So I haven’t blogged in a while... mainly because I’ve been super busy w/ stuff, like school, fellowship stuff, vball, outings, etc. Since the last time I blogged, I did activities I have never done before! Things like:

• Rock climbing
• Latin dancing lessons
• Clubbing with the vball team
• Jogging on the Boardwalk
• Played 1st base for softball
• Hung out w/ Monday-night vball guys
• Paintballing
• Went to a pub w/ a big group of church peeps
• “Swimming” at the Manulife Centre Goodlife w/ Asako
• Played indoor beach vball
• Went to YukYuk’s

Good times...
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Jog Progress Report:
I RAN 10.2 K ON THE TREADMILL!! It took me 68 minutes of straight running.
On a different day, I jogged from my house to the Food Basic’s @ V.P/Sheppard and back again.
As for my outdoor report:
Through intense measuring of my neighbourhood on MapQuest, I discovered that I’m only running a little less than 3K before I can’t go any further. That takes me a good 25 minutes to do.

relieved

I knew the lump was one of the 3... thank God it wasn’t #3. It was an enflamed lymph node! It was most likely caused by shaving and bacteria got under my skin, thus making the lymph node swell. Gross, eh? But apparently it’s somewhat common... it’s supposed to go away in a week or 2. o_O

I went to jog with Will J at the beaches today! First time there only to jog. It was great; there were so many people (of all ages) simply jogging and being active... makes me want to be healthier. =o)

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Jog Progress Report:
5 minutes of a light warm-up jog, then stretched.
10 minutes regular jog, and then walked 5 minutes,
2 minutes of fast jog, then walked for 5 minutes.

even giants fall

What’s worse than discovering a bruise on your body, that got there without you knowing? ... I’ll tell you what's worse... discovering a lump.

This morning in the shower, I found a lump in my right armpit. IN – not on.
It’s like the size of a pea, it’s hard and it doesn’t hurt. You can’t see it if I were to just lift my arm, but you can definately feel it.

I’m getting it checked out on Tuesday at a walk-in clinic. Mother said it should be nothing, but as much as I respect her and hope she’s right, how does she know?

From what I’ve learned, I think it could be 1 of 3 things:

1. a clogged &/or swollen sweat gland
2. an enflamed lymph node
3. cancer

If you have time, please pray for this... I know I shouldn't be, but I’m scared...
-_-"

not pedophilic tendencies

Yesterday, my volleyball team (THE COURT JESTERS! WOOT!) took me out for drinks and eats at Fox & the Fiddle. Good times, might I say. Would it surprise you if I said I was the youngest one? What if I said, 2 of them are 4 years older than I and the other 3 are 7 years older? Sounds a little more unusual, doesn’t it? I’m 20, they’re 27... when they were 20, I was 13 (but obviously, I didn't know them at the time)...

I’ve played with these people for almost 2 years now and I still can’t get over that fact... but if I’ve learned anything from these people, it's that friendship is only skin deep if age is a distinguishing feature. I learned that no matter how old or how young some people are, as long as their personalities match; it’s all good. What is age, but the time spent since leaving a mother’s womb? It doesn’t always determine how someone acts or thinks... though most believe that everyone hits “maturity” in their mid 20’s, than their lives are only busied with their career, independence, and (present/future) family.

That’s not the case, I imagine. It’s like, when I was 16 and anxiously looking forward to losing the “girl” title and becoming a 19 year old “woman”... and than being hopelessly disenchanted when I realized it felt like I was still 16. AND THEN realizing I look exactly the same now as I did then... man, that is a real heartbreaker... where are my C-cup boobs?! *ha ha* (I’m only half kidding, btw... *heh heh… huh... >_<)

Anyway, the moral of the story is: don’t do drugs.

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Jog Progress Report:
I jogged for 11 minutes, 7 minutes @ 5 km/h and 4 minutes @ like 3 km/h.
It was a lot easier! Symptoms:
Ear ache (from wind), slightly light-headed for a short while...
10K Run, HERE I COME!
^_^

R.I.P: adipose tissues

Say goodbye to:

• XL bowls of Pho
• 4 double-cheese burgers in one sitting
• 3 jr bacon cheese burgers
• Getting my money’s worth at buffets
• Ice cream for breakfast
• Extra buttery potato goods
• Bumming around on nice-weathered days...

