially for Dee's grandma and family!

AMEN...+BIL

Update

Over the past semester, I had the opportunity to coach an 8th grade girls basketball team...It's actually Dee's younger cousin's team...Anyway...It was a roller coaster! Girls are very different from boys, well, at least this group of girls...When I was growing up, basketball was my life...Day in, Day out, I played basketball. I never missed practice, games, open-gyms, tournaments, and any other times I had the opportunity to shoot around or just dribble a basketball...Out of the 7 girls, only 2 of them came to practice and games consistently...From my basketball background, I assumed that anyone who was in a team, cared about being on a team and cared about PRACTICING and PLAYING in games. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for this team. When I showed up to the first practice I explained to them that basketball is not all about WINNING...I don't think they ever understood that. To me basketball is a sport that builds character. And I tried my very best to explain that to them. All they cared about was missing practice, messing around at practice if they did show up, and playing in games, WANTING to WIN every game. To me that doesn't add up...And when we lost games (4 total) you could see the disappointment in their faces. ????? Anyway...when we lost our second game, the other coach and I sat them down and asked them what they wanted to get out of playing on this team...Overall, they wanted to WIN... IS that possible?

From that day, the girsl changed...They started to trust me and the other coach a lot more, and for some reason, they had the mindframe of learning to play the game. See, according to Dee, these girls never had a coach that ever cared about them learning to play the game of basketball. When I was asked to help out, I didn't hesitate and my primary goal was to teach them how to PLAY!!! NOT TO WIN...TO PLAY!!! See there's a big difference. I wanted them to IMPROVE, to LEARN how to work together as a team and to build CHARACTER...I'm not sure if they ever reached the optimum level, but they did come a long way...We ended up winning the North Division Championship! The first time these girls ever made it to a championship basketball game. Check this out...because we were the North Division Champs we had the opportunity to play in the NORTH/SOUTH Championship! (keep in mind these are PRIVATE school teams. PUBLIC school is very much different) So this was THE game to be in...Unfortunately, we lost, to the school that Dee works at...haha...how ironic! Anyway, all I have to say is that I am really proud of these girls...In the last two games, they showed me and the other coach, how teamwork, dedication, and leadership can make a basketball team successful!!!

PAPERS

I really hate writing papers. Seriously, I hate writing papers. It's probably because I really suck at it!!! It takes me forever to write a paper. You know what the suckiest thing is...All my grad courses are based only on papers and presentations!!!! CRAP!!! Presentations no problem...Papers = BIG PROBLEM... DANG...PRAY for me, pray that I have increased perfusion!!!! haha...PEAS

Good luck during finals IRVINE peeps!!!

God bless!!!

“The test of courage comes when we are the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority.” – Ralph Sockman

Dee read this to me this morning while we were driving and for some reason it really stuck with me throughout the day. Two sentences with such profoundness! When I first heard it, I don’t think I fully understood the true meaning that lay behind those few words. So I looked up two key words to help me understand the sentences a little more 1) Courage and 2) Tolerance.

Courage - the ability to confront fear in the face of pain, danger, uncertainty or intimidation.

Tolerance - a social, cultural and religious term applied to the collective and individual practice of not persecuting those who may believe, behave or act in ways of which one may not approve.

I don’t know about you, but I never really took the time to think about the depth of those two words before. I mean, these words are used so often in our everyday language, yet we don’t really take the time to fully embrace their meanings.

