I've been listening to the Bible in my car in the mornings on my way to work. I really like it. After three days, I'm almost finished with Matthew. When I read the Bible, it's like I'm breathing in truth and Jesus. Like my body filters out the world and I breathe in what is true, the Kingdom of Heaven. Listening to almost an entire gospel, I'm reminded how differently Jesus did things. Reminded of his emphasis on faith and trusting him with miracles and in stormy seas. Reminded of his authority and how he rebuked the religious leaders in making it difficult for people to come to know God. Reminded of Mary Magdalene's extragavant pouring of oil on Jesus, perfume that was probably her dowry and an enormous amount. Reminded of Jesus dying on the cross and how amazing that was, that God came in human form and died, how the curtain in the temple ripped in half and there was an earthquake.
I seek to know You today, Father.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Death on the Nile update, and other thoughts
As I suspected, Linnette has been murdered. I actually think the betrayed friend Jackie and Linnette's husband Simon may have set the whole thing up to steal her money. Though going through with a sham marriage and then murdering the person just for their money does seem cold. Stay tuned...
I set my alarm at 3am the other night to try and see the full lunar eclipse. I did wake up, drag myself out of my bed, stick my head off the balcony but I couldn't see the moon. Usually at night it's been to the east but maybe it moved. I didn't see anything except the clock saying 3:01am. I rack the whole night up to not being fully awake and not knowing exactly where the moon was. But the pictures online taken by other wide-awake people are pretty.
I've been reading a lot of reports about Senator Craig's arrest. First thought - how is this only coming to the public now? He was arrested and pled guilty around June 11th. I'm confused about the delay. Any law ppl want to explain? Second thought - I think sexuality is more confusing than we want it to be. I don't think it's as simple as gay, straight, or bisexual. Could it be true that Craig* is not gay but has sex with men? What qualifies as gay? I'm not saying he's completely straight and these are false accusations (I'm no Republican) because it's clear he's been having sex with men (at least in airport bathrooms) for quite awhile. But I think the news community right now labels Craig as gay and how he's closeted and doesn't want to come out of the closet. And Craig gives a press conference saying five hundred times how he's not gay. I mean, I know he's a lying liar for all the denials he's made about the bathroom sex accusations and how he's still denying anything really happened. But maybe his sexuality and why he felt driven to have sex with men in bathrooms is more complicated. Which by the way, eww on any of those Senate guys. Yucky.
*Does anyone else have a hard time reading his name and not thinking "Craigslist"?
I set my alarm at 3am the other night to try and see the full lunar eclipse. I did wake up, drag myself out of my bed, stick my head off the balcony but I couldn't see the moon. Usually at night it's been to the east but maybe it moved. I didn't see anything except the clock saying 3:01am. I rack the whole night up to not being fully awake and not knowing exactly where the moon was. But the pictures online taken by other wide-awake people are pretty.
I've been reading a lot of reports about Senator Craig's arrest. First thought - how is this only coming to the public now? He was arrested and pled guilty around June 11th. I'm confused about the delay. Any law ppl want to explain? Second thought - I think sexuality is more confusing than we want it to be. I don't think it's as simple as gay, straight, or bisexual. Could it be true that Craig* is not gay but has sex with men? What qualifies as gay? I'm not saying he's completely straight and these are false accusations (I'm no Republican) because it's clear he's been having sex with men (at least in airport bathrooms) for quite awhile. But I think the news community right now labels Craig as gay and how he's closeted and doesn't want to come out of the closet. And Craig gives a press conference saying five hundred times how he's not gay. I mean, I know he's a lying liar for all the denials he's made about the bathroom sex accusations and how he's still denying anything really happened. But maybe his sexuality and why he felt driven to have sex with men in bathrooms is more complicated. Which by the way, eww on any of those Senate guys. Yucky.
*Does anyone else have a hard time reading his name and not thinking "Craigslist"?
Monday, August 27, 2007
Bento Box
After much anticipation, my Bento Box has finally come. It's cute but a lot smaller than I thought. More healthy lunch or 2 person size portions than big group/picnic-for-everyone size.
Plastica Shop did a great job of packaging it with noodles and the note on top was cute. I wish I had checked the size dimensions - I may have still ordered it but not sure.
Plastica Shop did a great job of packaging it with noodles and the note on top was cute. I wish I had checked the size dimensions - I may have still ordered it but not sure.
Agatha Christie
This might one of those days where I write eight posts...
I love these new Agatha Christie books by Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers. I love that they are republishing 24 of her books, love the new colorful designs and simple hardbacks, and love that they are only releasing eight or so to the public at a time. I also love that they are a discounted $9.60 on Amazon. I'm currently reading Death on the Nile.