BECAUSE yesterday, I heard my most dreaded comment I had tried to avoid my whole life... and it came from Brian’s mom... on my birthday...

(Translated from Cantonese to English:)

"WA! Julie-a, did you get fatter?"

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! IT’S TRUE!! IT’S ALL FREAKIN’ TRUE!! I DID!!!! MAMA NOOOO!!! -_-"

My face is a little rounder; my muscles are a little softer; my pants, a little tighter... and the scale that never lies... DANG IT!!!!! All those days, gently stepping on the scale (thinking it wouldn’t go as high if I did so), fooling myself to believe that I didn’t gain THAT much weight... has been SLAPPED AWAY WITH REALITY’S CALLOUS HANDS!! WHACK!!
“…hey guys, look over there... there goes my dignity...”

My action plan of summer 2005:
I’m going to run the Nike 10K run (May 29)... non-stop. My new training schedule is to (try to)run 20 minutes a day, at least 3 times a week.

I know you kind-hearted souls out there will try to tell me I’m not fat or I don’t need to lose weight, BUT please don’t do it – don’t tell me. This, technically speaking, is also a healthy living issue. And, also, I don’t take comments about my physical appearance well (positive or negative)... so if you want to help, just pray that I won’t lose my motivation.

As often as it’s affirmed through media; a women’s self-esteem, is directly proportional to their self-worth which is constructed by the amount/type of criticism on their weight and appearance. This isn’t true for many women these days, but I confess that I do have this problem. I can’t take criticism; complements make me prideful, insults make me distraught. What else is there to do than to not say anything at all...

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Jog Progress Report:
Today, I ran for 9 minutes, about 4 km/h & walked the rest of the 11 minutes.
I practically passed out by the end of it – symptoms:
Light headed, saw black spots (for about a minute), numb legs (3 minutes), aching eardrums due to wind (8 minutes), tough time inhaling (5 minutes), chest pains (2 minutes)

about blogging

I probably sound like a very depressed, short-termpered pessimist according to the way I sound on my blog...

Don't mean to scare you; I'm not usually like this. In fact, 95% of the time I'm in LaLa Land; laughing my brains out with bunnies and sunflowers.

I just feel that stories are more entertaining for the readers when the author is at the very climax of their emotional state. i.e. enraged, ecstatic, miserable, etc. That's why I usually blog sporadically about things that really impact me (or things I feel compelled to share). So, I hope it doesn't seem like I'm yelling at you all the time... because I'm only doing it occasionally, when it really matters at the time. You're my ventilation system!

So now you may be thinking, "Who is she talking to when she refers to 'you'?!"

*heh* ... wouldn't you like to know... O_O

O

The Oracles…
What comes to mind when you think of this team?
That they’re “hardcore”? “Snobby”? “Over competitive”? “Only cares about winning”? Something along that line?

Well, let me tell you that I know what it’s like to be an Oracle firsthand and I can tell you that you’re all wrong. People (Christians and non-Christians alike) judge us so negatively when they are too close-minded to see past rumors and lies. What have you seen beyond the playing field?
Have you seen that we all go out to eat and chill during the week and after games?
Have you seen the msn conversations between players out of the softball?
Have you seen the closeness and the bonds that were formed and left unbroken after the season has ended?
Have you seen the tears, the sharing; the love that was poured out after our last game?

People have said we stack out team every year. Their proof is how everyone plays well. But did it ever occur to them that the reason is because players WANT to learn and coaches WANT to teach them? There are so many players who have never touched a softball, but because they wanted to learn and they tried their best, they looked like they can play. Oracles don’t ask us to be superstars. They don’t ask us to even have experience. All the Oracles want is for every player to try their best. Make an effort; to make games, practices, outings, but more importantly, make an effort to know each other.

