Dedication to our beloved grandpa who passed away recently. We Love You.

     Something that I hope me and my sister nor family wouldn't forget. For the past month, we dealt with hardships of losing our grandpa. His leave wasn't a sad one, but indeed a happy one. He lived a long life, endured pain, and now we're glad he's having a nice, long rest. 

     Every Saturday or anytime during weekends, we'd visit him from his home even to the day when he was sent to the the nursing homes. We remembered how he complained about the milk tasting like pee or coffee and calling chicken drumsticks "SEY GAI BAY" meaning like stupid dead chicken. He would fling and flop the drumstick around. Instead, we'd cook him a meal ourselves and saw how happy he was when those little round cheeks of his jiggle. How I miss those cheeks already....




     September 19, 2011. 8:05 PM emergency room, the announcement was made. I couldn't hold it in, being in the resuscitation room seeing the white bag. Everyone else started coming.
     We had our moments during that time and lots of flashbacks. Grandpa LOVED playing Majong. Sister remembers she promised grandpa to let him wear her graduation cap after college and I hope she will. I promised grandpa I'll get him a Majong set and put it beside him, and I'm glad I did. 
     
     Remember how grandpa used to visit us all the time when we were little and shove $2 in each of our pockets? Well, we shoved the money back down his pocket! =]

Grandpa lookin' gangster! 

    
     Burial day: before we left the funeral home to the mountains, we both stood by grandpa...to give him our one last smiles, saying our last memories and one more "Hi Grandpa!!" ='] We won't forget how handsome he was. Isn't he handsome? We had many friends who sent us flowers and came to give us their sympathies. Thank you all too. Our family is HUGE, therefore not everyone was present for the services. It hasn't stopped raining the past week, and it's still pouring.

     The rented funeral cars drove us and as a dedication to grandpa, a last tour around Chinatown, where he lived most of his life. "Spirit of the Dragon" is what we named the drivers. We admired how they signal and block rushing cars to not break the chain. This is where I admit, I was getting emotional in the car. I just kept silent.
    We gave our last bows during burial, and this is something I would never forget. It immediately stopped raining.....For a moment there, the first thought in my mind was, "Grandpa's happy now!" And the sun came out throughout the day.
    
He IS a jolly man now! He can finally reunite with grandma after 40 years! 

WE LOVE YOU GRANDPA! <33333

Love from ALL of us,

~Catherine and Jennifer

The Joy of Making Others Happy

"Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself."


     There is a reason we do volunteer work, bring flowers to a friend in the hospital, or buy a special gift for someone we love when we're out shopping: It makes us happy. Sometimes, in fact, being kind and considerate to others actually benefits us more than the people we're helping.
     Even if our activity starts out as a chore or an obligation, rather than something from the heart, it can become a joy to us, as well as to those who benefit from our efforts. Even if things are really vague and unfathomable to you, take that chance! You might miss out on a great opportunity!  


 
     Your objective for today is...Is there something you can do to delight another person today? It doesn't have to be big or spectacular. A simple message expressing how much you appreciate someone's friendship can be very powerful.
 
     Sooooo.....what are you going to do? =]

Keeping Perspective

"When I hear somebody sigh that life is hard, I am always tempted to ask, 'Compared to what?'" 


     We like to compare our lives to those of people we think are richer, smarter, happier, better looking, more famous. Why don't we have a house like the couple's down the street? Why aren't we doing better at work? Why can't we find the love of our life?
     We forget that there are plenty of people who look on us with envy. They would really like to have our job, live on our block, or enjoy our personal freedom. When we hear them talk about the things we take for granted, we remember that we have it pretty good after all. 

     It might sound corny, but it does help to "count my blessings" so I can pay attention to all the good things in my life. "I try to see the good in life, but good things in life are hard to find." -"It's Not Over" by Chris Daughtry. I sighed to everything before and longed to be someone else because it seemed so easy to dream and not take responsibility of life. But after all, this IS... my body, my mind, MY heart. 
     Every person has their own story captivated with drama, waves of emotions, hopes and fears. And therefore, the simple idea of perspective is the most valuable power for ourselves. Why? Because we can get so entangled in our own worlds we often lose sense of what's on the outside. 
     I have my own story, and there will be more stories coming forth. But I will keep in mind, the act of looking ahead at all the challenges that I will be facing will make me reflect on the past, yet look ahead at the same time with a sort of perspective that I forbid to allow fake confidence and encourage fear. Keeping and Changing Perspective! ^^ ~

Self-Talk

"People don't just get upset. They contribute to their upsetness."


