10:36 p.m. on a Friday night. I can't believe the time is so near and my whole being seems to wait for it in anticipation. It's been a long time coming but I really haven't given it much thought until now.
This month, and most especially this year, marks two major milestones that I'm quite proud of. At 12:01 a.m. (just about an hour and a half from now), I will turn 50 which seems so surreal. It seems like it was just a couple of days ago that I turned 21.
I actually remember where exactly I was when I turned 21 - Las Vegas, baby! Yes, I was hanging out with high rollers, showgirls, bar maids, and blackjack dealers... My aunts, uncles, and grandma took me there to celebrate my birthday and it was amazing. As I opened the door to go into Caesar's Palace, I visualized the symbolism of metamorphosing from childhood to adulthood. I was now inducted into the mature world of adult entertainment and there was no turning back.
30 and 40 are a little bit of a blur now, probably because of senility setting in, or perhaps not quite as memorable as 21. That's alright, 16 and 18 memories are now completely wiped away from my memory banks.
My Uncle Romulo once told me that our head is nothing more than an empty storage room with two doors. One door remains open so as to let information in, while the other door remains closed and locked to help retain the information. The problem is that as we get older and as we gain more information, somehow the storage room gets really filled up. Eventually, there's too many information being cramped in such a small space that the pressure starts to put stress on the closed door until it finally gives way. As we pile in more information, some of the old information gets pushed out of the other door, and that's why we start to forget. I'm afraid that some of the information that fell out of my storage room also took some common sense with them...
So tonight is my last night of my fourth decade. It feels like it ought to be a right of passage, and perhaps it is in a way. I'm a little hesitant on stepping over to the other side because I liked the 40's. I like the idea of others who took an age and stuck with it - my mom for example was 46 for about four years in a row. At least, every time I asked her on her birthdays how old she was then, she would always answer "46". "But I thought you were 46 last year?!"... "No I wasn't!!!"
"Sam, you're now 50... what are you gonna do now?!"... "I'm going to Disneyland!" The best part is that we're sort of getting in for free, although my wife paid for it through her employer, and that Disney will be charging us $15 for parking. We're just doing our part to keep those happy Disney employees employed. Heaven forbid Disney should do something nice by reducing their pricing for those of us struggling financially. But I'm not one to rant about corporate injustice. After all, it is the happiest place on earth...
At the end of this month is the other milestone and that is my marriage to Didi of twenty years. We've actually been together for twenty two years now and I'm pleased to let everyone know - we're still both alive! It's been the longest that I've actually stuck to anything or anyone in any length of time so for me, this is quite an accomplishment. It's been quite an interesting but quite fulfilling adventure, this marriage. Didi and I have had our ups and downs, as all marriages have, and I'm glad that I'm taking this journey with her. We've shared a lot of tears, through struggles with her mom's illness, challenges with employment, and loss of our pets. We've also equally shared laughter and happiness through our travel vacations, projects around the house, and time with family and friends.
These are the moments that I really cherish as I reflect on the past through the benchmarks of my life, and my time as a married man. I have a special place in my storage bank for these time images, and I relish the thought of gathering new memories. It's just too bad that I can't grow another head to store more information...
Well, I think it's time for this old man to get his mee-mees. Goodnight everybody.... everybody everywhere... Goodnight!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Precarious Flight of the Night Owl
The night owl seem to be quite an endangered species these days and early birds have taken over the world. Night owls are either subjected to propaganda like "The early bird gets the worm", and they soon convert over mesmerized of this hypnotizing chant or forced to convert by sheer peer pressure. What the early birds don't tell us is that there's plenty of worms on the ground for getting! Yeah, and we can spot them better at night because we're all bright eyed and bushy tailed too (at night)!
Just about every company is overrun by early birds. Even those who used to be night owls are sometimes forcing the transition and overdosing on bitter coffee at Starbucks just to keep up. We tread lightly these days since we are now out numbered. But hear this, there is going to be a revolution that will change this fine feathered conspiracy back into the way nature had intended. Night owls will once again unite to fight for our proper wake-up time and live amongst our nocturnal friends once again.
What makes a night owl? There are various telltale signs that distinguishes a night owl from an early bird.
Just about every company is overrun by early birds. Even those who used to be night owls are sometimes forcing the transition and overdosing on bitter coffee at Starbucks just to keep up. We tread lightly these days since we are now out numbered. But hear this, there is going to be a revolution that will change this fine feathered conspiracy back into the way nature had intended. Night owls will once again unite to fight for our proper wake-up time and live amongst our nocturnal friends once again.
What makes a night owl? There are various telltale signs that distinguishes a night owl from an early bird.
