Every Picture has a story

2004-07-09T14:23:00.000-07:00

Kart Racing

2004-05-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

Yes... such a long time with no update... Pictures are below, I still haven't totally worked out how to insert them in here...

I went to the beach and got my sisters car stuck in the sand... So embarrasing...

Also attended E3 and went to Seattle for a lil bit... Had a great time at E3, PSP (Playstation Portable) looks like a great platform.

Seattle was fun as well, it was sunny then rainy in the SAME HOUR... Oh well, I spose that's better then raining all day long.

And I made some new online friends that have blogs that are cool and actually updated hehe... Ruth and Annnnna

And I'm finally leaving Delaware! wooooooot... Bellevue Washington here I come!

2004-05-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

psp

2004-05-28T10:27:00.001-07:00

stormtrooper

2004-05-28T10:27:00.000-07:00

2004-05-28T10:19:00.000-07:00

Outside in sunny Seattle

2004-05-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

Yeti eating Miah

2004-05-28T10:17:00.001-07:00

Mt. Rainer

2004-05-28T10:17:00.000-07:00

Miah, Kaori, Me

2004-05-28T10:03:00.000-07:00

Walking my dog

2004-04-09T12:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel like the world is just a big joke, and only one person gets it...

And if you don't agree then I don't know what to say hehe...

Not much happening here... Our company webhost was hacked and exploded, and I was amazed at the professionalism they displayed during these trying times... Turning off customer support AND not responding to emails... I spose you get what you pay for. Was amusing to call up tech support and hear the message "this voicemailbox is FULL" Oh happy days... New host, here we come :)

In other news I'm going to Seattle and LA in May, primarily for E3. Gonna be some fun times :)

Congrats to Rhianna, who woke up one morning and decided to get married (I'm j/k hehe). Best wishes for her and her fiance.

Bunch of people are in Cebu on a mission trip now. Thoughts and prayers go out to them and all the kids they are going to serve.

2004-04-03T11:24:00.000-08:00

Something I wrote for all us workaholics hehe...

Daily Race

And we’re off! The day has just begun
The alarm clock sounds just like a gun
We jump from bed, clothing is a must
Rush out the door, and catch the bus

Arrive at work, ten after nine
Turn on the computer, and check the time
Hence hours go by, and our stomachs shout more!
Now its lunch for us all! Quick, run out the door

And eat your Mcdonalds, or take away pork
But get back to your desk and prepare for more work
Into a meeting we hustle, quickly, no time!
No time to remember that it’s a quarter past nine

Lets go home and rest, quick, pop in a movie
And fall asleep halfway between Sally and Scooby
But wake up at midnight and turn off the lights
Rush into our beds and prepare for the night

And right before sleeping we whisper to Him
Hey mister Jesus, oh where have you been?
And He whispers back, with a voice in a rasp
“I spent my whole day chasing after your …”

2004-03-22T14:54:00.000-08:00

create your own personalized map of the USA
or write about it on the open travel guide

create your own visited country map

Sooo pathetic only 2% of the world!!! :(

2004-03-10T23:29:00.000-08:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4252615/

(scroll down a bit)

So happy, my dream of being printed on msnbc.com has finally come true! I spose I should post some sort of update...

Umm... yea... I... work... and... stuff... yup... (*checks watch*)

We'll be back right after a word from our sponser- Joe will get a life soon! Anyone wanna sponser me to fly somewhere in the world? I promise hijinx and hilarity will ensue!

2004-02-21T08:10:00.000-08:00

God save the Queen (but down with Scotland)

The following is a write up of my trip to the UK. Uh... So read!!! And Dan said I should post more... so maybe I'll post monthly instead of bi-yearly hehe...

DJ Franco and company

I contacted David J Franco to compose Music and SFX for a project with my old company (En-Tranz). We’ve kept in touch ever since, and he’s done some work on my new companies latest mobile projects. He was great, his family put me up for a day in Worthing, and his girlfriend let me crash in her room in London while I stayed there. This trip wouldn’t have worked without their hospitality; UK is kind of like the USA, not much getting around without a car.