     It's not the events in our lives that upsets us. It's how we think about them. If something bad happens, we may complain and fear we'll never feel better again.
     But someone else in the same situation might say, "Gee, that's too bad, but I know I can handle it." The same event, two different perspectives. We can't control many of the things that happen to us, but we can control how we react to them.
     I'd like things to go my way, but, really, there's nothing that says they should. I need to remind myself that I have what it takes to improve my mood...and my life.
     People fall in and out of love in unimaginable ways and in unfortunate events, things fall apart and waves of unbearable emotions sways. The first couple of steps, we collapse. Fatigue drowns and we're being dragged under. We hear our bosses complain and pose threats for our performances. Parents nag about the simplest things such as you taking care of yourself and their most common question, "What are you going to do with your life?"
     We get upset when we're going through events, questions or anything that goes against what we don't want to answer or to do. But how do we react to it? Do you keep thinking about it and let it constantly reminiscence around? Or do you shake it off and keep the track moving in an positive alternative?

I used to let things reminiscence around because it preserves a specific feeling I wanted to continue having. But reality snaps and I have to proceed. If you don't move on, YOUR world will forever be THAT small. And most importantly, you will not know how to really care for "The Self." I'm moving on. Where are you at?

 

Little Things: To Rise Above It.

"One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things."
     
     The faucet is leaking, we walk out of the house with mismatching socks, we run out of milk, we're low on gas, the yard needs mowing, we forget to thaw some meat for dinner. These sorts of trivial issues can pile up to ruin a day. But ONLY if we let them.
     We can't think big thoughts all the time, but we can keep the little things in perspective and not let their sheer numbers overwhelm us.
     I'm going to take a deep breath, maybe even two or three deep breaths....and remind myself that as annoying as the minor problems of everyday life are, I'm not going to fret about them.
     I have fretted about family before and even so often friends too. But I keep reminding myself, nothing is more important as to taking care of myself. That is MY job for myself. No one can take that. If the minor problems keep distracting me from my bigger perspectives, then my life would be HELLA tiresome and annoying; a real headache. Keep it simple. It's the way to enjoy life yet catching awareness in the process of learning.

I'm still hanging on. What about you? =]
   

Disappointment

A couple of months ago.....I made myself a bet about this day.
And what disappointed me, was the fact that I stood corrected. It happened without my presence.
Of course, the disappointment gets to me in bits, but I already know how to evade it due to an past experience.

It's time to look forward again.

Bad Luck

"Those that are afraid of bad luck will never know good."

     Life is a gamble. There's no way around it. We can't know good luck unless we're willing to risk having bad luck. And bad luck can come whether we take risks or not. Clearly, we're better off taking an occasional risk......if we want to learn, grow, and become a better person.

     I worry about what might happen to me, but I know I need to extend myself and take some chances if I am going to have a full life. 

     And sometimes when I feel these chances will risk me getting hurt, physically or emotionally.....I have already overcome the fear of flipping the coin, whether the outcome will be good or not. 

Are you taking any risks? O.o


Well today, I thought there was going to be a tornado because I see everything flying into the air and pigeons weren't flying straight. They were actually crashing around the buildings and thunderous rainstorm started. I thought my day was going to be depressing but it turns out I saw a bright side. I saw......a Rainbow. <33 After a bad storm, the beautiful weather will eventually appear. As like after an unfortunate event, greater experiences will be gained. Maybe the bad isn't bad after all.

The Simple Things...

