The End is Coming!

The End is Coming!

Unbelievable! I went to get some academic counseling at Menlo Park and among many other things, I filled out the paperwork to graduate in Summer... 2007. A year early yes, but at least it takes away another piece of paperwork that I'll have to do later.

Anyway, this is all to say that the end of my divine schooling is coming close. We mapped out my schedule from now until Summer 2007 and saw that it could all fit. 3 years and one quarter. Not bad considering that I took one summer off (last summer), got engaged, got married, moved, worked on and off throughout the time, and attended the Northern California extension campus for nearly 2/3 of my education. It can be done!

This week in fantasy baseball: Losing to Joonho 4-5 (I'm seeing a trend... maybe my team just sucks)

Pre-engagement Counseling?!

Pre-engagement Counseling?!

I had never heard of the concept until about a year ago when I heard of some friends of mine doing it or considering doing it. Just yesterday, it come up in a conversation as I was enjoying a burger from Kirk's Steakburgers on DeAnza. The initial reactions from most everybody at the table were the same, "What the...?!" But then, a strange thing started to happen... people started rationalizing the idea, even saying that it might be a good idea.

Most of those who crossed over to the "I think it might be good idea" camp said something to the effect of "It'd be a better time to get the counseling, especially before any serious commitments are made" or "It'd be better to know that it'd work before getting engaged" etc. etc..

I couldn't help but continue to think that it's a bit ridiculous, but I had a hard time figuring out why. I think someone at the table asked me as a future pastor of America if I'd do pre-engagement counseling. I think I responded with something like "Mumblemumble yeahidon'tthinkso mumblemumblemumble." Very confident I am.

Aside from the whole "It takes the suspense away" point of view or the "That's weird" stance or the "What do you do when it comes down to premarital counseling then?" perspective I had a hard time figuring it out. Any thoughts?

This week in fantasy baseball: Lost to Minho 4-5 (but bumped back up to 9th place!)

Times are a Changin'

Times are a Changin'

I realize that Alinna's already posted this stuff, but what the heck, everybody likes to see pictures on blogs.

Many congratulations to Nao and Mark on graduating.




Though I do have to say, Davis was a lot hotter than Richmond.


I don't know though. Would you rather deal with the extreme heat of Davis or extreme police surveillance of Richmond. I realize that more police are supposed to make me feel safe, but somehow that night I felt the exact opposite.

Oh and for good measure, the transformation of Alinna... her Japanified.


The end product of a night of trying to figure out how to put a yukata on.

This week in fantasy baseball: Beating Minho 5-4 (dropped to 10th place)

Rockin' Priests

Rockin' Priests

Fuller's Northern California Extension Campus is actually a borrowed campus from St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park. It's a Catholic seminary, as in priests-in-training study there. Beautiful campus. I should take and post pictures of it later. It's quiet and pretty big. In fact, I'm pretty sure that the upper floor of the main building is the school's dormitory.

Anyway, on Wednesday and Thursday nights and Saturdays, Fuller students like myself take up portions of the campus and study there. A few Saturdays ago, as I was taking my Systematic Theology class I started to hear a pulsating sound. It didn't take long before I realized that it was music coming from upstairs... one of the dormitories of a soon would-be priest (who's probably got a pretty nice system set-up). At this point I start to zone. I'm not listening to the lecture anymore. Instead, I want to find out, what kind of music do Catholic priests listen to? After about 30 seconds, I realize that it's a song I know! Something rock... priests listen to rock! Priests listen to...

THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS! That other song from their Californication album... Scar Tissue!

Yes, you read it here first.

This week in fantasy baseball: Tied with Elbert 3-3 (still sitting in 9th place)

Relay for Life

Relay for Life

This Saturday, I'll be running/walking with a group of friends for a charity called Relay for Life.
Basically, it's a fundraiser and memorial set up by the American Cancer Society for those who have lost loved ones to cancer. 24 hours in Mountain View. Good cause.

You can visit the team website for our relay team.

Or you can sponsor Alinna and I by going to our website and making a payment by credit card, it's real simple.

There's more information on the websites too if you want to check it out. Please think about giving some money to a worthy cause!

Sorry... no Craigslist finds this morning. I gotta get to work. Last two weeks of school.

Gleanings from Hillsdale

Yesterday's Subbing

So yesterday, I subbed. Two stories from that experience...

1) One kid, African-American, the only one in the class, tried to act super-hard. Pushed kids around, made them do things for him by using scare tactics. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I wanted to go up to the kid and say, "What's up, San Mateo. Six-five-oh, what... six-five-OH!"

