uncomfortable

Last week was a doozy. I’m typing on a Sunday morning after getting a good night’s rest. It’s quiet in the house, and I think it’s the best time that I have to look back on the week.

I created another poster to accompany the first poster I created. I rarely get to work on creative projects, and I really enjoyed my time behind the design program.

I went shopping on Tuesday. I am closer to understanding what women go through when shopping for things. Guys group was upstairs in the kitchen, and that allowed me to make dinner.

Wednesday was the management conference downtown. I received reminders about the most important things about being a manager. The most important thing I learned was that as managers, we need to challenge our employees, even to the point of making them uncomfortable. Without that challenge, people do not grow.

Wednesday night was the BCIT Distinguished Alumni Awards. We were platinum sponsors at the event. The video packages they showed were very impressive. The food was good, especially the chocolate crème brulee.

Thursday’s CIP class was taught by Carol Kuzyk. She taught my Property Insurance class and was president of the CIP society. Which reminds me, I have some homework to do.

On Friday, Heman and I went out for dinner. Jennie and I watched the season premiere of the Office and House. House seems to have picked up its energy compared to last year, and the Office is hitting the ground running.

I worked the Level 2 Advanced Driver Training in Pitt Meadows. We spent the first half of the day greeting clients and helping the instructors. After getting lunch at Tim Horton’s, we took the course ourselves! It’s uncomfortable making high speed collision-avoidance maneuvers, especially in your own car. However, it’s better to test these maneuvers in a closed environment, rather than on the highway. It’s a great experience, and I recommend everyone to take the course.

Grandma looks good, and has great energy. I’m realizing that it’s actually a big change. I was used to seeing her almost everyday. I’m glad I still get to see her on occasion.

Waking up early for the collision avoidance course reminds me of when I woke up early for dragonboat practice. It’s not too bad. When I wake up early, it’s a special occasion, and I’m energized for it. I usually pay for this enthusiasm, by wanting to sleep at 10pm. But by being able to sleep early, I woke up early, and wrote this blog entry.

This was a good week. There were highs and there were lows. And if there weren’t the lows, I wouldn’t appreciate the highs as much as I do. Thanks for being a part of my week! I’ll see you next time.

(roll credits)

soul cravings

This past weekend has been eventful and encouraging. Tonight is the free night I have this week, so I thought it good to look back on the past few days.

Today was a creative day at work. I was tasked to create a poster/handout for the call centre. There’s a time and place for administrative tasks, but I’m most motivated when I can use my problem-solving and creative skills. The weekend was creative as well. Over Saturday and Sunday, I edited Rita and Ricky’s wedding video. There were 3 hours of tape. It looks daunting to start, but once you start editing the video, time flies in a good way. I think that my mind is craving some creative challenges.

I missed service this week, so I listened to the podcast from Willingdon Church. I really enjoy Pastor John’s sermons.

For the first time in a long time, I hung out with Daniel. I haven’t talked with him in a long time, but when we do meet, we always have a good time. I watched the season premiere of Family Guy with John. This was the much touted Star Wars episode. It didn’t disappoint. Actually, movies are much more likely to disappoint than television. Television shows have increased in quality over the years, while only a handful of movies can say the same. I can look back on this as the golden age of television.

Speaking of disappointing movies, I watched Knocked Up. I had high expectations of this comedy, partly because of the many positive reviews and 91% rottentomatoes rating. The director’s earlier work was much funnier. Even Anchorman (which was recently on television for free) was funnier than Knocked Up. I hope Superbad makes up for Knocked Up. Hot Fuzz remains the funniest movie I’ve seen this year.

I had a relaxing lunch, eating noodles and reading my Best of Vancouver edition of the Georgia Straight. It’s a nice way to spend a lazy weekend afternoon.

I am thankful for the creative opportunities in my life, whether from work or from hobbies. At the risk of sounding too spiritual, my soul awakens when I have a creative outlet. I think everyone has something that awakens their soul. What’s yours?

congratulations Ricky

It’s September, and it’s already half over. In a way, it feels like a new beginning. Like a school year, there are new classes, new challenges, and new goals. And there’s always a need to be thankful for everything that happens, and to see the bright side of all situations.

Today’s message talked about how challenges often define our character. They test our courage, our integrity and humility. Above it all, He does not abandon us. We belong to Him. He is just and can do us no wrong. Even when others do, He is overruling them, and meaning good for us in it. It’s a character-building experience. Learn a lesson, and make a change. I am thankful for challenges that help to make me stronger. Life would be static if there were nowhere to go and nowhere to grow.

You cannot change what happens, but you can change how you react to what happens. Often the best way to react is with thankfulness.

I am thankful for many things this past month. I am thankful for a Saturday dinner with my close friends. I am thankful for being able to sing until late at night. I’m thankful for a good series of Sunday messages. I am thankful for Vietnamese dinner with good buddies. I’m thankful for Jennie’s friends, and for a fun night in Richmond. I’m thankful for my cousin Ricky, and for new family memories at his wedding. I am thankful for my relationships. I am thankful for my cousin Yin who is visiting from the UK.

Be thankful.

I don’t want to say goodbye, for the summer

I met up with Tim, and we’re looking to adapt a book into another Christmas theatre project. Hopefully I’ll have time to sit in the sun and read a few chapters this weekend.

The Labour Day weekend was eventful and relaxing. On Wednesday, we went to Malone’s at Kitsilano. At the beach, Julian horribly blinded Wilson with a camera flash. On Thursday, our company had its summer barbecue at Nat Bailey Stadium, and we watched the final fireworks night of the season. On Friday, we drove to Coquitlam to shop at H&M, to see what the marketing hoopla was about. On Saturday, our families had dinner together for the first time, and it was a fun experience. On Sunday, we drove to downtown Seattle for a shopping excursion, and drove back by the power of Red Bull. On Monday, I slept in, and we watched the conclusion of Firefly and Serenity.

I’ve been trying to force myself into bed earlier. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. If I get into a good sleep routine at the beginning of the week, I can try to carry it though the rest of the week.

The air felt crisper on September 4. I felt the autumn breeze push the summer winds away. Each season has its own mood, its own emotion, and its own character. Autumn is cool, serious, studious, efficient. This probably relates to previous years when I trekked back to school. I choose to get into the autumn mood slowly, because I have one more week until my insurance accreditation program resumes.

The summer mood is my favorite. Summer is warm, friendly, outgoing, free. The season’s unique mood triggers my own. I had several adventures this summer, yet I feel the summer mood hasn’t peaked. Another month of summer would mean another month of freedom. Another month of summer would mean another month of summer clothes, summer breezes, and evenings lit by sunlight. I want to capture the summer, to place it into my soul where it would always be with me. But that would not be fair for the summer. Like all matters of life, there is a cycle. The summer must rest, and make way for autumn.

I will miss you summer. I look forward to seeing you next year.

Hello autumn. Let’s get it started.