- Early birds are naturally perky at wee hours of the morning while night owls melt away from a warm bed and walk in their sleep towards the bathroom.
- Night owls don't communicate or utter any sounds until after having a fresh hot cup of coffee.
- Early birds are known to utter phrases like "Up and at 'em!", "Early to bed - early to rise, yada, yada, yada...", or "Good morning, Sunshine!" On the other hand, night owls utter phrases like "Shut the hell up - it's too damn early!", "Where's my coffee?", or "Is it time to go home yet? (at 8:00 in the morning)"
Why should night owls revert back to their rightful time in the nocturnal world? For the simple reason of the benefits of being night owls.
- We naturally function a lot better at night.
- We have an easier flight to and from work since the streets aren't littered with early birds who honk their horns at the first sign of a green light if you are a second behind in accelerating from a stop.
- We aren't restricted to force our sleep routine to coincide with our work routine of nine to five (nine to five work in the morning; nine to five sleep at night).
So there you have it! Night owls unite and let's regain back what we have lost! Our proper time is at night and we should be allowed to freely return back to our natural habitat!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Reflections
It's Sunday night and I have been blessed with some spare time between cooking both for tonight's dinner and lunch for next week, and bedtime. These are the times that I really enjoy because I get to reflect on all the opportunities and disappointments that have graced my days. Tonight's reflection is even more rewarding because these things transpire within the last couple of weeks.
All in all, I am very happy with all that's happened and have come to accept the notion that all events were meant to be. I am quite ecstatic with all the possibilities that the opportunities will provide and equally excited about where those adventures will take me.
As I sit here in front of my laptop taking in the susurrus lament of silence and sipping a glass of Yellow Tail Shiraz, I am engulfed in deep contemplation and the sense of freedom. Perhaps it’s the wine… then again, perhaps not… Tonight, calmness wraps its warm blanket around me and I start to reflect.
It’s definitely a divine intervention that I have gotten involved with the local farmers market. Before then, I had been in desolate personal state of non-purposeful existence. I felt lost; yet felt that I needed to be going someplace. I needed direction at a juncture in my life where presented before me are several roads with unknown destinations, equally intimidating and equally inviting. I prayed for wisdom to choose the right path but this answer would not come to me immediately.
I didn’t step forward in any direction but stood in silence and listened. I listened to the murmurs of those who are changing the world, their causes and their movements. I heard the whispers of those awakening people’s perceptions of good food and good business practices. I felt the vibrations of a worldly revival to return to the way nature had been purposefully designed. Quietly I waited, and after much time had passed that seemed to equal several months, I heard the call beckoning to me. It wasn’t from any stranger that I would hear the call, but from someone near and dear to me – my wife.
Didi had seen the ad in the Press Telegram about a new farmers market being established at California Heights and she showed me the article. What caught my attention was the call for volunteers to help with setting up cooking workshops. Without hesitation, I sent a comment through the website’s “About” page indicating my interest in volunteering time to assist with the workshops. I was contacted by Kelli Johnson and that was the start of my involvement with the market.
During the first couple of weeks of my volunteered time at the market, I still felt like an outsider but I had a renewed sense of purpose. I took advantage of every opportunity to interact with vendors and visitors in the hopes of learning more about the farmers’ market culture.
Today, I’m very excited to have met people with the same interest and outlook as I have regarding community and a sense of belonging. I truly relish exchange of ideas with those I have spoken with about returning the world into a greener place, and giving back to education and the schools. I am empowered by the knowledge that I can contribute to the control of water shortage by building a rain water collection system with instructions provided by the Hughes Goes Green volunteers. I am elated to hear of neighbors trading crops that they have grown themselves at the Wrigley Gardens in Long Beach. I am in awe of the deep sense of community that permeates through the Longfellow Middle School playground every Sunday that continues to grow week after week with new visitors. Most of all, I am blessed by several newly developed friendships that have sprouted from this one experience.
In future days, the market will be providing cooking workshops and I have been quite involved with contacting local chefs, all of whom I quite admire for their achievements. The possibilities at this market are endless and I look forward to developing the purpose that continues to burn in my heart – everyone should always have decent meals, and no one should ever have to go hungry. I plan on joining the Slow Food movement and take part in bringing back what we have lost – closeness in relationships and community, and respect for our fellow human beings.
As I draw this reflection to a close, I can’t help but think to myself… Man, this is some good wine!
All in all, I am very happy with all that's happened and have come to accept the notion that all events were meant to be. I am quite ecstatic with all the possibilities that the opportunities will provide and equally excited about where those adventures will take me.
As I sit here in front of my laptop taking in the susurrus lament of silence and sipping a glass of Yellow Tail Shiraz, I am engulfed in deep contemplation and the sense of freedom. Perhaps it’s the wine… then again, perhaps not… Tonight, calmness wraps its warm blanket around me and I start to reflect.