My memories (most recent season):
- I remember talking to Steve O online before I even met him. He was so fun to talk to and we added each other to all these online communities and stuff.
- The 5 girls – Allison, Bernice, Sam, Judy and I – would do these only-girls hang out times to watch movies and for dinners and stuff.
- There were nights when all the people at practice would time each other to see how long it takes for each person to run from home plate to 1st base
- Matt had his pants fly off while he was running... he was THAT fast. = )
- Joe had iced tea split on him when we were at Swiss Chalet
- Everyone wanted to bat all the time in practices and we’d try to go until we absolutely couldn’t.
- Sam asking to be drilled; tossing balls quickly at her & her running around to catch them
- Judy willingly making all those little candy packages for all the teams we played
- Dan making up a cheer for us to “Jump! Jump!” and tossing Thumper around

How I’ve changed?
- I learned that a group of strangers can become family in the span of 2 months
- I came to realize that no matter how many times people say they “don’t judge by appearances”, they don’t truly know until they’re your friend.

Every year I was an Oracle, this team wasn’t just a team; it was family. MY family. Say what you will about us, but until you become an Oracle yourself, everything you say are just assumptions.

you wonder why

i think someone's true colours show when they are in the midst of their problems with you. how do you handle your problems? i forget them. it's scary how easily i can forget milestone problems that have occurred in my life... it's easy to do when someone has been doing that their whole life. forgetfullness CAN be practiced; it can be trained and mastered.

do you think you really know me?

i don't think you do.

because if you did, you may not want to be my friend... how much of this can you take? before you become so disappointed and frustrated with me, until a friend is lost? how much of me, not learning from my mistakes, can you take? how many unintentional "lies" can you handle? how many times of it appearing like i don't care, can you tolerate?

do you understand me?
do you accept me?

do you forgive me?

i'm sorry, i'm trying...

just be quiet

I find that a common tendency within a group of friends is that, when one person in the group hates someone; everyone else will eventually dislike that person also. It doesn’t matter how nice that person is to other people within that group, that individual is still ostracized.

All this ‘he said/she said’ crap is annoying. Stop talking about situations that don’t involve you, nor do you have all the information to. You think you’re getting all you need to know from one side of the story? YOU’RE WRONG. You hear one side and you choose that side to back up. What’s worse is when you get the opportunity to hear the other side, you dive into the conversation with these preconceived notions of how the other person is and what you hear is skewed…

And at the origin of gossip is the “victim”. The person that (more often than not) conveniently leaves out certain details and twists words to have the audience convinced that they are the innocent party in the whole tribulation. This plague of words spreads onward to more and more people and IT WORSENS! WHAT WAS ALREADY DISTORTED MUTATES FROM EAR TO EAR UNTIL THERE’S A WHOLE MASS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO BECOME BLIND TO ANY POSSIBLE TRUTH!!

WHAT DO YOU ACCOMPLISH BY GOSSIPING?? WHAT?? TELL ME!! The satisfaction that you’re “apart” of a problem you’re somehow indirectly related to? The pleasure of ridding your boredom by talking about others? The approval of your peers who also heard the same BS?

You don’t know anything and you judge.

a normal blog

Keeping up with The Choanator, eh? Actually, a lot has been happening lately, so without further a due, here are negatives and positives of my past week (in chronological order):

The Bads:

• my snow pants that were ruined by sis’ co-worker left my butt wet all day @ Tremblent
• argument w/ sis about pants on Monday
• got my wallet stolen on Tuesday @ the York gym
• over-worked my busted ankle @ the gym & it started to hurt again
• was de-friended by a past friend
• removed a small snail-like rock from my back… o_O (feel free to ask if you want details.. it’s quite disgusting) How attractive am I now?!?! *ha ha…huh…hum…

The Goods:

• Tremblent was AMAZING (despite the wetness)realized that a pair of pants is just a pair of pants and it’s not worth the tension between my sis and I
• realized that a wallet is just a wallet and something like this shouldn’t bring the rest of my day down. In the end, it’s only a hassle to get ID back… it’s not worth my unhappiness. Glad to be alive
• God revealed Himself to me again. He’s so refreshing! =o)
• still talking to de-friended friend… but it’s kinda awkward
• finally got some church-time in me (TITUS)… man, did I miss church…

LIFE IS GOOD, EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T REALIZE IT

life goals of this lifetime

We all have our life goals and these are mine. But if I happen to die before I fulfill them, it's okay, I can do them in Heaven... and when I die, I better not see one sad face at my funeral because I will be next to God. What can be cooler than that?!

