So I got off work early this past Wednesday and instead of facing the 6:00 pm traffic rush (there was a Mariners game too), I decided to head someplace free and air conditioned. Despising the wretched temple of elitist capitalism that is Bellevue Square Mall, I went instead to the Bellevue Public Library... like so many things constructed on the bling-bling eastside, it's on the higher end of the scale of wealth. No doubt, vast dollars gleaned from rich Micro-serfs, $tarbucks fiends, and Biotech big timers went into actually putting up a building devoted to knowledge. The public library in my hood isn't nearly as nice or even half as big as this library.

Anyways, my first stop inside the library was the "Corner Book Shop" where the library clears out old books and magazines by selling them for cheap. I picked up two magazines and a book, each for 25 cents. One magazine was an issue of WIRED I missed on the new convergence of science & religion. The other magazine was an issue of Wine Spectator with a cool cover story on affordable cabernets... yum. The book I bought was for Shiv, called "The Book of Questions"... a book with 200 thought-provoking / conversation starting questions.

I'll even select one randomly right now.

QUESTION #146: If a thermonuclear holocaust would occur in precisely 20 years and no one would survive it, how would you change your life?

Wow, that's cheery. To be honest, I'm not sure what I'd change... definitely I'd rack up some serious credit card debt. Who's gonna be around to collect $$$ when I've been reduced to atoms? heh heh... it'd be almost a Fight Club-ish end to things.

Actually, a confession: Men in my family are notoriously short-lived and though I want to live a long life, I'm not counting on it. Not by a long shot. My father died before he was 50, for no apparent reason. He, as well as his older brother, and my grandfather - all dead from heart attacks. My father's oldest brother... dead from kidney complications. My mother's father... diabetic and dead from yes, complications related to his diabetes.

Thermonuclear what? There's already a sword of Damocles dangling overhead courtesy of my genetics. I try not to sweat it.

In truth, I'm not sure what I'll be doing 3 years now, much less plan for the next 20. One lesson that stands out to me from this past year more than anything is as much as people love trying to plan for the future, nobody can be sure what will happen. I graduated college just like anyone else expecting to find a job right away, at least in 3-6 months. I didn't work a permanent gig for more than a year and I was left to try to figure out why - only there was no why. To crassly state the truth of things: sometimes the circumstances of life just leaves you assed out.

Don't wonder if it'll happen... hopefully when it happens, you won't flip out too hard.

We hope for the best, do what we can, but in the end... believing the plans we make are not going to change is like building a house of cards in the middle of a hurricane and expecting it not to get blown away. We trust in a lot of little certainties in our lives, but when things aren't so certain anymore, what will be our reaction? Things always happens, that's the one thing you can count on as part of living in this busted world. I pray the people around me daily have that understanding of reality close at heart, because accepting the possibility of things not going according to plan is an important component of faith... at least in my opinion it is.

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

Anyways, the wind is blowing ever so slightly in my favor at the moment. Imma enjoy it while it lasts and read my 25 cent magazines. Nothing like a cheap bargain to infuse some quick euphoria.
posted by G at 3:40 AM   | (0) comments

It's so strange, it has to be true...

Imagine this scenario:

You're on a cruise to Mexico, stuck on a ship with a bunch of people... some even famous people. In fact, one of these people happens to be a famous actress. You even manage to get a picture of her.



Joe, I don't believe it... stuck on a ship with Miss Kristin Kreuk from "The Lana Show" AKA "Smallville". Some guys have amazing luck... you best take advantage of circumstances, yo! You could be my connection to money and fame in Hollywood. =)
posted by G at 12:09 PM   | (0) comments

People aren't as stupid as you think...

...they're much, much more idiotic than you could ever conceive.

Years of face to face work in customer-service related jobs has taught me that, and just in case I ever tried to forget that fact and restore my belief in humanity, I come to work and encounter reminders of the opposite. Just thought I'd remind this blog and the world that little fact too.