     Really, the simple things in life for me, makes me happier than winning a lottery ticket. Most of our time are occupied by family, friends, work and so and after you come home, you plop right into bed. Even watching TV, cooking, or chatting on the phone takes up too much energy and brainpower (of course, eating is essential.) How do you know if you are enjoying the simple things in life?
     You would only know, if you hear your own thoughts or take a moment to pause and think. Then, start realizing it. 
     Photography of nature's beauty is most common, right? A ladybug nibbling away a leaf, a raindrop, sunset, a time...Simple life, for when me and my sister go shopping, we'd be happy to get 4 posters for $1 or a piece of candy for 5 cents. When we were babies, most of our toys were handmade by dad and our best toy were 2 water balloons. We were so poor that once mom gave us a bowl of jello, we'd scream in delight knowing that we'd still be hungry.....but still happy. I nearly forgot these simple memories.....
     How about saying something simple to a person? I've had friends and best friends before. And I just let them know or show them....whenever they shed tears, I"ll be next to them rubbing their back and say, "It's okay." Want to chat? Call me and I'll find them or I'll be there. Need a hug? This tree will be here anytime. Or simply say, "I'm your friend. You're my friend. I have a responsibility in this friendship. That's why this ship ain't gonna sink!" Or to parents, we all have trouble communicating with them. I do also. And although my words are harsh, I actually really do care about them. They just don't know.
     Simple things....a really significant memory of mine was a friend I had when I was in 2nd grade. On my birthday, she gave me a beautiful swan music box. It's been with me for... 15 years now; really old and antique looking. Why would I keep such an old fashion item? Well, it's the only way she can live in my memory. My dear friend.....who passed away.

     I kept letters that every friend had written to me. To me at least, there's a lot of feelings behind these letters. One sentence would make me happy. Something so simple that can keep a smile, would be worth it anytime.
     I've enjoyed a simple day. Plopped my headphones on, tanktop, shorts, sandals, and bopped my way across the bridge to see the sunset. No money spent, nothing returned. A person does not have to be materialistic to enjoy simplicity. They can have nothing and still live vividly among happiness. Came home and laid on the rocking chair with eyes closed and listened to the wind whispers. Now, I'm going to enjoy the sunrise.

What are the simple things in your life? =]

When Life Gives You Lemons

How I usually say it is:
When life gives you lemons...you SUCK IT UP and say, "OhHhhHh BaBeH! Where'd this taste come from? (referring to a situation, problem, consequence, etc.) How come you ain't sweet? Let me sprite it up for ya!!" (referring to an increase in motivation, better idea, etc.)

Or when I don't feel like making lemonade at times, I say:
When life gives you lemons, you lemons just taste better along with shrimp cocktails and a bowl of Vietnamese noodles. I eat you and poo you right back out like nothing happened!!! :]

How are your lemons tasting like? xDD

What's the love for everyone in your life?

     I'm not a love expert, but I want to share with you all, a singular definition now which I think cuts through all of the other pieces and makes love a fairly simple measure. Of course some would say, there's so many words and things to describe love, but how would you describe love if there were no words? In times we say so much "I love you" to people, phrase loses the meaning itself so to me at least....nothing can really describe love. Not even words are powerful enough....it's just words so we can understand each other (in our language, lol.)
     Love is not ONE thing. But the kind of love you experience in your life varies. The love that you have for your brother or sister is different than the love you have for your boyfriend or girlfriend, which is different from the love you have for your grandparents, or for your best friend.
     Love: "...the will to extend one's self  for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth."
     This definition makes it really simple to make sense out of...if it's really a loving relationship. And by spiritual growth, it means to help you connect your life to something bigger than you. Help you grow and develop as a person. Help you have meaning and purpose in your life and help you find meaning and purpose in your life and have it manifest in your life. And so a loving relationship, should do that. Being in a relationship with somebody that is a loving relationship should make you and your partner...or your friend, a better person. If it's not...then it's probably not love. It may be valuable, but it's probably not love.
     So, what does love mean? Well...love means:
- Knowing the person: It means, we have some level of intimacy. I understand who you are, you understand who I am.
- Caring about the person: That you care about the welfare of the person. You want their life to be better. And you work towards that. 
- Having a responsibility toward the person: Responsibility towards the person, this is part of the commitment piece that I have a responsibility that your life will be better because I'm part of it and conversely I know my life will be...and sometimes responsibility comes down to simple things like..."Yeah, I'll pick you up after school. (I don't want to), but I will" or "I'll take care of the kids here" or "I'll do the laundry." It's not just about you making me happy. It's about a responsibility to the relationship. 
- Having respect and dignity for the person: There's a lot of emotional abuse in the part. Dignity and abuse cannot go hand-in-hand. Physical and emotional abuse...can't be present if love is present. Physical and emotional cannot coexist with love.
- Accepting Imperfection: Accepting the imperfections, in fact, that's often times how we really know them. It's like I'm willing to share with you...those little weird things that I do or random crap I say. And....you're going to share them with me, because I trust you.
- Growth for both people in the relationship: And that this idea of spiritual development or moving towards something bigger, growth for both people in the relationship.

