I guess I was recently disturbed about how people
want to boycott the Olympics in order to show China some form of political view
of which they are doing. I think it is good to speak out against world justice
and when a country makes decisions that are not in favor of the people for
those people to speak out.  But  don’t use a world wide celebratory
event as some political way to get your point across.

The Olympics are something for the world to see and celebrate the one time
every 4 years to get together in friendly competition. It is the one time when
every nation can be proud of their athletes that have train long and hard for an
event such as this. It is a time when we all come together and watch and cheer
for the countries we favor or call home. It is an exciting and entertaining
time that will have both rejoicing and tears as the competition announces Gold,
Silver, and Bronze.

I am sad to see how we can take such an incredible event and use it in a
political way to show our points of views. The world is not blind to what is
going on. I am in no way justifying or saying we should turn our focus from our
personal views, but to remember that the Olympics should not be used in such a
manner. We have heard in the news and from the media and so on.... WE KNOW WHAT
IS GOING ON, and I'm sure the world does as well. People are intelligent for
the most part and we like to know what is going on. The issues at hand are
already present, the Olympics are only approaching.

Beijing was
selected by a committee of the Olympic Games to hold this awesome display of
human athleticism, and I don’t think they did it so that we could then use it
politically. If the games were in Germany,
Japan, South Africa, Brazil
or Canada
I don’t think we would think about boycotting them to this display. Beijing has been honored
to hold these games and I think that they should be given there fair chance.

When I traveled to China
a few years back I saw major constructions in multiple cities to improve the
infrastructure and quality of life be performed in preparation of the Olympics.
These games have caused a great deal of change for the better already, yet
there are those who think only see what the headlines and media portrait. Go
there and travel there and see for yourself. I also went to Tibet, and I
never saw for my 1 week there a Chinese military personal mistreat anyone as I
roamed the streets. Sure there was poverty and the public services were
limited, but they all seemed to be content with what they had and where they
were. I saw construction of new buildings and improvements being made around
the city. It seemed that much good was going on.

Those participating in the Olympics for their countries this summer have but
one chance to do something spectacular at their peak performance, like break a
world record, or make perfect scores. Please let them represent their
countries. Keep your views going I encourage you, but do not relate something
so special so extraordinary to Politics. The Olympics are something to watch
with excitement, it is a happy time. Don’t drag politics into it.

I remember my grandma used to make me drink the
"delicious" Chinese herbal soups when I was a kid. Her encouragement
would be, "It'll make you fly." She was referring to me playing
soccer at a young age. I knew I wouldn’t fly, but I knew there was a good
chance of the soup flying out of my mouth upon tasting it. I guess in the end
it was supposed to be the health drink to nourish my body.

I think many times in life we have decisions to make and we like to think about
them more as the moons pass by. Time makes us more mature, for the most part,
but we tend to make more educated decisions as time goes on. The decisions we
face each day are all unique to our situations; some being routine, some tough
and some random. But the begging question is, "What to do?"

I make choices based on what is best given the situation and for most of the time;
I'm looking out for me. I think about the consequences of my decisions both good
and bad, most of the time playing it safe. For some reasons I like to pick the
risky ones, just to see what might happen or to spice things up a bit. I figure
its a lot more interesting being on the weak side or a point as to see a
different point of view.

Making decisions is a part of life and I think we all understand that at one
point in time or another. I think that often try to predict the outcome or
manipulate the outcome for the best outcome, or at least what we think is best.
We choose where we will go or what we will do or how to approach something, in
order to obtain the results we desire; and sometimes things go our way and
others times they go other ways. We never always know, but I'm sure we'd like
to some of the time when we do decided.

Decisions and more decisions bring answers and well, more answers. This will
ultimately determine what works for us and what doesn’t, what we like and what
we don’t; most importantly who we are and why. Decisions derive personality and
personality derives friendships and people we become. We only absorb things one
way, we drink it.

So if I drink this will I feel better? Only one way to find out, I hope it goes
down smooth, and if not I can always try another Chinese herbal soup.