We had a great time, I satisfied my desire for good Indian food, and we also had a chance to sample the best Duck I’ve ever had (sorry Hong Kong!). I love music, and David is an incredibly talented musician. Can’t wait to hear more of his stuff in the future. We shared many quality laughs, and he introduced me to Sooty and Sweep and Button Moon, the epitome of questionable British children’s culture.

I fell in love with the HMS Belfast

I don’t know why, but I’ve always loved naval history… So I’m doing the standard Tower Hill area tour and see a ww2 era battleship docked in the Thames River. My camera and heart immediately became fixated on it… I would walk around taking pictures of the London Bridge and other stuff, and then see a closer / cooler shot of the Belfast, and would be drawn back to it… However I could not find a way across the London Bridge without paying, so I didn’t get to see it… Part of me wanted to save the Belfast tour as something to do when I return to the UK… So crazy I am…

I enjoyed the rest of the touristy attractions in London, although I missed some stuff. London has so much history, and at times it was pretty awe inspiring to stand in (what was) the center of the world for so long. Until the USA took over ;)

Hillsong UK

I didn’t even know there was a Hillsong in London. Mark told me about it while I was online on my 2nd or 3rd day in the UK… I was iffy on checking it out, but it’s Hillsong (super famous and everyone talks about it) so I decided to go. I walked in from the quiet drizzle of a London Sunday morning, and was almost blown backwards by the noise and energy… It made me want to run into a corner, there was like a thousand people all talking and singing and music playing… It was hard not knowing anyone, but some natives saw me sitting all alone and shaking, and thus they asked me to sit with them.

The service was similar to the Vine (where I went in Hong Kong). Lots of music, people filled up with the spirit, and good practical sermon with application to our daily walks. I still can’t imagine how someone would feel walking off the street and into the Mermaid Theatre (where service is held) and not having any warning about how God’s church is changing… It still blew me away, and I had gone to similar service before! (Although on a smaller scale)

Good stuff :) From what limited knowledge I have of Hillsong, they are a great example of doing big things… thinking big thoughts… Truly understanding that God is a great big God.

Dan n Mark

Before I left Hong Kong, Dan was lamenting that he’d never see me again. So I had to prove him wrong :) Mark put me up for a few days, and I got to spend some quality time with his father, who’s called daichopsticks for some reason. Marks dad is amazing, totally filled with the spirit, and it was great to hear about his involvement in the healing ministry. At times we have doubts about ourselves and the practical involvement of God in our daily lives… We see our selves unworthy of God’s healing… Mark’s dad helps people understand that God does not inflict pain to punish us. A simple lesson that so many of us having difficulty understanding…

Mark, Dan and I also spent quality time catching up, with both our Christian walks and life in general. Mark also showed me how painful playing a guitar can be (his guitar strings are higher then normal). Dan and I showed Mark how painful it an be to listen to a couple of out of tune gwielo’s singing… I got to know Mark lots better then before (we didn’t hang out much in Hong Kong where I met him). Amazing how you can just spend one or two days with someone and know them 400% better then before.

Four nil too the Sheepshaggers

(Football is placed in parentheses because we all know that true football involves a quarterback, first downs, and cheerleaders)

So Dan and I are in the Cardiff city center, chatting about something, and a group of Scottish fans walk up, chanting some Scottish song and showing off their wonderful kilts… Being the anit-kiltish American I am, I couldn’t help laughing at them. One walked over, and started talking in Scottish… Dan does a great impression, but I recon I would learn Cantonese before understanding Scottish… Dan said that the fan said something about Scotland beating Wales, but I didn’t hear… He gave me a chop on the back, which was pretty light, and I figured it was the Scottish way of saying “All in good fun”. Only later did I learn that giving someone a chop means that you want to fight them… It’s a good thing I was still giggling madly and didn’t say anything to him. I 'spose almost getting my arse kicked by a group of Scottish “football” hooligans is almost as cool as it actually happening… Jowy causes a “football” riot, what a story that would have been… Although I doubt Dan would have let those Scottish fans mess with my chiseled Italian good looks, was still quite an experience.

The football match was amazing… Dan started talking about how there might be 1 or 2 goals in the whole match, and then within two minutes of start, someone scores… And that same guy scored 2 more times before the game was over. Final score was 4-0, and everyone went home without burning down the stadium. I could def see myself getting into “football” if I lived overseas… It’s not as much about the game; it’s more about the energy involved… I have a new goal, and that’s to see a competitive world cup game… And to buy a giant “football” flag.