It’s definitely a divine intervention that I have gotten involved with the local farmers market. Before then, I had been in desolate personal state of non-purposeful existence. I felt lost; yet felt that I needed to be going someplace. I needed direction at a juncture in my life where presented before me are several roads with unknown destinations, equally intimidating and equally inviting. I prayed for wisdom to choose the right path but this answer would not come to me immediately.
I didn’t step forward in any direction but stood in silence and listened. I listened to the murmurs of those who are changing the world, their causes and their movements. I heard the whispers of those awakening people’s perceptions of good food and good business practices. I felt the vibrations of a worldly revival to return to the way nature had been purposefully designed. Quietly I waited, and after much time had passed that seemed to equal several months, I heard the call beckoning to me. It wasn’t from any stranger that I would hear the call, but from someone near and dear to me – my wife.
Didi had seen the ad in the Press Telegram about a new farmers market being established at California Heights and she showed me the article. What caught my attention was the call for volunteers to help with setting up cooking workshops. Without hesitation, I sent a comment through the website’s “About” page indicating my interest in volunteering time to assist with the workshops. I was contacted by Kelli Johnson and that was the start of my involvement with the market.
During the first couple of weeks of my volunteered time at the market, I still felt like an outsider but I had a renewed sense of purpose. I took advantage of every opportunity to interact with vendors and visitors in the hopes of learning more about the farmers’ market culture.
Today, I’m very excited to have met people with the same interest and outlook as I have regarding community and a sense of belonging. I truly relish exchange of ideas with those I have spoken with about returning the world into a greener place, and giving back to education and the schools. I am empowered by the knowledge that I can contribute to the control of water shortage by building a rain water collection system with instructions provided by the Hughes Goes Green volunteers. I am elated to hear of neighbors trading crops that they have grown themselves at the Wrigley Gardens in Long Beach. I am in awe of the deep sense of community that permeates through the Longfellow Middle School playground every Sunday that continues to grow week after week with new visitors. Most of all, I am blessed by several newly developed friendships that have sprouted from this one experience.
In future days, the market will be providing cooking workshops and I have been quite involved with contacting local chefs, all of whom I quite admire for their achievements. The possibilities at this market are endless and I look forward to developing the purpose that continues to burn in my heart – everyone should always have decent meals, and no one should ever have to go hungry. I plan on joining the Slow Food movement and take part in bringing back what we have lost – closeness in relationships and community, and respect for our fellow human beings.
As I draw this reflection to a close, I can’t help but think to myself… Man, this is some good wine!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
My World Prediction -
I predict that the world, as we now know it, will end on December 23rd in the year 2012 because apparently, the Long Count Calendar that the Mayans used wasn't long enough. On this day, I predict that Michael, the Archangel, will fall upon the earth to combat the legion of angels that God will send to fulfill His apocolyptic promise. Michael's purpose will be to protect a pregnant lady thought to be carrying Jesus Christ getting ready for His second coming. I know its ironic that Jesus would choose to return to this world the same way He came in the first time but I guess He's into that warm slimey feel.
The reason why Michael needs to ward off the legion of angels is because they won't seem to be able to distinguish between an ordinary baby from Jesus Christ (...hello!) This will now be the start of the Apocolypse which would be followed by swarms of military helicopters pouring heavy fire onto Vietnam shores. I really hope they use napalm because I love the smell of napalm in the morning!
Afterwards, during the post-apocolyptic period, a lone hero, by the name of Eli, will emerge. He will scribble and doodle in his Wii etch-a-sketch thingy that people will fight over to color with their crayolas. It will be known as The Book of Eli and it will provide knowledge that will redeem society and the source of all their pain (intelligence; or lack thereof...) This book will also reveal that we are all decendants of one african male commonly known as Tiger Woods.
This is my prediction...
The book according to Sam 2:1
The reason why Michael needs to ward off the legion of angels is because they won't seem to be able to distinguish between an ordinary baby from Jesus Christ (...hello!) This will now be the start of the Apocolypse which would be followed by swarms of military helicopters pouring heavy fire onto Vietnam shores. I really hope they use napalm because I love the smell of napalm in the morning!
Afterwards, during the post-apocolyptic period, a lone hero, by the name of Eli, will emerge. He will scribble and doodle in his Wii etch-a-sketch thingy that people will fight over to color with their crayolas. It will be known as The Book of Eli and it will provide knowledge that will redeem society and the source of all their pain (intelligence; or lack thereof...) This book will also reveal that we are all decendants of one african male commonly known as Tiger Woods.
This is my prediction...
The book according to Sam 2:1
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