This post dedicated to my friends making those decisions of what beverage to
consume today. =D

I dont quite get why we have memories that somehow eat you away inside once in a while. It's like we are busy with something and then somehow some reminder or image of something triggers a emotional reaction that brings up a memory of the pass that is uncomfortable. We try not to think about it or dwell on it, but the fact of the matter is we do. Maybe for a sec or a min or an hour or however long.

I think that one thing there is one current memory which I have put to the past has constantly and continually annoyed me. Their is so many things that connect this memory and many of them are people, my friends. I get frustrated with myself at times as I want to be free of this torturous anger that arises from my one memory. Despite the fact that I know it cannot go away, but is a reminder and a lesson that I learned from, I just wish it could be washed away and erased. I kinda wish there was a procedure from "Enternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." But then my lesson and maturity from my memory would be erased as well.

I consider my memories to be in the past and try my best to drawout the "good times" or positives from them, as opposed to the hurt, anger or frustrations that they deliver so easily.
 I always say "treasure failure," since it is the times we learn the most, but also the hardest. I beleive that my extreme views on things enhances my emotions towards my memories. It is hard to beleive that we go through some of the things we do. We have our deepest and darkest secrets that hinder us each day as well, but these we are good at suppressing since they have been for so long. Health or not to do so is another topic.

Food cooked slow, like real BBQ or crockpots, brings out flavors and tenderizes food to be succulent and deleicous. The enhancement of these processes intensifies untill it is time to eat, thus consuming and feasting occurs. There is an alotted time to each process and usually the longer the more dramatic th change, but with memories or emotions they can brew no just of hours or days, but for years and even a lifetime.

We all need to setup the timer to say, "Hey, I think it's brewed for long enough" and it's time to put it out and have it "consumed" or dealt with. The long it sits the more intense it's "flavors" grow and the more dramatic the change occurs. Hurts, frustrations and bad memories are much the same. They brew into an anger and hatered.

So I need to decided how long to let this happen... If I count down from 5 I think I'll be okay.

Perhaps I should try stir frying or poaching more often.

So I was looking for top ten lists for climbing and I came up with this inspiration:

Top 10 Reasons to Date a Rock Climber.

1. We work through problems and come out on top.
2. We believe in not giving up.
3. We have more fun with rocks than most people
4. We have strong/big muscles.
5. We are very good with hands and feet.
6. We are very going out people.
7. We love nature.
8. We look out for those we are close to.
9. Nothing is impossible to climb to us.
10. We hang to what we love.

Sorry but I'm not currently looking.... but I would love to introduce to the experience of climbing so you can find a climber yourself.

I hate a lot of things and love a lot of things and I'm
sometimes confused exactly why I hate some and love others. I do know that I
hate trusting something that I cannot know the results of before hand and going
out on a limb. But I must say that when I step out of my comfort zone things
happen that I love. One of them is to trust God.

Many people know that I played college hockey and it is one of the things that
I will cherish for some time. Despite the short loved half season that I lasted
due to an injury I could have kept playing, but decided not too. Sure I didn’t
want to have permanent injuries for the rest of my life, but the ultimate
decision was basically God asking me to trust Him and see what he was capable
of doing in my life. It was quite amazing what did happen; my relationship with
my Dad improved significantly; my focus is life was pin pointed, and my major
in college changed. All because I decided to trust Him, before I knew Him. I wasn’t
even a believer at that time in fact I thought I was somewhat crazy for giving
up something like hockey as it was what I lived for in college, never mind a
degree... Get my skates and stick, drop a puck and let’s play.

But I chose to hang up my skates and trust some entity that I didn’t even know
much about and to the day still don’t know much about, except that He has taken
care of me in ways that I often forget. Through the low of the lows and the
high of the highs He has been there. Easier to remember Him in the good times
and forget Him in the sad times. The angry times I would hate Him and in the
sad times I would look to Him. So no matter what happened, I can see that He
was there. When could walk on my own I would follow and my burden was great, he
took some of the load off, and when I could move no more He carried me. He
would never forget me or forsake me because I am His child and he reminds me
how much he cares for me and loves me.