2) One other kid, clearly wasn't doing work, but when I'd walk by and sit down with him to work on the assigned worksheet, he was clearly capable. Not a stupid kid. Just unmotivated to do work. We're working on a math problem and he stops, "Hey, I don't usually do work in this class. I usually just draw, and it's cool. Can I just do that?" Gotta hand it to the guy for being open and honest.

This week in fantasy baseball: Lost to Mike 4-5 (currently in 8th place)

The South Bay Craigslist Finds of the Day
1. Computer Desk $30 (San Jose)
2. Weber Grill $20 (Los Altos)
3. Wine cabinet/bar $75 (Menlo Park)
4. Kitchen Cart on wheels $20 (Palo Alto)
5. Iron Magazine Holder $15 (Sunnyvale)

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day

Alinna and I have successfully gone through our first Mother's Day. Question for all you faithful bloggers out there... what do you do for Mother's Day when you have two mothers in the area? My mother in law in a stone's throw away and my own mother is an hour's drive away. Two mothers. What am I to do?

This year: Had Mother's Day dinner with the Satake family on Saturday night and had Mother's Day dinner with the Chiu family on Sunday night.

This week in fantasy baseball: Losing to Mike 4-5

The South Bay Craigslist Finds of the Day
1. Cedar Chest $50 (Saratoga)
2. Nightstand $60 (San Jose)
3. Pine Bunkbeds $50 (Los Gatos)
4. Kitchen Utility Table $30 (Santa Clara)
5. Armchair and Ottoman $50 (Santa Clara)
6. 10 Colorful Japanese Bamboo Coasters $5 (San Jose)
7. Smoker $60 (Sunnyvale)

Sad

Sad

This week in fantasy baseball: Losing to Mike 4-5

The South Bay Craigslist Finds of the Day
1. Pair of side tables $40 (Mountain View)
2. Retro Toy Storage Box $10 (San Jose)
3. Boudoir Bench $50 (Sunnyvale)
4. Portable Kitchen Island $60 (San Jose)
5. Bread Box $10 (San Jose)

Tagged

Tagged

1. Four Jobs:
a. Church planter
b. Warehouse stocker
c. Delivery guy
d. Substitute teacher

2. Four Things I Wish I Had Done Earlier:
a. Hang out with Alinna
b. Snowboard
c. Bartending School
d. Learn to Speak Japanese

3. Four Places I Have Lived:
a. El Sobrante
b. Berkeley
c. Date
d. Alhambra

4. Four Countries I Have Been To:
a. Canada
b. Japan
c. Mexico
d. ...

5. Four Countries I Would Like to Visit:
a. Italy
b. United Kingdom
c. Germany
d. China

6. Four of My Favorite Dishes:
a. Tacos from the Taco Truck on Fair Oaks in Pasadena
b. 3 Tacos and a Cerveza from the Taco Stand in Tijuana for $2
c. Anything from when Alinna Goes on a Baking Binge
d. Anything on a Grill

7. Four Sites I Visit Daily:
a. Gmail
b. ESPN
c. Yahoo! Fantasy Sports
d. Craigslist

8. Four Software Applications I Cannot Live Without:
a. Firefox
b. Word
c. Excel
d. iCal

9. Four Things I'll Never Forget:
a. Fishing with Grandpa
b. Japan.
c. Jet Li's house!
d. Seeing Alinna walk down the aisle

10. I Tag....
a. slee
b. danny
c. superbruce
d. cal

This week in fantasy baseball: Losing to Mike 2-5

The South Bay Craigslist Finds of the Day
1. Pottery Barn Desk and Chair $50 (Los Gatos)
2. Black CD Tower $30 (Cupertino)
3. Small Drawer Units $50 (Mountain View)
4. 3 Steel Canisters $10 (Sunnyvale)
5. Honeywell Air Purifier $30 (San Jose)

Tired

Just Tired

A whirlwind of seemingly everything this last week. Finally have some time to just sit, be still, and not have to do something all the time. In honor of my day of doing nothing, I will not post anything profound. For all of you at work right now, also not wanting to do anything... have no fear, I looked around on Craiglist and found the picks for your enjoyment.

This week in fantasy baseball: Beat Ted 6-4 (still in 9th place)

The South Bay Craiglist Finds of the Day
1. Magazine Rack $3 (Cupertino)
2. Antique Tool Box $25 (Mountain View)
3. Table $20 (Mountain View)
4. Iron and Wood Magazine Rack $15 (Mountain View)
5. Cherry Bookshelf & Cherry Computer Desk with Hutch $50/$75 (Cupertino)
6. End table $45 (Mountain View)
7. Antique Steamer Trunk $50 (Campbell)
8. 3-Seat Couch $89 (Santa Clara)
9. Oak Wine Rack $20 (San Jose)
10. Modern Storage Bench $90 (Palo Alto)