“Football” fans also love their chants… and Wales and Scotland hate England…and apparently people from Wales are called Sheepshaggers…

In order to fit into this match, we just yelled WWWaaAAAALLLLllllEeeeeSSSSS. The Scottish chant was in Scottish, so we choose to root for Wales. That, and our tickets were in the Welsh section.

Final thoughts

I scribbled this onto some paper as I was taking the train back from Cardiff to Worthing the day before I had to fly out.

Winding creek under hanging tree
Golden sun racing cross the sky
A weathered brick can speak to us
Of memories that will always last

For though we move at faster pace
O’er railway tracks across the hills
A lonely face will touch our hearts
All know that station, ages past

Now caught up in the tunnel dark
Awaiting light that always comes
Sailing through the bright green sea
Through winding creek and hanging tree

The English countryside is so beautiful, rolling hills, streams and quaint bridges… I can see how the whole romanticism movement could be inspired.

On a whole, my impressions of the UK were almost melancholy… Like a great figure, who is past their prime, but still clings to the glory of old. Their boots are dulled, uniform doesn’t quite fit, but in their eyes you can see they yearn for the days of old, but reluctantly accept the changes of time. It was a great blessing to stand in the city centers of these towns and cities that have been around for so long. My take on Asia was growing, new, shiny. England was dulled a bit, aging, but still beautiful. Still an amazing trip, no regrets…

Well my laptop is about out of power now; the return flight thus far has felt much shorter then the trip there. Maybe I’m finally getting used to flying. Wave to the airplane riding our wing!

2004-02-13T21:19:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day!

UK is cool thus far... It has history, and it feels strange walking the cobble stone streets of some towns that have been around for many hundreds of years... To walk the streets of what used to be the center of the modernized world...

Anyway, in the spirit of Valentines Day, I shall make a post... I scribbled it down right before I left, it's from a Message reflections book called "Daily Reflections". And I thought it was pretty neat! Everyone that has a special girl/guy, enjoy today, and for all those who don't, there is always hope for next year ;)

If I, deeply in love with another, begin describing with passionate appreciation what has been unnoticed or ignored by everyone else for years, some people around me are sure to dismiss me, “Love is blind.” They mean that love diminishes my capacity to see what is actually there so that fantasy, tailor-made to fit my desires, can be projected on another and thus make him or her acceptable as a lover. The cynical follow up is that if this did not happen, if I saw the other truly, I would never get involved. Why? Because everyone is, in fact, quite unlovely, either visibly or invisibly, or, in some particularly unfortunate cases, both. Love doesn’t see truth but creates illusions and incapacitates us for dealing with the hard-edged realities of life.

But the popular saying, as popular sayings so often are, is wrong. It is hate that his blind. It is habit, condescension, cynicism that are blind. Love opens eyes. Love enables the eyes to see what has been there all along but was overlooked in haste or indifference. Love corrects astigmatism so that what was distorted in selfishness is now perceived accurately and appreciatively. Love cures shortsightedness so the blur of the distant other is now in wondrous focus. Love cures farsightedness so that opportunities for intimacy are no longer blurred threats but blessed invitations. Love looks at one who had no “form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him” and sees there the “fairest of the sons of men… anointed with the oil of gladness above your fellows.”

If we could see the other as he is, as she is, there is no one we would not see as “fairest… all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.” Love penetrates the defenses that have been built up to protect against rejection and scorn and belittlement, and it sees life created by God for love.

Eugene Peterson

2004-01-18T22:42:00.000-08:00

THE PAST IS BELOW

Below has been a summary of my time overseas. I spose I'll post more updates in the future. Going to England soon, I'll try and get a digital camera for pictures.

2004-01-18T22:29:00.000-08:00

Goodbye Hong Kong

Due to starting my own company (and other circumstances), I left my job in November, and also had to leave Hong Kong. During my time there, I fell in love with the city, the people, the food, the skyline and all the other miniscule details that make the city so amazing. I dunno if I'll ever live there again... Not by my choice, but the direction my life is going, I probably won't end up there. I'll never forget my experiences there though... Just something simple like riding the 103 bus down the side of Victoria Peak in the morning was amazing... Getting to see the towering buildings, tram lines, crowds of people... It's just something that needs to be experienced.