Anyway, in no particular order (except the 1st one is my first priority):

• To discover and do God's will in my lifetime
• Learn how to play and master the cello
• Try all the different flavour Pocky in the world
• Write/compose a song
• Publish a book
• Hit a over-the-fence homerun
• Go to dad's grave
• Improve or contribute to the improvement of Canada's healthcare system
• Taste all the different mammal meat there is (I'm a true Chinese *ha ha*)
• Open a ice cream/coffeeshop lounge and invent a trademark dessert

the poison in my veins

Why do I want to hurt those who have hurt me?
… when Jesus forgave every sin I have ever committed and have yet to commit?

Why do I long for more material things than I deserve?
… when Jesus gave up everything, even His life, for me?

Why do I believe I know what’s best for me?
… when Jesus knows me better than I know myself?

Why do I blame God for the pain in my life?
… when nothing bad can ever come from God?

Why do I know what is right and wrong, yet still choose what is wrong?
My pride mutated into sins and I was helpless.

2 years later

Jesus became real and I was no longer a sinner,
but a saint.

… my strength was borrowed from God
And I was freed.

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death.

Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”

James 1: 12-18

FRUSTRATION

Open your eyes
___To a world of deception
Full of lies
___For our mental protection
Empty words
___Added to a collection
To fill the hole
___Created by neglection
What is real
___In a conversation?
When our minds
___Have no relation
And the truth
___Changes with perception?
Bitter pride
___Formed by corruption
With our sins
___Withheld from confession
Believing in
___A life without restrictions
Easy victims
___Of other’s manipulation
Falling into
___Deadly predictions
But tied up
___By internal discrimination

Only freedom
___From God’s revelation
___His great rejuvenation
___A life transformation

A turn head
___From a possible conversion
A stubborn heart
___Cold with determination
Clasped eyes
___Blind from withering affection
___Of fleeting exhilarations
…
___SO OPEN YOUR EYES!

a dead man's cross

I glanced at my mom while I stood inside the Baptismal tank, getting prepared to tell everyone in my church that I am a child of God and a new official member of the church.

She didn’t even look up at me.

My heart broke and mended itself as I was immersed into the water.
When I stepped out, the deacon asked me how it went... I expressed the joy of being baptized but inside it felt as though I had disappointed my mom in the worst possible way.

December 19th was the day I got baptized.
2 days earlier my mother agreed to come a 2nd time.
2 days before that she said I'd be rebelling against generations of Buddhists in my family if I get baptized.

“I’m so sorry... I shouldn’t have ever made you come... I’m so sorry, mom...”

With her eyes as red as mine, she reached into her purse and pulled out a small red container. “Your dad used to wear this,” she said, “so don’t say I never gave you anything on your baptism.” I cradled the container and twisted the lid open. Inside there was a solid gold cross pendant with Jesus on it, attached to a matching chain.

I broke into tears and hugged her tighter and longer than I ever have before.
Happiest day of my life? Unquestionably.

my "rap" of hope

We seek a life, that is made for purpose
But what do we find, and does it satisfy us
Our reputation comes first, so that no one could hurt us
We be nice to others, so that they won’t desert us

Media sways us, family tells us, that life would be this tough
Worrying about my image, is annoying enough
Girls need to be thin, while guys gotta be buff
Being alive these days, has us dying for lust.

People judging me, by common clothes I wear
Spending hours in front of the mirror, just fixing my hair
Need to look my best, try to get men to stare
But what bothered me most, was I really did care.
Life is not fair, I couldn’t bare, I couldn’t share,
who I am was masked, by so many fake layers.
I tried to conform, this act to perform,
but I guess the script torn, or got old with the worn
because playing this part, made me regret to be born.

