Sleeeeeeeeeeeep

Well, it's now 3:22am on a Sunday morning and for some odd reason I am wide awake. To kill time, I am blogging.

Possible reasons for my inability to sleep:

• 3 hours ago, we watched "The Invasion" starring Nicole Kidman. It was scary! Not as scary as some movies I've seen but it definitely is eerie.
• Heavy, constant downpour of rain hammering down on our roof
• 6 hours ago, we were playing the board game "Apples to Apples" with my wife's siblings. The game is tons of laughter and fun.
• Had LOTS of sleep the night before. When this happens, it's hard to fall asleep the next night.

Good night. Sleep tight. And don't let the bed bugs bite.

Phil Wickham

Phil Wickham is playing at Calvary Chapel of Pasadena on Sunday, February 17th at 6:00pm for FREE. He is a pretty well-known alternative/contemporary Christian artist. I saw his brother, Evan, open a Fernando Ortega concert in West Covina and he is pretty good too.

Mark this event on your calendar. It is a can't-miss opportunity. Pastor Xavier Ries will even deliver a short message afterwards.

Feminine?

After 3+ years of marriage, one must ask me: "Chowdown, are you now more in touch with your more feminine side?"

Being single, most guys don't really care all that about hair style, body image, clothes (fashion), fragrance, etc. I, for one, could have cared less about matching my shoes with my shirt and my socks with my pants. Now being married, my wife has taught me all of these things and more...

Granted, I don't subscribe to "Glamour" magazine (nor will I ever do so), but I now do have somewhat of a sense of style. You will never find me on the cover of GQ (nor do I really care) but I can pick out a nice shirt (sometimes) and wear it fairly well (looking at a mirror in a darkened room).

Also, I bought my first bottle of cologne (Polo Sport) when I was engaged. Before, I just used my natural sweet-smelling body odor as my scent. To my wife delight, she kindly persuaded me that I need help. Just this past Christmas, she bought me my 2nd bottle of cologne (and for some reason this bottle is much larger... hmmm).

Presidential Race

Before I begin, this is my first blog for the new year. I can't believe it's 2008 already. This means that I've known my wife for 6 years, which has just flown by.

It's interesting reading and listening to news about the 2008 Presidential race. Having a candidate who is pro-life and against same-sex marriage ranks at the top of my list of must-haves. This boils the race, in my opinion, down to being between Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee.

I cannot vote for a Mormon. I have nothing against Romney as a person, but I do not believe in the many things that Mormons stand for. Plus, in looking at the Bible and at the O.T. kings that ruled over God's people, God really wanted them to love and serve Him. It would be really difficult to have a president lead our nation under the true and living God.

Although Huckabee lacks in experience (and possibly knowledge) in certain areas, he seems grounded in the faith and a strong leader. He may not be the most qualified candidate but I believe that God uses are weaknesses and can turn them into strengths.

My vote is for Huckabee.

Will you be a Huck-a-maniac (as like a Hulk-a-maniac)? Ok, I have digressed to talking about the WWE, formerly known as the WWF.

Funny Moment

As previously stated, I am Chinese-American. But, I look more American than Chinese and only use Cantonese when ordering dim sum. With this said, let me tell you what happened on Thursday.

I ordered food from one of my favorite hole-in-the-wall-non dim sum-cheap-Chinese-food places. The place is family-owned and friendly. After paying the bill, the owner said "Happy New Year!" I responded with the same, but only in Cantonese. She looked up, and after second guessing herself, started smiling then chuckling. It wasn't a mean laugh, but one of more shock if anything else.

Well, needless to say that made my day. Very much amused, I drove off smelling the delicious aroma of chow mein and with a smile in my heart.

Chinese or Filipino?

I, a Chinese-American man, am married to a wonderful Filipino-American girl. After 3 lovely years of marriage, one must ask: "are we more Chinese or more Filipino?"

1. Food: we eat more Chinese food, period.
2. Church: we go to a white/hispanic church but on Friday it's a Chinese church.

(so far, that's 2 for Chinese)

3. Music: don't listen to either of which, but I have learned the tune of
"Nandito Ako" by Lea Salonga.
4. TV: don't watch either of which, but sometimes my wife would watch "Kababayan" on
Channel 18.

(now it's 2 for Chinese, 2 for Filipino)

5. Medicine: we both take "po chai" for stomach aiches. No Filipino "drugs" taken.
6. Grammar/Language: I have learned how to spell Philippines - it's not Filipines,
Phillipines, etc. - and Filipino - it's not Philipino, Fillippino, etc.
She can read/write/speak Tagalog. I can write "one", "two", and "three"
in Chinese. I think it's pretty obvious where this one sways.

(okay, it's 3 each)

7. Cooking: I cook Chinese stir fry and don't dare to try to cook adobo, pancit, or
any other Filipino dishes. She seldom cooks Filipino food but she uses a lot
of fish sauce, cilantro, ginger - so it's more Vietnamese if anything.
8. Clothing: I don't own any clothing that's Chinese and don't want to own any
Chinese clothing (or Filipino for that matter). My wife is the same.
9. Utensils: Chinese people use chopsticks. Filipinos use a fork AND a spoon AT
THE SAME TIME. I never eat the Filipino way. My wife used to eat the Filipino
way but I have "converted" her. =)

So, what is the point of this? There is no point at all! Just a bunch of interesting/not-so-interesting facts.

Bring Back "Christmas"

Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic are owned by the same company. And all three boycott Christmas. Old Navy doesn't sell Christmas gifts. They sell "holiday" gifts. They don't close their stores on Christmas. They close on "holiday." They don't observe "Christmas morning," they observe "holiday morning." They don't wish customers a "Merry Christmas." They wish them a "happy holiday." Old Navy boycotts Christmas. Old Navy even makes a joke of Christmas by offering video greetings called "Happy Chrismukkah."

Sign this petition to tell them in a kind and polite way that as long as they boycott Christmas, you will boycott Old Navy. For more information on other stores like Old Navy, click here.

And, for those of you who find the term "Merry Christmas" offending, you might want to listen to this and you'll then find "Happy Thanksgiving" offending too. After listening to this, if you find both offending, then this world is way too politically correct.

Funny Video

On a lighter note, this is one of the most funniest videos I have ever seen. Enjoy!

The Value of Life

Michael Vick received a 23-months sentence to prison for his involvement with dog fighting. Even though this is a senseless crime, what does this tell you about the value of human life, more specifically human fetuses? Thousands of soon-to-be babies are being killed. If Michael Vick's significant other had an abortion, would they get any sort of punishment? Of course not, but is this right? Society puts the value of dogs over the value of human beings. Very sad!

What else is more valued than human life? Endangered species are very well-protected. Many people find that trees are to be treasured and would risk their lives for them. And let's not forget the terrorists who kill in behalf of their religion.

What is this world coming to? I'm glad that there is a "better place" (aka Heaven) and a perfect God who has the final say.

LA Lakers