     So how's your love? LOL! =]  

Feel free to comment or AIM me your thoughts!

Facade

"Growing up in an environment without love, or receiving any in return. This would be upsetting, why'd you be angry. You would use anger to protect yourself. So you won't be hurt. But no matter how you try to build a facade, making yourself look like a porcupine...your innermost heart will still be fragile, right?" No matter how strong a person looks, the heart will always be the easiest to tackle, to hurt, to kill.

That Friend....

"There is that friend, 

that is so much a part of you, 

that you feel alone just thinking about the thought of her not being there.

There is that friendship, 

that has so much it is based on that nothing could ever dissolve or even threaten it. 

There is that friend, with whom you share so much history that one fight or misunderstanding rolls off nearly instantaneously, because one issue is so insignificant, and could never come close to shattering the bond. 

There is that friendship,

that cannot always be explained,

but only understood and cherished by the two people that share it. 

    

There is that friend, 

that means so much to you, 

that you honestly believe you would stop studying for a final exam, break a date with your crush of five years, or risk being grounded just so you could be there to lend a shoulder to cry on, offer a hug, or spend three hours sitting with her if that would make it all better. 

     

There is that friendship,

that has lasted through ten years of your life, and is still growing.

      

There is that friend,

who you can talk to about something that happened when you were eight years old, 

and she can relive that moment so vividly along with you. 

       

There is that friend,

that knows you as well as you know yourself,

and finds it special that you know her as well.

        

There is that friend,

who can make you smile through your tears,

or cry out of happiness.

         

There is that friend,

who is always there for you,

and just realizing that she would be there is more than enough to make it all better.

          

There is that friend,

who cares about clearing away your tears no less if you are crying over absolutely nothing or over something she may have done to hurt you.

           

I have a friend like that, and it is a friend that will always occupy a precious part of my heart." 

                                                                                         - Unknown

     I remember having this poem for my English class back in sophomore year HS. Didn't think I would keep it, but I recently found it in my closet. As I started skimming through it, tiny bits of flashbacks flowed into place. What memories do you have of your friends, and of me? Have they been true to you, any or all of the above? I'd miss 'em if I did. Wouldn't you? 

End of the world prophecy?

     Nuh-uh. Ain't gonna happen. I mean, the weather was just beautiful, with a few couple of drops but that ain't gonna stop me for a slight second and think I'm going to be gone forever. There's just so much for me to do and....it's not time yet! :] I've been hearing people selling their entire fortunes away and traveling far off to the other side of the world to avoid/greet the mighty rapture, but to their disappointment, haha! You're still alive! We all know that one person who's spreading around the wrong news, but sadly to say, he's not god and he has no right whatsoever to be spreading rumors and terror like that. First of all, in the bible, no one knows when these things happen >.> And secondly, god wouldn't do that. He loves us. I'm not religious, but seeing the people ranting and spreading fear in us around the world is just pathetic, and now that nothing happened, idiot-ism eh? Although it was fun that me and a group of "non-believing prophecy" friends gathered together after class to countdown until 6pm local time. We brought popcorn and ice tea and sat like we're watching the movies staring into mid air.Us: "6PM! *looks into the sky* .......*cricket chirps* O__O  Pfft! Yeah, right. End of the world my buttocks! Biggest quake? Chyeah right! Biggest Fart? OH YEAH! I saw people BBQing at the top of their roofs and also looked as if they're wondering if they'll see something too. 6PM hit and they all went back downstairs, lol. At least we get to chill on such a beautiful day after a week of constant raining.
     Aside from the stupidity of this, I do definitely see it will lead to a chaotic government/society. People made a fortune from this. I see people selling T-shirts on street "Judgement Day! May 21st!" and the after result T-shirts "Judgement Day Failure. Happy You're Still Alive?" Broadcasting stations probably made tons from viewers/listeners/audiences. Pet shelters full of abandoned pets T-T. I swear, almost everything that was quite useless in the society just skyrocketed in finances/money wise.
     Mockingly to say: I lived through 1994,Y2K, SARS, Swine Flu, Terrorism, May 21. What prophecy will I be hearing afterwards? What's next? I won't believe rumors with no solid proof. I ain't scared, BRING IT ON! >=]
   

YaY! I did ETT!