I hate you for what you created. I hate the fact that you gave me an stoppable
spirit that will not quit or ever give up. I hate that you made me strive for
goals that are, to me, unachievable. I hate that you gave me the ability to
push myself beyond physical and mental pain and push through with the power of
my heart, my true strength.

I hate you again for asking me to trust you again. And I don’t know why I want
to or will even consider it at this point as I am somewhat happy and content
where I am. But you don’t want me to comfortable. You say you have a better
plan for me. I hate you!

But I remember what you did when I first trusted you and how my life changed
and how it hurt so bad to let it all go; to walk away from it all, to follow
you somewhere where I don’t know. To see you mold me and make me into what you
had originally planned. Your words are soft and gentle as you whisper and I
remember how much you want me to trust you and I hear your voice speak.
"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, not to harm
you. Plans to give you hope and a future."

I will do what you ask again, and again I know I will suffer, but I trust you.
I will need your strength to do what you wish as I am weak and I cannot do it
on my own, nor do I want to.

and when you climb... keep this is mind...

+ 2 Lai Cee's

I don’t know exactly why I decided to write on this topic,
but I did. I think a few recent events while talking or communicating with
people made me think a bit about valuing friendships. I am guilty of both
valuing and throwing them away, unfortunately. But what I find most important
is what I learn from these experiences. Not to say that every experience was a
good one, but to say my decisions were the most valuable to learn from and I
figured I would share a few.

Estella texted me out of the blue a few weeks ago and said “thanks
for being my friend.” I was puzzled at first why someone would say that out of
the blue, but it is simple. My friend cared enough to express that our friendship
was meaningful. Many people that we meet over the years we will regard as
friends, but how meaningful was that friendship? More importantly are we still
friends today? To what Degree? Thanks for being my friend too Estella, you
rock!

So I thought about my best friends growing up. Two come to
mind without thinking Damon and Frank. Damon I met in 2^nd Grade and
I was introduced to Frank through Damon. I can remember all the good times and
stuff we did together throughout the years and I value of having someone there
to chill and talk or just “pass the puck around” with was very valuable at a
young age as young boy I would like to play all the time; pretty normal and
all. But as time went on we went our separate ways. After Elementary we all
went to different middle schools. And then to different high schools and then
different colleges. But still great friends that grew up with.

I valued the fact that for most of elementary I hung out
with Damon as if he was my brother until we went to different schools. I remember
late night video games, Abantey, and exploring the neighborhood together. It
was very valuable to have made a friendship such as this as I got to learn how
to socialize with someone and really get to know them from the beginning.
Despite not hanging out regularly after elementary, when I do meet up and hang
with him it’s pretty much on that same level almost 15 years ago.

On the other hand despite going to different schools after
elementary, me and Frank as hung out and were on the same hockey team. It was
good times playing hockey together and when we usually hang out something about
hockey will come up. All throughout high school we dominated the league with
countless championship wins as well as tournaments too. I remember our team going
something on a 33-1 streak at one point in time. To this day we’ll still get
together, something which I value a lot.

The other thing that was said to me that made me want to
post this is what my dad told me over the holidays. “Good friends are hard to
find.” I thought about it and it’s true. Good friends are hard to find. You can
have lots of friends, but how many friends would we consider close to us, and
call them a “good friend.” We meet a lot of people, but to have really good “solid”
friends, they are few and far between. Some come and go, other just disappear and
some turn into enemies or acquaintances. We should value those around us that
are good friends and express it more. I know I could that a lot more. I have
turned my back on perhaps 2 people that I consider to know me very well do to
my pride and they know who they are. I feel bad, but I made my decision and I don’t
think it was the best, but I did what I needed to do. Sometimes I wish I had
done otherwise, but I learned from it.

It don’t think we can pin point what exactly makes a
friendship valuable, but I think we can appreciate out friends for what they do
for us in those times of need. Sure we can say it’s the fact that we can tell
them anything, or they always are willing to lend a hand or they have always
been there, but every friendship is unique and thus pin pointing what make the
friend valuable is that uniqueness. Sometimes, its just a “Thanks for being my
Friend.”

TO ALL MY FRIENDS:

“Thanks for being my friend through the years”

67%

I need to own some guns and stock up on can goods =)

-Langston Hughes