She's such a good mystery writer. I realized what makes her so good - not just that as you read, you have no idea who the murderer is and have often guessed every character short of Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot by the end of the book. But her writing is so capturing because it's difficult to guess who the victim will be either. I'm around page 137 in Death on the Nile and I don't know who's going to be murdered. I think it will be Linnet (pronounced Lynette?) Doyle, the rich has-everything 20yr old who married the fiancee of her close friend. Linnet and her husband Simon are on their honeymoon in Egypt and the betrayed friend/ex-fiancee of Simon, Jacqueline, has decided to follow them everywhere in her grief. She seems a bit crazy. It seems clear that Jackie will murder Linnet but who knows? There is of course a whole crew of other characters that will somehow fit into everything but for now, I'm lost. Lost in a great book, and loving it.
I love these new Agatha Christie books by Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers. I love that they are republishing 24 of her books, love the new colorful designs and simple hardbacks, and love that they are only releasing eight or so to the public at a time. I also love that they are a discounted $9.60 on Amazon. I'm currently reading Death on the Nile.
She's such a good mystery writer. I realized what makes her so good - not just that as you read, you have no idea who the murderer is and have often guessed every character short of Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot by the end of the book. But her writing is so capturing because it's difficult to guess who the victim will be either. I'm around page 137 in Death on the Nile and I don't know who's going to be murdered. I think it will be Linnet (pronounced Lynette?) Doyle, the rich has-everything 20yr old who married the fiancee of her close friend. Linnet and her husband Simon are on their honeymoon in Egypt and the betrayed friend/ex-fiancee of Simon, Jacqueline, has decided to follow them everywhere in her grief. She seems a bit crazy. It seems clear that Jackie will murder Linnet but who knows? There is of course a whole crew of other characters that will somehow fit into everything but for now, I'm lost. Lost in a great book, and loving it.
Wkend recap
On Sat I went to Six Flags with Delilah and a family from my church Nic, Mo, and childrens. I had a free coupon plus several discount tickets so it was cheap for all. It was fun hanging with Delilah as we haven't seen each other in awhile. She found my tiger-obsession hilarious, fun, and "so (Orangecat)." I spend a good part of one workday last week researching how to become a tiger trainer and what it looks like as a career. I think I now have a realistic outlook on this career path. On the drive up, I filled her in on my info. I kept starting my sentences with "In my research..." and she would then ask questions that began "In your research..." - somehow this was very funny to us that we kept saying that phrase. We could not stop cracking up. I loved being taken seriously and not made fun of, but being able to laugh at myself too. I loved that she was honestly interested and wanted to know more.
It will still be a viable career path for me but for now I will stay where I am. The tiger option is appealing and I really think I would love to do it and it's not a escapism random job for me. But the need to relocate for school/job and the low pay doesn't match what I want in my life right now.
Sunday church was awesome with Xealot from LA coming to guest worship lead. There were a ton of people there too. And yummy Vietnamese sandwiches for lunch.
Sunday aft was Jill and Shyam's Bay Area wedding celebration in the warm backyard of Carl and Celia. I made lemon cupcakes with lemon frosting and sugar cookies decorated with Jill and Shyam phrases and images. That was fun and I'm glad my mom helped me make those last week. Freezing them and taking them out for Sunday made it much easier. Cheryl brought cool Japanese snacks and lanterns for decoration, Carl made ice cream punch which was fun to eat. All fun - congrats again J & S!
That was my first time making frosting from scratch and I had some hiccups while making them but everything turned out ok...
It will still be a viable career path for me but for now I will stay where I am. The tiger option is appealing and I really think I would love to do it and it's not a escapism random job for me. But the need to relocate for school/job and the low pay doesn't match what I want in my life right now.
Sunday church was awesome with Xealot from LA coming to guest worship lead. There were a ton of people there too. And yummy Vietnamese sandwiches for lunch.
Sunday aft was Jill and Shyam's Bay Area wedding celebration in the warm backyard of Carl and Celia. I made lemon cupcakes with lemon frosting and sugar cookies decorated with Jill and Shyam phrases and images. That was fun and I'm glad my mom helped me make those last week. Freezing them and taking them out for Sunday made it much easier. Cheryl brought cool Japanese snacks and lanterns for decoration, Carl made ice cream punch which was fun to eat. All fun - congrats again J & S!
That was my first time making frosting from scratch and I had some hiccups while making them but everything turned out ok...
Friday, August 24, 2007
Wall Street bonuses
Interesting article from December 2005 on how Goldman Sachs divides annual bonuses. I bet things have changed even since then with the rise of hedge funds. Bonuses aren't looking so good this year.
Having worked for both Goldman and a hedge fund (but only as an executive assistant, EA, and Office Coordinator) in the last few years, I'm intrigued by the companies/industry but understand somewhat little of what actually happens. I'm no longer in those jobs and actually in a complete different profession now but I'm glad I got the random chances to work at those companies. I learned a lot professionally and it was definitely a completely different world than IV, a university-based Christian nonprofit. Even driving through downtown SF last night through the financial district, all these memories come back. They were my first "professional" jobs.