I was so blessed to live there for a year and a half. It was incredible, and changed me in ways that I can't being to describe. Hong Kong is so alive, so filled with people from EVERYWHERE. It's funny how you usually don't really appreciate something in life until it's either gone or past. Sometimes I wish I could take back those days I spent sleeping in, or watching DVD's inside, and experience more of HK, spend time with people. What is past is past, and I'm happy for what I did get to do.

My last night in HK was a melancholy one... I said goodbye to friends, and went to have a few drinks with a few people. I walked home from Causeway Bay to the mid levels, just in awe of the city at night, at the tremendous size of everything... The slight midnight breeze... The occasional taxi speeding by... Hong Kong is my favorite city... And I don't think anything will ever change that.

2004-01-18T22:11:00.000-08:00

Testimony

At first I thought the reason I was in Hong Kong was because of my job. It wasn't until much later that I discovered God brought me out there to change me.

In a new environment you change, and I certainly changed, but at first it probably wasn't for the best. I made some big mistakes and ended up searching, depressed and seeking the typical easy solutions to life's problems. I actually accepted Christ (and felt the Holy Spirit) in the first October I was there, but lacking guidance, I fell pretty quickly. I spent months in limbo, between the dark and light, suffering because I had no mentors, and understood little of what being a Christian was about. My life hit bottom in the late winter, early spring, and I prayed for friends that could help me find God. My prayer was answered, and I found a small non denominational church called the Vine (http://www.thevine.org.hk)

It was hard at first, but the people there really cared about me, and pushed me towards confronting my personal relationship with Christ. It took awhile, but finally I submitted and put Christ first, as opposed to just "being" a Christian.

Jesus has changed my life. I was always afraid before becoming Christian (and even for a time afterward) about handing over control. I am a control freak, so to say "I give it up to you" was more then just another step. I was afraid He would take away my comfort zone, my methods of dealing with problems, and turn me into a missionary or something. He did rework my life, but made it so much better, as only He can. If anyone is afraid of change, especially the change that comes with giving it up to God, don't be. Change happens, and the further off His course you are, the more things will change. But they are ALWAYS for the better. Even if they don't seem to be at first.

It sucks I don't have any group pictures of the great people at the Vine, thus no posting here :/ But they are a great bunch of people, I miss them lots...

2004-01-18T21:58:00.000-08:00

Tookyoo desu

I was able to see three other cities in Asia during my stay in Hong Kong. One of them was Kuala Lumpur Malaysia (really hot), second was Shenzen China (really crowded and dirty) and the final one was Tokyo. Japan was by far the best, there are just so many cool things about Japan... I was only there for five days, not enough to really experience a lot, but it was enough to get a general gist of the city. On the first night, my manager and I wandered around one of the districts and ended up in the "Love Hotel" section. I had no idea what it was, and was pretty amazed at all the strangely themed buildings. Then some guy tried to sell us weed and we left, trying to find our hotel... It was near a Starbucks, and we learned that there are probably more Starbucks in Tokyo then any other metro area. We found it eventually.

I'm not sure I could ever live in Japan though... It might sound stupid, but as an ex smoker, I would last about a week there before lighting up again. EVERYONE smokes, there were ash trays attached to the toilet in my hotel room lol. Other then that and the language (which I could prob pick up after awhile), Japan is a really neat place. Best cars in the world, and I was blessed enough to get to ride in both a modded Supra and Honda s2000. Amazing :)

2004-01-18T21:44:00.000-08:00

WTF you moved to Tsing Yi?!

Ah yes... Tsing Yi was the second place I lived during my stay in Hong Kong. It's a Island between the Airport Island (Lantau) and the main city (Hong Kong Island). It's pretty out of the way, so I had the opportunity to see "real" locals, not just expats and western Chinese that dominate HK Island.