What’s funny was this mindset, was formed back in grade 6
Put my finger down my throat once, wanna be bulimic.
Hurt so much and it didn’t work, got proof with my pics
I tried smoking then too, just for the kicks
Morals and fun, you know they just didn’t mix.
I had started a life, I thought no one can fix.

By jr high, I had started to go clubbing
Grinding and flirting, while my marks started hurting
Punking off strangers and constantly cursing
Mastered 5-finger discounts, because I had it rehearsing.

By high school, I had tried my first drug
Dropped ½ an E, at a rave with my bud
My friend didn’t stop me, I had my rep to think of,
Had my pride to build up, because I didn’t feel loved.

I looked up to a sister, who comes home at 3
Have a brother who got for her birthday, 2 dimes of weed
I was brought up by a mom, who didn’t know anything about me
A dad who didn’t live long enough, to even be ashamed of me.

So why keep trying, when I’m living I’m dying
the world keeps lying, those lies I’m buying
That I can be happy, if the real me is hiding.

But God found me, broken and needy
Not for something worldly, something to change me
To make me happy, to finally free me
From a life that eats me, with deeds I can’t flee
… once skeptical, but now I believe.
… once in bondage, but now I am free
… once empty, but now filled by the heavenly.
I do good deeds, but not ‘cause he asks me,
But I want to see, that Jesus is happy
Smiling above me and proud to have me.

He bled for me, it’s the least I can do
He died for me, murdered innocent too
I do love Him; it’s His will that I choose
It’s not required to do,
But if I don’t, than it is I who will lose
Because the path that I choose, will be banged up and bruised
But with God in my life,
there’s nothing,
I can’t
do.

Reasons for depression

I've had a bad couple of weeks... it's like that feeling you get when you're looking forward to something for the longest time, and when that day finally arrives, you realize that you were waiting for nothing. that's how i feel. i know i post up many lists of things, but i'm not gonna stop now... 'cause full sentences take too long.

why i would be depressed:

• lost my wallet on saturday... (fat, black Esprit, if anyone see it)
• bombed an exam. not the typical asian "bomb" where they end up getting a 70%, i mean fail. ppl try to comfort me by saying, "oh julie, you don't know you failed..." but i do know. i looked at my notes right after.
• messed up sleeping hours. i sleep at 4 am on a regular bases these days... like i want to sleep, but i can't, so all i'm doing is rolling around for hours... i hate that.
• baptism?? what baptism?? ... mother and i got into an arguement about it... might be called off. i don't know why she agreed before when i asked. ugh... maybe i'm suffering the consequences for something i haven't realized yet... maybe i haven't been dependant on God?
• my devotional life and prayer life hasn't been the greatest... probably 'cause of exams and essays and professors that can't teach... and 'cause i've been putting other things first... ~sigh~ why are you placing blame on other things, julie? obviously, it's your fault.
• accountibility meeting was a little depressing too... seems like there are only bad things that come up to talk about. i need some joy to leech off of.
• haven't been talking to brian enough... but when is it ever "enough"?? so i'll just say, less than usual.
• i'm feeling kinda distant from everyone... as if i'm in a box and there are just photos of all ppl i know stuck up on the wall... all i can do is look at them, know that they're there, but unreachable.

i don't know why i feel so bad, it's been a while since i've had such an empty feeling. writing this blog, i can just sit and stare blankly at what i'm writing... and not really soak in what my hands are typing. i'm chatting, i think i sound happy on the other end... but what can you tell from a typed set of words?? for all you know, i could be laughing my head off this second...

Waddup with boys?!