Ahh but sometimes I wish I had stayed for those bonuses...
A few thoughts I gathered from working at both places, nothing confidential:
1) A few people control the majority of money in the world. Not that those people are only Goldman or hedge fund analysts or bankers but I personally was schooled on how much power lies in the few. It can make you feel a bit hopeless about changing anything economically bc just one person up there could change a lot if they wanted.
2) Rich businesspeople are smart. Every movie I have ever seen with busy businessmen and women showed sharky, conniving, greedy, and/or liars that only got their money because they cheated or schemed or stole from people below them. There are people like that but there are also a lot of really hard-working, really intelligent people who are driven. I can't quite write "caring" but they're not all jerks.
3) Even the rich, and maybe especially the rich, feel insecure about their finances and their ability to earn.
Having worked for both Goldman and a hedge fund (but only as an executive assistant, EA, and Office Coordinator) in the last few years, I'm intrigued by the companies/industry but understand somewhat little of what actually happens. I'm no longer in those jobs and actually in a complete different profession now but I'm glad I got the random chances to work at those companies. I learned a lot professionally and it was definitely a completely different world than IV, a university-based Christian nonprofit. Even driving through downtown SF last night through the financial district, all these memories come back. They were my first "professional" jobs.
Ahh but sometimes I wish I had stayed for those bonuses...
A few thoughts I gathered from working at both places, nothing confidential:
1) A few people control the majority of money in the world. Not that those people are only Goldman or hedge fund analysts or bankers but I personally was schooled on how much power lies in the few. It can make you feel a bit hopeless about changing anything economically bc just one person up there could change a lot if they wanted.
2) Rich businesspeople are smart. Every movie I have ever seen with busy businessmen and women showed sharky, conniving, greedy, and/or liars that only got their money because they cheated or schemed or stole from people below them. There are people like that but there are also a lot of really hard-working, really intelligent people who are driven. I can't quite write "caring" but they're not all jerks.
3) Even the rich, and maybe especially the rich, feel insecure about their finances and their ability to earn.
Friday
My right eyelid has been twitching this week and it feels weird. I put a fresh contact in but nothing really happened. Today I'm wearing glasses to see if that will help. A little bit but not too much. I looked up "eye twitching" on WebMd and it says it can be from stress or anxiety. Hmmm, I didn't think I was stressed or anxious but maybe I am. Who knows, I always carry around stress anyways.
Jill and I saw D.L. Hughley at Cobb's Comedy Club last night in SF. It was a good show and the opener guy and D.L. were super funny. At parts I was laughing so hard. I've never been to a comedy club before though I love watching stand-up comedians on TV. I remember spending many a junior high hour watching nonstop stand-up on Comedy Central. Crude yes but sometimes too freaking funny. It was also super cool that our tickets were free last night - I got them from Kiss 98.1 bc I called in last wk on my bday and it happened to be Renel's husband's bday too. Free tickets are all good. Thanks Renel and Kiss 98.1!
Jill and I saw D.L. Hughley at Cobb's Comedy Club last night in SF. It was a good show and the opener guy and D.L. were super funny. At parts I was laughing so hard. I've never been to a comedy club before though I love watching stand-up comedians on TV. I remember spending many a junior high hour watching nonstop stand-up on Comedy Central. Crude yes but sometimes too freaking funny. It was also super cool that our tickets were free last night - I got them from Kiss 98.1 bc I called in last wk on my bday and it happened to be Renel's husband's bday too. Free tickets are all good. Thanks Renel and Kiss 98.1!
Excited about new Fastrak lanes on the Bay Bridge
I'm surprised to see how excited I am about the new Fastrak lanes for the Bay Bridge to be reconfigured on Labor Day weekend. I really wanted to copy and paste the visual but it's in a secure Adobe doc so here it is. I can't wait to drive through Tuesday morning Sept. 4th.
It looks like it's going to be so much better with five lanes for Fastrak during peak traffic hours and grouped together instead of separated. And signs for the approach will be farther away hopefully increasing efficiency in Fastrak lanes and encouraging people to get Fastrak. I'm not on their marketing campaign or anything but get it people! They've made it super easy, no deposit, you can buy it at Costco or Safeway and get $10 off. Traffic would be a lot better on the bridges if more ppl had Fastrak. Fun fact, the Richmond bridge has the highest percentage of Fastrak users.
It looks like it's going to be so much better with five lanes for Fastrak during peak traffic hours and grouped together instead of separated. And signs for the approach will be farther away hopefully increasing efficiency in Fastrak lanes and encouraging people to get Fastrak. I'm not on their marketing campaign or anything but get it people! They've made it super easy, no deposit, you can buy it at Costco or Safeway and get $10 off. Traffic would be a lot better on the bridges if more ppl had Fastrak. Fun fact, the Richmond bridge has the highest percentage of Fastrak users.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
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