I have this secret parking spot downtown, and it's where I always park when I'm down there on the weekends. It's right next to this $3 dollar parking lot off Morrison bridge, but instead of parking in the parking lot, I park on the street beside it, right behind the big orange blocker that read "closed to thru traffic." Not many ppl park there because they're scared that they'll get towed, but trust me, it's all good.

Unfortunately, after summer ended, the street opened up again. So now it's really not a secret anymore, and often I am forced to paid $3 and park in the parking lot instead. I don't mind it, in fact, i love it. Out of all the parking lots in Oregon, i'd have to say that if i have a favorite parking lot, this would be it.

What's so great about this lot? well, for several reasons:
1) it's a good 5 blocks (or more) away from any bar or club that we go to. Which some might view as a bad thing, but i view it as extra pre-funking time on the way there, and sober up time on the way back.

2) since it's 5 blocks away from anything, i have not seen cops at this lot before. which is great!

3) easy access to the freeway, minimize time spent driving in the streets of downtown. again, great!

4) as far as I know, none of the parking lot/structure/garage in downtown have a bathroom, except for this one. yes, it's true. The parking lot comes with a 50 foot peeing wall for your peeing pleasure. Great ventilation system, however, you have to bring your own paper and privacy can sometimes be an issue. Overall, it's still pretty nice and quite convenient, even if you are a girl. If my memory serves me right, I know 3 ladies whom have tried out the wall. And they all liked it. (Yes, you know who you are... it's okay, there are others as well.)

5) But the best thing about this parking lot is the RAWRers! On the way to the club you will pass through this art gallery. And in this window display is where the RAWRers live. Now the RAWRers are neither cat nor dog, nobody really know what they are and where they came from, all we know is that this is where they lives. And all day long all they do is RAWWWWR! which is why they're called RAWWWWWRers. I don't know why i like them so much, but they are really really cool. i'm gonna get one someday and have it as my pet. it's true, and i'm gonna put it right next to my bed so that we can RAWWWR at each other every night before bed. yep. it's in my short term goals.

"RAAWWWWWWWWWWWR!"

------------------

'Cause sometimes you feel tired.
feel weak.
and when you feel weak,
you feel like you wanna just give up.

But you gotta search within you, you gotta find that inner strength
and just pull that shit out of you.
and get that motivation to not give up and not be a quitter,
no matter how bad you wanna just fall flat on your face and collapse.

I will not fall.
I will stand tall.
feels like no one could beat me.

-Eminem, 'Till i Collapse

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post #99. wow, almost the century mark. perhaps the next one will be EXTRA special. ideas?

I cleaned out my old room today

it's about time, given that i haven't slept there in 3 weeks. everything else in the old house is all packed and moved to the new place already. And then there's my room... still filled w/ my stuff, sitting there, just waiting to be picked up.

Came across a lot of old things that i didn't know still existed, like this old police car that i brought over from Taiwan when we last moved. The car's all falling apart, with paint chips everywhere... I looked at it for 3 minutes, played with it a bit, and looked at it a little more, deciding if it's coming with me to the new place or... is it time to let that puppy go?

For those who know, and don't know, I'm somewhat of a junk collector. I like collecting things, things that may very well seem like junk in other ppl's eyes, but to me that have (or might have) some sentimental value. I am BIG on sentimental value. I guess that's why i kept all my baby tooth. It's just too precious to give it to the tooth fairy. 5 bucks wouldn't do it lady!!

When i first started college (back in the days), i was shy, quiet, naive, and writes like a 5th grader. I remember almost peeing my pants in WR112 when the teacher told us that we have to write a 10 minute presentation, and finally peed my pants when i present it in front of the class. The days i would stay up till 3am finishing up the 3 reports that were due the next day. The ways i would avoid people by planning my lunches at strategic places. It's weird... but at the time, it was normal.

Then something happened... the things that worked for me in high school stopped working in college. in short, college was... a level above high school. In high school, you have safety nets. You have your teachers that tells you what you have to get done and what time, counselors that choses your studies for you, friends that lets you know your role, and your good friends that lets you be yourself. And accepts you for who you are. But in college, it's different. And pretty soon, you find out that you have to adjust if you're going to survive. In essence, you have to redefined yourself.

And you know what i'm talking about, how many of us can say that we are the same person now, as we were in high school? just look back on how you've changed and you can see how much you've grown. And more often then not when you redefine yourself, you turn out better than worst. most times...

Now that i've been working for 9 months, i find that it's about time to redefined myself once again. college to work is much like high school to college, it's just the next level. if your freshman year in college was shocking for you, chances are that your first year working will be shocking too. But soon you will adjust, and adopt. Just like you've done many times before, and it will be good. Because college was a lot better as a upper-classmen.