Oh well, eh?

In completely unrelated news, my church's youth leaders retreat is this weekend. I hear we're going off to the peninsula... wheeee.
posted by G at 6:09 PM   | (0) comments

what. the. hell.

405 has to be the worst freeway here in Seattle next to 520. I just sat through about 45 minutes of stop and go traffic to get to work, which is normally a short 15-18 drive from my house. ARGH.

Worst traffic offenders:

5 Wannabe racers with ugly spoilers who tailgate and then brake hard
4 Teenagers with a brand new license who merge last minute to cut off people
3 Old people in large sedans whose driving makes me pray for the Apocalypse
2 Truck / trailers that refuse to stay in the far right lane
1 PEOPLE IN LUXURY SUVs

I'm listening to "Eyes May Shine" (remix) with Xzibit and Mobb Deep. The aggressive nature of the song is strangely calming.

Random:

I was checking my cousin's blog and I noticed the latest in wedding trends: the pimped-out couples site. Like whoa.

Not to offend females everywhere, but it's completely obvious a girl built the site. How do I know? There's a lot of pink. Pastels... *shudder*.

I do dig the B&W photos, tho.
posted by G at 3:06 PM   | (0) comments

Check out the new t-shirt... I saw Josh and Val today, just back from their honeymoon and they bought the shirt for me when they saw it up at Whistler. What can I say... my friends know me well. hahaha =)

OK, five goals in the next 2 months I'm gonna try to keep before I leave for Japan despite my innately strong slacker nature:

1) Eat less junk food, chips, candy, etc
2) Keep reading books... Christian living, philosophy, winemaking, geeky tech stuff
3) Brush up my Nihongo via old tapes, textbooks
4) Start running / jogging / bike riding again
5) drag my butt back to kendo

Go slacker go! I'll consider my plan a success if I hit 3 outta 5. Slacker-ism at its best.

Next great idea for a t-shirt: arrows pointing outward left and right with the printed words "weapons of mass destruction". I'd send 'em to my homies (Chicago) Joe or Mel, both of whom mos def have some big guns.
posted by G at 11:38 PM   | (0) comments

It's a good (Fri)day when you can cruise into work at 3:00pm and everything is coo...
posted by G at 4:28 PM   | (0) comments

"As Sam ascended, I was offering words of advice and exhortation. He came to another challenging spot, but this time sailed right over it. A few more moves and he would be at the top. 'Way to go Sam. You're a wild man.' He finished his climb, and as he walked down from the back side, I began to get Blaine clipped in... while I was coaching his brother up the rock, Sam sort of sidled up to me and in a quiet voice asked, 'Dad... did you really think I was a wild man up there?'

"Miss that moment and you'll miss a boy's heart forever. It's not a question - it's the question, the one every boy and man is longing to ask. Do I have what it takes? Am I powerful? Until a man knows he's a man he will forever be trying to prove he is one, while at the same time shrink from anything that might reveal he is not. Most men live their lives haunted by the question, or crippled by the answer they've been given."

*

"In order to understand how a man receives a wound, you must understand the central truth of a boy's journey to manhood; Masculinity is bestowed. A boy learns who is he and what he's got from a man, or the company of men. He cannot learn it from any other place. he cannot learn it from other boys, and he cannot learn it from the world of women.

"The plan from the beginning of time was that his father would lay the foundation for a young boy's heart, and pass on to him that essential knowledge and confidence in his strength. Dad would be the first man in his life and forever the most important man. Above all, he would answer the question for his son and give him his name. Throughout the history of man given to us in Scripture, it is the father who gives the blessing and thereby "names" the son..."

**

"Some fathers give a wound merely by their silence; they are present, yet absent to their sons. The silence is deafening... My father was gone, but because he was physically still around, he was not gone. So I lived with a wound no one could see or understand. In the case of silent, passive, or absent fathers, the question goes unanswered. 'Do i have what it takes? Am I a man, Daddy?' Their silence is the answer: 'I don't know... I doubt it... you'll have to find out for yourself... probably not.'