During the Lenten season we are called upon by Jesus to PRAY, SACRIFICE and UNITE with HIM for 40 days. In these 40 days we are to, as I understood it from Father’s Homily, take the time to be alone in PRAYER with the LORD our GOD. For some, taking the time out of their busy schedules to be with God is as routine as it can be. Yet for the others it’s a struggle! I would have to say that I’m one of those who struggle to take the time to be with God, alone in prayer. I believe that God calls us (the minority) to build up the courage to journey with Him in this Lenten season. I say “the minority” because I really believe that the amount of people who do build up the courage to journey with him is but a mere few. As I see it, when we do build up the courage to journey with Him as individuals we become a UNITED Church!!! A Church that is of FAITH and LOVE! And when we have those two weapons (FAITH and LOVE) we become a strong force. AMEN? AMEN!!! BUT...what happens when we become that strong force??? What happens when we become the majority! I truly believe that when there is a majority there is always an opposing force that wants to destroy and become that majority! So what do we as a Church do to prevent the collapse of our Unity? I don’t think I have the amount of knowledge to say what we should be doing, but the one thing that I know that can NEVER be wrong is to…PRAY and believe in our LORD. So let’s continue to TRY and SACRIFICE a bit of ourselves to be with our LORD our God during this Lenten season!

AMEN!!!

DARNIT

After reading Dee's post, I found some motivation to finally blog after a whole month. BUT because blogger sucks and of my own stupid faults I lost approximately 30 minutes worth of entry!!! This is the first time, in a long time that this happened. DAMN!!! I was on a roll!

Let me try to recapture some of the highlights of the LOST post!!!

Has anyone been having difficulty staying focused during Mass? I mean, I try really hard to stay focused and attentive to the readings, especially the Gospel, and the Homily. But I find myself thinking about school, what I need to get done, what I'm not getting done, grades, exams, family, friends, my career and so on...Maybe I'm trying TOO HARD!!! Trying too hard to stay focused instead of keeping things as simple as they can be. I try to remind myself that the time in mass is of spiritual development. A time to establish a connection with God in His most Holy Church! A communion with Jesus through the Eucharist! Do you all remember the saying "use it or lose it"? Well as I'm writing, I can't help but feel that way in terms of my spritual journey. I've regressed back to the LIFESTYLE of just going to mass to be at mass and not LIVING the faith DAILY! God has blessed us so greatly with Daily Mass yet, I fail to participate yet alone consider it! WHY? Again, like I said...a LIFESTYLE...I pray that some time soon, in God's time that I will progress into a LIFESTYLE that is of Jesus! A lifestyle of TESTIMONY! I think one of the things that really keeps me grounded and hopeful is when AO1 prepares for gigs. It really brings me back to that so called lost lifestyle. Music (Praise) is probably one of the only things that really gets me to think about living a life completely for Jesus because for some reason I am immersed in the lyrics, the sounds, and the voices. I know that this isn't the only thing that should keep me grounded, but I guess a little something is better than NONE!

Anyway...LENT!?! Just want to let all the fellaz know that I'm hanging in there and trying to keep myself disciplined. I know you guys are thinking that I'm probably going to be one of the first ones to fall, but you all need to think again? By the way, has anyone given in to temptation yet? haha...

Before I go to sleep, I just wanted to share this quote that I came across during a study break...

"If you are humble, nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are." - Mother Teresa...

Moving on...

Yesterday was really exciting. I've been practicing IV insertions for about a week now and have been really nervous about the test. Yesterday I took my test and I FREAKIN' PASSED baby!!!! Hopefully I'll get the opportunity tomorrow to insert one into my client...Damn...feels like I'm finally becoming a nurse!!! haha...Don't have to wipe as much a** anymore...sooooo glad!!! haha...

Things have been pretty good up here! School has been keeping me really busy and stressed...Nothing new! Anyway, I just realized that in about 11 months I am going to have to take the NCLEX (Nursing board exam) to become an official nurse. It's going to come by so fast. I hope and pray that I will be prepared to care for others effectively!!! I really do... The reason why I say that is because I see way too many nurses on the floor being lazy, not checking in on their clients and messing around with their co-workers. I understand that it is important to have fun, but they are crossing the fine line between caring for themselves and caring for their clients.

Anyway, I'll be in So Cal this weekend celebrating with many for Chris and Tricia's wedding! I pray that the Lord will bless them and their families in this awesome union! Congrats Chris and Tricia!