So as i was cleaning out the room today, agonizing over what to throw away and what to keep. I kept myself from keeping in junk from the past. It was a bit uncomfortable, but it'll be good. let go of the past so we can focus more on the future. We must be constantly redefining ourselves to keep pace with life, and the changes that comes with it.

And with that said, some lucky kid at goodwill is going to purchase this very special bear. Purple and green, wiped away from the dust, fired burned from clay and made by yours truly. And with this special bear, comes with this special jar that he's holding... and within this special jar, this lucky kid will find the greatest treasure of them all... David's baby teeth.

LOL, it's so sweet just thinking about it. hope the tooth fairy is still good for it.

Fuck the police.

i am so pissed right now.

Top 10 - I wish...

10) I know Spanish.

Spanish wedding can seem to last a lifetime when you don't understand a single word of the language. And the fact that there were no alcohol at the reception didn't help either. See, if i know Spanish, i can convince the crowd, "hey amigos! let's go and get some booze!" Then it'd be a great wedding.

9) To be in a relationship.

A relationship would be nice. As a matter of fact, it be probably better than nice. it'll probably be like "shift nice shift 1." haha, pick that up from diana...

8) move out of my parent's place!

'cause it's kinda hard for wish #9 to come true when you're 23 and still living w/ your parents. it turns out that girls are more attracted to guys who are actually responsible from themselves and independent from their parents... dang it, why didn't anyone tell me this earlier!

7) To be more focused and motivated on my dreams and making it a reality.

But do i know what i really want? or am i just following the crowd?

6) that my prospect will call me tomorrow saying that they want to max out their IRA for last year.

So i can get paid.
and maybe get laid?
yes, that's what i said.

i suck at rhyming...

5) that i'd be on time to work tomorrow... finally.

it's been awhile. i think tomorrow's the day. i can feel it.

4) To have a car w/ AC for the summer. 'cause it gets really really hot in the Monkey.

sweaty hot, like your undies will get wet from driving place to place. And i do A LOT of driving.

3) To not be so tired all the time.

i don't know why... i just don't know.

2) I Spend more time w/ God

gotta read the good book,
gotta take quiet time,
gotta wait upon the Lord,
but i'm so lazy. and weak.

1) That you would call me up and say "what's up?"

'cause then i'd say, "not much, what's up w/ you?"

my pillow case are dirty...

I have a huge zit on the center of my left cheek 'cause of my pillow case... i think it's time to wash it but i'm too lazy.

it's not just huge, it's HUGE! probably the biggest ones i've gotten on my face, normally a zit this size appears else where, like on my butt cheek or something. but this time, it's here.

it's the size of a small gumball, and you can feel the radius around it by pressing it w/ two fingers. it's a bit amazing actually, like a ball of caner chilling between the fat in your cheek. You can quite literally feel the whole volume of the ball and pinch it. it's probably not a good idea tho, but i keep doing it.

i think it attracts the girls.

eh. perhaps i'll take a picture of it tomorrow... tire, time to grow my zit in my dirty pillow case.

it's been awhile

it's been awhile since last post, hope you all had a pleasant spring break. mine was nice because i got sick so i took a couple mornings off work, and it was glorious. i've been in my new place for 2 weeks now and i have to say, it's a pretty nice place. kinda made me want to stay w/ my parents for a little bit longer... j/k. i really don't think that'd be good for my long-term goals, such as getting married and stuff. You know, 'cause it's just really awkward when you bring home a girl and your parents are there... 'cause then they'll make her tea and want to know everything about her and wondering why she's over so late and suggesting that we call her parents so they won't worry... yea, awkward.

Anyways.. it's Spring term! for those seniors, you only have 3, maybe 1, more months of school! wait... take a couple deep breaths, yes, let it sink it... and AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! that's crazy huh? it's almost over. Some of you are more worried than others because unlike them, you have NO CLUE what you're going to do after school. And for those who has a clue, you're still going crazy 'cause of the unknown in the future. Will i like grad school? is texas a cool place to live? what will i do for a living? do i have to move back in w/ my parents like David? (it's not that bad, my parents are cool, but for you.... i don't know.) There are all these questions floating in your tiny little head and at the same time, you're still expected to function as if normal. Normal? your world is anything but normal right now...