"Every man carries a wound. I have never met a man without one. No matter how good your life may have seemed to you, you live in a broken world full of broken people. Your mother and father, no matter how wonderful, couldn't have been perfect... so there is no crossing through this country without taking a wound. And every wound, whether it's assaultive or passive, delivers with it a message. The message feels final and true, absolutely true, because it is delivered with such force. Our reaction to it shapes our personality in very significant ways..."

-Excerpts from Chapter 4, 'The Wound' from Wild At Heart by John Eldredge
posted by G at 6:31 AM   | (0) comments

Server is down for company admin functions page... so time to keep busy.

Survey jacked from ms. june is keeping me busy in the meantime. yay.

first car: the ghetto fabolous 1990 copper nissan stanza I have now that I call "audrey"
first job: paperboy, lasted one month before I busted my leg
first screen name: shun goku satsu
first pet: buster, the gerbil who bit off the head of his brother fred. fo real.
first piercing/tattoo: if you look at the top of this page, you can see it
first enemy: kid who bit me in sunday school, guess what... I bit him back. hahaha
first big trip: brasil in 2000... first time away from N. America
first play/musical/performance: I was random pioneer #2 in Johnny Appleseed in 3rd grade
first sport you played: ghetto games, but only thing I was good at was fighting... went to US kendo nationals back in high school
first musician you remember hearing in your house: my dad's gospel, folk & jazz records... don't remember any particular groups excep the Kingston Trio, funny

last good cry: I don't believe crying is good, but I shed a man tear during my toast for my best friend Josh's wedding, I must be getting old and sentimental
last kiss: whenever Shiv saw me last
last library book checked out: Fodor's Japan (new edition), The Joy of Winemaking
last movie seen: Whale Rider... go see it you cheap bastards
last book read: Wild At Heart and it's not as gay as it sounds
last cuss word uttered: "gotdaaam sunnuvabeech" at stupid lady in luxury SUV on 405
last beverage drank: ice water
last food eaten: left over fried chinese chicken wings & rice
last crush: the brand new blue WRX STI I saw on the road yesterday
last phone call: dem NOVA cats in San Fran
last time showered: last night
last shoes worn: flip-flops
last cd played: The Best of Marvin Gaye
last downloaded: warcraft 3 replays
last IM: dun remember
last time hugged: whenever Shiv saw me last
last time dancing: several beers, glasses of red wine + my best friend's wedding... it'll be the last time for awhile
posted by G at 4:51 PM   | (0) comments

Waiting for host... DISCONNECT

I often judge the health of my computer by its ability / lack of ability to run games. Lately, my ol' bride of frankenstein (usually stable despite her many make-shift parts) has been acting up. Warcraft3 has been freezing up, the last time being right in the middle of a heated battle... dam matt. And I've been such a good boy lately, too... haven't played more 1-2 games in weeks.

I'm wondering if it might be time for that most loved of all geek therapies, the reformatting of the HD. Such a pain in the arse to do, though... bleh.

On the Japan front, the NOVA San Fran office called me today. My new passport photos arrived without incident (whew) and everything checks out. Like I thought, they're expecting my visa to finally clear sometime near end of September, wh00t. Not quite my original plan, but I guess it's divine providence... with luck, I'll be able to go to Dave's wedding without a pricey roundtrip ticket AND have plenty of time to raise the scrilla I still need for stuff like security deposit on apartment, work clothes (must wear a suit like stereotypical tool), etc. I suppose the good Lord hasn't completely forgotten about me yet.

Fun fun fun... off to work.

