And so it goes...

My mom called me this morning to inform me that after 93 years, my Dad's mom passed away late last night. I really don't know how to react because she lived in Korea her whole life and I only met her once, when I was in 4th grade. I don't remember a lot about her. One vivid memory I have was... she was trying to have a conversation with me, and I got tired of speaking Korean, so I decided to speak English back to her, and she had no idea what I was saying. In my little 4th grade head, I thought she would for some reason, and she kept on asking me...."What are you saying?" in Korean. My Dad stepped in and said something like..."Scott, you need to speak Korean to her, or else she doesn't understand you..."and then I was like..."hmm ok..." and because I was a little punk I just ran off without finishing the conversation.
I could tell that she loved me. She made breakfast for me everyday that I was there. She drew me a bath every night, and I remember her just smiling at me, for no reason at all. Although I didn't get to know her too well here on earth I look forward to catching up with her in heaven. Rest in Peace Grandma. I'm glad you're not in pain anymore and that you can be home with Grandpa.

Reading is a good thing

I just got off the phone with my buddy Clark who asked me how things were going. I went on about the usual things, talking about my building and students that were getting into little incidents, and about school and then I said..."I've never read so much in my life... but it's a good thing I think." He confirmed and said, "yeah, that is good for you."
Here are some sweet excerpts and quotes that I have found in a couple of the books I'm reading.

Fabric of Faithfulness by Steven Garber
"Very often in life people don't want to tell you the not-so-good thing. It is important to develop a community of people who are honest to keep you straight."

"As I have gotten involved in politics and business, I am more and more convinced that the people you choose to have around you have more to do with how you act upon what you believe than what you read or the ideas that influence you."

"One of my prayers materially is the Proverbs 30 prayer: "Lord, give me enough that I shall not want and cry against you-but don't give me so much so that I am full and forget you." I pray that for myself because I know my limitations. God, don't make me wealthy because I might forget you. So before we even get to that point, why don't we not aspire to wealth. It's a struggle not to let the heart get what it wants. But God is a shield to those who walk in integrity. My Life is safe. I'm a single woman. I'm vulnerable to a lot of things. But I know that I am safe when I am obedient, and I feel insecure if I step out. This is a set of internal boundaries that I know and I walk within sometimes better than others."

Forgetting Ourselves on Purpose by Brian Mahan
"Now-here is my secret: I tell it to you with an openness of heart that I doubt I shall ever achieve again, so I pray that you are in a quiet room as you hear these words. My secret is that I need God-that I am sick and can no longer make it alone. I need God to help me give, because I no longer seem to be capable of giving; to help me be kind, as I no longer seem capable of kindness; to help me love, as I seem beyond being able to love."

"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."

"In ambition, the prestige of the achievement often seems to depend more on the dignity of the role itself than on the dignity of the one who fills it."

Table for Two by Caedmon's Call

Danny and I spent another late night over pancakes,
Talkin' 'bout soccer
And how every man's just the same
We made speculation
On the who's and the when's of our futures
And how everyone's lonely
But still we just couldn't complain

And how we just hate being alone
Could I have missed my only chance
And now I'm just wasting my time
By looking around
But you know I know better
I'm not gonna worry 'bout nothing
Cause if the birds and the flowers survive
Then I'll make it okay
I'm given a chance and a rock
see which one breaks a window
See which one keeps me up all night and into the day

Because I'm so scared of being alone
That I forget what house I live in
But it's not my job to wait by the phone
For her to call

Well this day's been crazy
But everything's happened on schedule
from the rain and the cold
To the drink that I spilled on my shirt
'Cause You knew how You'd save me
before I fell dead in the garden
And You knew this day
long before You made me out of dirt

And You know the plans that You have for me
And You can't plan the end and not plan the means
And so I suppose I just need some peace
Just to get me to sleep.

random but cool...

My friends Marti and Sarah put this up on their blogs so I thought I'd give it a shot. I feel like we use to get this stuff in mass emails and now we're getting them on facebook and posting them on our blogs. It's amazing how this stuff evolves into the new things that we do. Friends, feel free to copy and paste and put it up on your own blog.

Some Things I’ve Done & Not Done in My Life

Started your own blog - Yup. Sometimes I think I should just get rid of it, but it's lasted this long...
Slept under the stars - Yes, freshman year of college we slept on the beach and froze our tails off....I don't think I got any sleep actually.
Played in a band - Kind of...I've been part of a praise band, and have been part of singing groups...
Watched a meteor shower - Yes, junior year of college, we woke up at 2am...it was cold, but cool
Given more than you can afford to charity - At points in my life I have....yes
Been to Disneyland/world - I grew up going to Disneyland and love it. I finally got to go to Disneyworld with the Fam a couple of years ago.
Climbed a mountain - El Capitan and Half Dome in Yosemite.
Sang a solo - Yup.

Taught yourself an art from scratch - Taught myself to play the Guitar.
Held a praying mantis - No...this is a random one. I don't feel like I'm missing out either.
Had a pillow fight - Yup

Taking an overnight train - No.

Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - Oh yeah, I call them mental health days...
Built a snow fort - Yup, with my cousins.
Gone skinny dipping - I have not, and I feel like I don't really want to either.
Seen a total eclipse - Yes.
Watched a sunrise or sunset - Yes, the last sunset I watched, I was in the Outer Banks with my Fellows Friends and I was PISSED that I had to be up that early.
Seen Niagara Falls in Person - Yup. Maid of the Mist Cruise and all..
Seen an Amish community - Kind of...I don't know....everyone in Western PA is amish right?
Taught yourself a new language - No.
Had enough money to be truly satisfied - No, I could always use a little more money and I think I will always think that.
Gone rock climbing - yes
Sung karaoke - As my friend Clark would say..."Is a pigs a$$ pork?" Definitely could sing Karaoke every night if I could.
Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant - No
Walked on a beach by moonlight - Spring Break, Junior Year...Marco Island.
Gone scuba diving or snorkeling - Nope, would love to one day.
Played in the mud - I'm sure I have, but I can't remember. Maybe I haven't because my mom is a clean freak.
Gone to a drive-in theater - Yes, I went with SB2W people during ruddy week one year.
Started a business - Does a lemonade stand count?
Served at a soup kitchen - No, but I will during Spring Break in Alaska.
Gotten flowers for no reason - No, unfortunately guys don't get flowers for no reason.
Donated blood, platelets or plasma - I have donated blood before.
Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp - No, but I have been to several memorials and museums
Saved a favorite childhood toy -I think my mom gave them all away...poop.
Visited the Lincoln Memorial - Yes.
Eaten Caviar - I don't think so. I've eaten fish eggs....but not "caviar".

Stood in Times Square - Yes, several times....it's pretty sweet.
Broken a bone - Yes, I was like 1 and half or something I don't remember it. A garage door collapsed on my toe apparently.
Been on a speeding motorcycle - No, a Scooter yes.
Had your picture in the newspaper - Yes. Mostly school papers.
Read the entire Bible - I'm trying to...it's hard.
Visited the White House - Outside of it. They don't give tours anymore because of Sept. 11
Killed and prepared my own meat - Fish? Does that count?
Had chickenpox - I think so...I'm not sure
Sat on a jury - I was suppose to do Jury Duty, but the day I was suppose to go in was September 11, 2001....I didn't think I'd mention that date twice.
Met someone famous - Andy Dick, Coolio, Selma Hyek, Aaron Neville. I lived in LA so...yes.
Joined a book club - When I was a kid I was in a book club at the local library so I could get prizes like Pizza Hut Gift Certificates
Lost a loved one - Yes.
Owned a cell phone - Yes. Who doesn't?
Been stung by a bee - Yes, I was really young. I stomped on a bee and thought it was dead so I picked it up and then it stung me....bastard.

Bungee jumped- No.
Visited Paris- No, one day hopefully.
Watched a lightning storm at sea- For living close to sea for most of my life I have not done this, it must look sweet though
Adopted a child- No, I hope to one day.
Had food poisoning - Yes, it sucks...
Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty- No, I've seen it from the outside but they don't let you go in it anymore because of a certain event that happened on a date that I have mentioned too much already.
Seen the Mona Lisa in France- No, again one day hopefully.
Hitchhiked- No. I don't think I ever will.
Held a lamb- Not so much. There are not too many lambs rolling around in Pasadena CA.
Been to a Broadway show in NY- Yes, Phantom of the Opera. Amazing.
Ran a Marathon- No, I ran a 10k for running class in college and almost died.
Been in three states at once - No...maybe I've been to the 4 Corners, I don't remember.
Ridden in a gondola in Venice- No, one day.
Hit a home run- Yes, in Intramural Softball in college, but it didn't count because Guys weren't alllowed to hit HR's....but I hit a couple in little bat this year too.
Been on a Cruise- Yes, a day cruise in Alaska and I got SO Sea Sick I wanted to die.
Visited the birthplace of your Ancestors Yes, I went to Korea in 4th grade.
Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person- No, again something that I hope to do.
Seen Michelangelo’s David- No, see answer above
Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt - Yes, I was too young to really enjoy it so I want to do it again.
Visited Africa- No, add it to the list.
Been transported in an ambulance- Nope, and I hope I don't have to either.
Gone deep sea fishing- Nope.
Seen the Sistine Chapel in person- List it....
Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris- list
Kissed in the rain- Nope. Came close though
Been to Grace Kelley’s grave in Monaco- eh? No, and I don't really care.
Visited the Great Wall of China- List
Taken a martial arts class- I was born with that stuff so there was no need.
Swam in the Mediterranean Sea- No
Visited Russia- List
Sold Girl Scout cookies- Nope, I don't think guys are allowed to sell them. I'll probably have to sell them with my daughter one day though.
Gone whale watching - Yes, 6th grade field trip. I got sea sick, it sucked...
Gone sky diving- No, but I will one day....
Bounced a check- No
Pieced a quilt -No, pieced a quilt? I think this survey was made for females...call me sexist.
Toured the Everglades- No
Been fired from a job - No
Seen the Changing of the Guards in London - No, in Ottawa yes. List it
Seen the Grand Canyon in person - Yes. My family tried to hike down it, without any water. I was 4, so my cousins took turns carrying me on their shoulders all the way up....hahaha
Published a book- No, one day I hope to finish, "The Asian Glass Ceiling"....look for it on the NYT Best Sellers List.
Visited the Vatican- No, list it
Bought a brand new car- I leased a brand new Civic and plan to buy it...so kind of.
Walked in Jerusalem- No, list
Saved someone’s life - No.
Had a baby - No I don't think that is physically possible, although that one "guy" who has been on the news lately had one....I hope to produce several baby's one day.
Seen the Alamo in person - No
Swam in the Great Salt Lake- No
Been involved in a law suit- No