So we know how i feel about girls. it's time for the boys...

but before i start, let this be a warning to all you males who may be offened: you WILL be offended. But you have a problem? Bring it. i'll be sure to highlite your name in my little black book.

now then, here is my list of why boys suck:

• you think you can get any girl --> it doesn't matter how hot, smart, young, old or whether she has a boyfriend, or whether she's a lesbian; you still think you have a chance.
• having manners is like your way of flirting --> we, ladies, should be accustomed to having our chairs pulled out, doors opened, and hearing "please" and "thank you"s... but we're not. BUT we should be. BUT we're not. and now you boys use manners as your "charm"... ~sigh~
• touchiness --> you cannot be touchy with a girl unless you know she welcomes it first... otherwise... you may be known as "that touchy guy" and that's not something to be proud of.
• "i'm too man to groom" --> no. no man is too masculine to groom. guys who use chapsticks (unless they use it like girls use lipstick), have short/filed nails, maintained facial hair, etc. are NOT sissies.
• BUT speaking of sissies, waddup with homofobic guys? and not being able to say whether another guy looks alrite? AND then there are the straight guys who say/do gay things. you guys know who you are. but i think only other guys get a kick out of it...
• too much "boy power" --> when the testosterone get too high in a group, the males become perverted, loud, and sometimes obnoxious. your attitude changes like day and night. you guys are the reasons why there's so much "girl power" around - to balance out the gender vibes. The only difference is, girls are on the other end of the spectrum; we become quite, isolated, and anti-male. What do you think we're talking about when we go to the washroom together?
• the amount you eat is insane --> you can be the smallest guy ever, yet have the appetite of an ox... and not gain a pound. that's why society has made the custom for males to pay the dinner bill, because you eat your meal and than the girl's. (it's too bad i'm the exception to the steriotypical girl... that's why i don't like people paying for me. *HA*)
• what is up with the bad boy image?! --> AHH! who wants a bad boy other than bad girls?! ... huh... oh... i see. o_O gross.

i know i'm bias and i'm generalizing, but there are less words to type this way. but for the most part, what i said was what i meant. there's only one "i" in "i"... it's all my opinion. so don't come to me with crying babies asking for my healing. you want to fight? than come.

why girls suck

it's a harsh fact, ladies, but it's true. a majority of girls suck (and i'm not talking about "sucking" litterally). you can disagree all you want, but i can guarantee that at least ONE of the characteristics i've listed below can apply to you. these things aren't permanent, we can change if we really wanted to... but it's in our nature.

no doubt that boys suck, but that's another chapter.

now then, here is a list of why girls suck (in no particular order):

• we expect things we don't ask for --> these things can be matericalistic (ex. a gift for petty occasions) or some kind of action (ex. opened doors, complements, etc.). when we don't get it, we're not seriously depressed, just a little disappointed.
• we never know what we want from people --> if we're upset at someone and they ask us what we want them to do, we don't know! it's like a "you should know"-typa deal.
• when we flirt or joke around, we expect the other party will play along --> it doesn't matter if you have a girlfriend or not, or if you're a girl yourself, it's manners to humour us.
• BUT going along with that, not every little action is a "subtle sign of affection"... we may just be friendly, not flirty. up to you to decide what is what.
• we're selfish and stubborn --> everyone's selfish in some aspect or another, but when we want something (someone), we'll do whatever it takes to get it (until we realize that there's absolutely no way of getting whatever it is... and this realization usually comes when it's too late).
• there's usually no logical explaination of how we feel, when we feel it (unless it's PMS). please don't think we' just trying to hide something or we're mad at you... because for the most part, there is no logical explaination to satisfy you. For example, if i say, "i'm not feeling too good today." Don't continuously ask me questions like, "was it something i did? was it something you ate? did you get in an agruement? is it that time of month? what happened?!" Guys, show your concern and comfort us, but don't be a broken record of questions.

That's about all i have thus far... if you have any comments, i urge you to respond. this way, i'll know who to add on my "to kill" list.

i have conformed once again

for the longest time i watched as my friends spill their hearts and guts into a blog page and subtly hint to me to go read it... though i do on occasion read them, i'd always prefer them to just tell me. would you rather hear a conversation directly from the person or through a webpage of words in a writing style they'd never use/say in real life?

now i have become one of them.

i want to experience the satisfaction of spending hours to write a paragraph or 2 about the messed up things i'm thinking or things that happen to me which, i know, only a handful of ppl will read.

if you're ready to step away from artificial norm of reality, than step into me.

-----

1 of 8 life goals: try all the different kinds of Pocky.
-->Today, i had the "Royal Milk Tea Mousse" Pocky... ~drool~