It was a mixed experience. I joined up with a group of locals to play basketball twice a week, few of them spoke English, but it was a blast. We traveled around and played other locals, and it was neat to stand out and be the only white guy. My apartment was very new, but I paid a lot for it (over 1000 USD). I would sometimes go outside to the pier at night and smoke, watching the ships go by and the Chinese fisherman trying for that big catch. Once, while I was walking to the local train station, I saw a fisherman standing by the water obviously fighting with something... A group of locals gathered around and started chatting in Chinese, this guy was SO determined to reel in whatever he had hooked. He continued to fight with it, and the crowd grew, and I joined them. Finally, the line snapped, and this guys heart broke. He started yelling in Chinese (probably profanity) and the crowd dissipated. I felt bad, to me it was just a fish (or tire), but to this aging guy, it was his chance at fame.

I stayed in Tsing Yi from September until March. And then played the typical "gwielo" and jumped on my lease early because I was tired of paying so much money/time for the commute to work on HK Island.

2004-01-18T21:28:00.000-08:00

40 cent

Hong Kong was the first time I ever went to a club or experienced night life. My previous life as a computer n3rd prohibited stuff like that. HK had some pretty amazing nightlife, including the wine room at the above club (Felix), on the 20-something floor of the world famous Peninsula Hotel. The coolest thing about this place was the bathroom, which was all glass, 360 degrees around. The urinals were placed against the glass so when you took a piss it looked like you were peeing on the city... lol... Ya it sounds bad, but that's what stood out to me. That and the guy that stood by ready to dry my hands. What can I say... I was uncultured heh, stuff like this was cool :)

This night sorta ended my intrigue with hard core partying... Nightlife is attractive on the outside, but on the inside is filled with a sense of desperation, drugs and drowning sorrows in the wonderful world of hard liquor. I won't publicly comment on some of the stuff that went down this night, but it made me rethink my first few months of going out and being "one of the guys".

2004-01-18T21:20:00.000-08:00

There are Pink Dolphins... really.

My body still torched from the last boat trip, I went with a coworker, Junior, and a visitor from Japan to go Dolphin watch. Nothing totally interesting happened, but we did see Pink Dolphins... It was a bit strange seeing ANYTHING alive in the waters near Hong Kong. The factory pipes and airport made a nice backdrop to the Dolphins. They were pretty smart though, following fishing ships and stealing fish out of the nets. Oh, I also ate Pigeon for the first time later that day. It was actually pretty good, but not lots of meat.

2004-01-18T21:07:00.000-08:00

My first day in Hong Kong

My first day in a foreign country and I almost died. True story :)

After an exhausting flight from Philly to Hong Kong, I met my manager at brand spanking new Hong Kong International Airport. I hadn't slept in about 40 hours, but was so excited that I didn't feel tired. My manager Josh (Junior) took me back to HK Island, showed me my tiny apartment, and let me shower and rest up. I spent the time unpacking, and a few hours later he took me to a company holiday boat trip.

I thought I would be cool and lie up on the top of the reflective junk boat. It felt great, the mid summer sun warming my body. I wondered why everyone else choose to stay below in the cabin. I found out a bit later that the sun in Hong Kong is a "wee bit" stronger then the sun that services the Northeast United States.

We arrived at one of the many small islands that surround Hong Kong and everyone jumped into the water. Me, not wanting to seem like a dork, followed them in. I'm a pretty good swimmer, my house in DE had an in-ground pool and I spent the better part of my childhood swimming. I followed the company CEO to shore, hoping for some one on one time to talk to him about the position and stuff. I made it to shore just fine, but after talking to him for a few minutes, he decided to swim back to the junk boat. I followed, and midway there, my body just stopped working... No other way to describe it really... I hadn't slept in about 45+ hours, and even though I felt wide awake, I was exhausted. Rather then be smart and float, I panicked and started to go under. I swallowed lots of water, but luckily the Pres was close to me. He shouted for a life preserver, but everyone thought it was a big joke, and only got serious when he started yelling. Obviously I didn't die, but it was pretty scary. I then floated back to the boat and emptied my stomach for about an hour. My body turned red from the sun, and the picture above was taken on the way back home. My first day in Hong Kong was a winner :)

2004-01-18T20:54:00.001-08:00

Testin'

2004-01-18T20:54:00.000-08:00

Testin'