...cool huh? this feeling your going through, it's great and pretty dang amazing. you know why? 'cause you are being pushed out of your comfort zone. When animals are forced out of their natural habitat you know what they do? they adapt. they move on and find new ways to make things work. in essence, they overcome the obstacle and by doing so, it makes them a stronger specie. Likewise, it is why this is so cool because you are also going to be stronger. You're thinking right now, planning for your future, finding out what you want to do w/ your life, your likes and dislikes, picking out the path for your future. You might not have all the answers right now, but one day you will. Sometimes you might have to go through some trials and errors, but it will be well worth it. And this process, this phasing out of your comfort zone will not come normal for you, chances are that you will not like it, but it's going to happen either way. Just remember in the end, what end up happening is that your comfort zone, your territory, will be increased. And that's pretty cool.

Don't know how i ran off on that subject... was just gonna right some jokes here and there.. eh. Oh yea, i know... eh... i write it next time. it'll be too long. it's about relationships during this time of the year... the singles ones tend to get together and hook up, and the couples tend to break up. it's weird, but it always happens around this time. i blame it on the spring fever. I got the fever!

k, just wanted to say that internet is up and running... bye.

I move a piano today

Sunday- March 25

Today was moving day. Yay for moving day! Woke up with Jeremiah pounding on my window ‘cause I overslept (again). But he was on time and ready for moving day. It took the morning to load everything on the truck. It wasn’t too bad because we were only moving the essentials. Beds, sofa, table, dresser, some chairs, ect. By 1pm we had pretty much everything loaded on the truck, all except … the piano.

Now my mom was planning on hiring professional help to move the piano, just like how it was delivered to our place. Since it is heavy and fragile, hiring professional help is probably the right call, however, as we were all standing there in the all but empty living room we looked at one another and thought, hmm… we have room in the u-haul, there’s 3 of us, yes looks very heavy… but exactly how heavy is it? So we gave it a try. We said that if we can hold the piano up for 5-10 seconds at a time, then we can probably do it. I think we held it up for 1.3 seconds at best. Then we thought, if we can just get it on the truck then it’s all good. It’ll be like half way done. So, being strong manly man, we decided to back up the truck so the ramp ended directly right in front of the door. And we move that piano like no other.

The piano looked heavy and weights even heavier. We really shouldn’t be messing with it, let along trying to move it. But we did, and it’s now on the u-haul, so now we got to finish it. Jeremiah thought that once we got to our new place we’d be able to just move it right off the ramp and into the condo. To his surprise, we forgot to tell him that we live on the 3^rd floor. That means we have to unload it off the truck, into the building, down the hallway, in the elevator, past the lounge area, into the condo, down the narrow delicate hallway, then into the room. Now we wish we had went with the hired professional instead trying to save a few hundred bucks.

In life, sometimes we can be too overconfident with ourselves. Our abilities, looks, and knowledge. I am guilty of this as well, most of the time I budget too little time for my days, thinking that I can accomplish this task in an hour when it actually took 2, or only leaving myself 30 minutes to get to my appointment when I know that it’ll usually take 40 minutes. Knowing damn well that this post will take me an hour to write and that I’ll miss out on sleep, while lying to myself that as long as I get 6 hours of sleep I’ll be okay because I am a genius. But the thing is… I’m not.

Yesterday (Saturday) composed of this. In office 11am, prep for appointment 1pm, drive out to appointment in Scio 2pm, appointment with the Davis 3:30, leaving Scio 5:30, dinner at home7pm, prep for bible study 7:30pm, leading bible study 8:30pm, arrive downtown for st. patty’s night 9:55pm. Then the rest is history. And today, was even busier than yesterday. Tomorrow will be Monday, the start of another crushing work week. Where is the budgeted time for rest?

I need to start taking better care of myself. Start working out so I will have more energy, sleep regularly so my days are more productive, stop feeding my body with poison, and stop watching tv.

I took a bath tonight, the first night at the new house. Wasn’t planning on taking a bath but it kinda worked out that way because I couldn’t figure out how to work the shower. The stupid thing just will not turn on. Spent 10 minutes trying to find the switch, pulling on every lever I can, and pressing every thing that can be pressed. And nothing worked. So a bath it is. And a nice bath it was. I figured if I’m going to take a bath, I might as well make it an event. With music, juice, peanut butter and jelly. It really brought back a lot of memories when I was a kid me and my brother would take baths every night. The water would be too hot at first so we had to turn on the cold water, be standing in the middle of the tub and using our hands to circulate the water so the cold water will mix in with the hot. It’s quite an awkward position… don’t know if any of you guys do it… but I did that tonight… and it felt special. The bath was just what I needed, not just because I smell like a sweaty old man from moving, but also because it slowed things down and I got to spend some time with myself. Which is what I’ve been lacking. You just can’t go on 110% everyday for weeks and not have any time for rest. ‘cause you’ll burn out, and I am burnt.

So enough is enough, and it’s time to take better care of myself. I’m excited, it should be good.

I am no genius.