Oh yeah, Happy 2nd year Anniversary Ate and Tan! Wish I could be there to celebrate with you guys, mom, dad, Elisha and Tim! I'll see you this weekend anyway!!! We could celebrate then!

Photos

2002 LOG crew

on da way to sandeezy

da ladies lanterns of Hastings Ranch
Future Nurses of America (I'm definitely the minority - male and filipino)
The old crew
St. Ignatius Church on a clear night

Sorry blog for neglecting you so...

Anyway, the famous event that inspired me to write tonight is an odd, disgusting, but funny one. Dee's grandpa has been sick for some time now and at about 12:15 tonight he had another episode of productive couging and this time I went to go help him out. I got him a napkin so that he could wipe his nose and mouth and helped him in the bathroom one more time to spit in a napkin. Me and Dee give him his medications and we go back into DEE's room...ALL is good. I'm sitting down watching T.V., while Dee was catching up on current events from our fellow bloggers and xangers. ALL of a sudden I felt some gooey stuff on my right knee with my right pointer finger. I look at it and I say "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS ON MY FINGER, IS THIS YOUR PAPAS SNOT ON MY FINGER?" Dee looks at me and she says "DUDE YOU HAVE SOME SH*T ON YOUR NOSE" I go to the bathroom and sure enough there is Dee's Papa's SNOT on my nose and finger...quick, quick, quick...WASH IT OFF!!!! What a night!

While I'm at it I'll give a brief update. Me and Dee came back to the Bay Area on Tuesday morning approximately 2:00 am and it's nice to be back here to relax and prepare for school. We haven't been doing much in these past couple of days but have managed to NOT kill each other, YET!

On Wednesday night I held basketball practice for the team and guess how many girls showed up? Let me add that I only have 7 girls total for the team... NOT 7, NOT 6, NOT 5, NOT 4, NOT 3, BUT 2. I had 2 girls show up for practice. Terrible!!! When I was going to grade school we never missed practice cuz we were so excited to play basketball. And if we didn't show up we wouldn't play in the game. Unfortunately, that option of benching the girls for missed practices is out of the question. WHY? Cuz I only have 7 girls to play anyway. So me and Dee have been thinking of other ways to either punish or as Dee would put it "POSITIVELY REINFORCE" the girls to come to practice. We'll see what happens...Isn't that so DEE to say that???

Hmmm...what else...? Oh yea...Since we've gotten back from So Cal Dee and I have been running everyday in hopes of getting in shape. A LOT to do my friends, A LOT!!! Last night we decided to skip out on working out at the Koret Facility at USF and run around Gellert Park. I love running outside and I thought it would be nice to do so. We step out of Dee's house and DAMN...IT'S freaking freazing up here. We ran for about 45 minutes and damn we could not feel our faces when we finished. Next time, I may need to wear sweat pants and thermals...You know, those tight white things...haha...I always thought those things looked funny!

Anyway...I just wanted to thank all the 'Vine peeps for hanging out while I was in So Cal...Good times my friends, Good times...SOME RECAPS...

- Failed GUPPIES run!

- AlbertoTacos...haha...echoing FARTS

- AO1 practice...New songs for up coming Gig ROCK!!!

- Meechy's CAKE...damn GOOD!!!

- Getting hit in the NUTZ with an egg by SHELBY...at least we WON!!!

- LOG meeting!!! Blowing up ya'll...

- Lee's Sandwiches with the youngins

- Learning new songs from ANG!!! Won't forget your STIGMATIZED face!!!

- Kirs...quit leaving it in the car!

- Noreen and Mike....CONGRATS!!!!!

- Ride to SanDeezy!

- Chris and Tricia...CONGRATS!!!!!

- Talks with the HOMIES! that sounds fruity! I mean..."cathcing up with the homies"

- Myspace searching at Madrona

- The little monsters of SHAWshank

Peas out ya'll!!! Take care and may God's Graces be upon you this new year!!!