Random:

What do anti-establishment old bald guys with tattoos who are writers do in their spare time? Surprisingly, they teach...
posted by G at 2:05 PM   | (0) comments

When boredom strikes, Craig's List always provides amusement. Where else can you find so many asianphiles so willing to post up their woefully ignorant colonialist lust for asian booty? =P

Or for asian brothers like me, there's alway the proverbial baby mama lookin' for luuuuv.

But hey... at least there's always somebody's lifelong collection of comics for sale... poor guy.
posted by G at 12:21 AM   | (0) comments

Wedding pics from Josh and Val's wedding... wheeee.


The groom's bro, Justin, and cousin, Adriel


They're close cousins


Ringbearer, Kevin... he's a chess champ


Bridesmaids waiting to take pics... Lena, Lisa, Kristie


Future heartbreaker, the flowergirl Sabrina


The groomsmen & the bridesmaids


Tam family... Justin, Auntie Cindy, Uncle Andy, and Josh


Justin and Josh (the groom)


Here comes Val, all dressed up...


Banquet time!


The whole table...


I teach kids the best stuff... (Jason, Kevin & Sabrina's brother)


Getting friendly with my best friend


Giving my toast


Cutting the cake...


The first dance of Mr. & Mrs Joshua Tam


Val says... "Check this fancy plate"


Bouqet toss


Garter toss


Some more pictures at sunset


Val and Josh... she changed into the cheung-sam


Shiv and I... she's smiling because I'm dancing with her


Walking down a salute of sparklers


Off to the honeymoon!

Big pics are up on Snapfish right here.

If from the pictures it looked like a beautiful wedding and great time... well, it was. =)
posted by G at 12:46 PM   | (0) comments

xxxx: So you read other blogs, right?
Unseen GC: yep
xxxx: What do you think about comments?
Unseen GC: They're fun... nothing like adding a wisecrack to somebody's personal thoughts
Unseen GC: That's why I like my blog the way it is
xxxx: You mean you like not having a comment system?
xxxx: You like commenting on other people's ish and not taking any comments back?
Unseen GC: yah
xxxx: You bastard
xxxx: That's like taking a dump at your friend's house
xxxx: And then locking the door to the bathroom when they come to visit
Unseen GC: puwahahahaha

OK, lets see how this works.
posted by G at 12:13 AM   | (0) comments

What's Going On...



Bumpin' the Marvin Gaye mix today at work. Aw yeah. Everytime I listen to his stuff, I can't help but think if he were still around, he'd still be cranking more hits. Good artists always die before their time. Sucks.

So after some funny driving adventures, I ended finding a place that did passport photos... cost me 20 bones though, ouch. I guess I don't mind too much... it was a Mom & Pop shop, operated by this funny old Asian guy. Friendly, quick service... I should have haggled with him, heh.
posted by G at 4:06 PM   | (0) comments

A new day.

So the company I'm going to Japan with called yesterday. Apparently the Japanese government has laws against using digitally printed photos for official documents (some sort of anti-fraud protection, I guess). And here I thought I was all clever saving money by doing my own... doh.

So now I gotta find a place that does passport photos here IN Renton/Kent... greeeeeat. Here in suburban hell, it's a lot more tougher than the U-District to find a place that will do it for cheap, because I need 6 for my paperwork process.

Random:

Still sorting out all the pics I took at Josh & Val's wedding, but here's a cool preview... a panoramic shot of the fantastic view at the wedding ceremony site. So nice...
posted by G at 11:28 AM   | (0) comments

Working, working...

I'm still buzzed from yesterday, but not off anything I had to drink. It's just that fuzzy-warm feeling you get when things are good, and right now, it's the memory of celebrating my best friend's wedding just yesterday. Man, we're growing up...

I'm hoping this high lasts at least for a couple more days. It's nice... not even getting a phone call from the company I'm going to Japan with asking for a new passport photos fazed me.

News round-up:

The Wing Luke Asian Museum opened up a new exhibit a few weeks ago on Asian Americans and hip-hop here in the Seattle area... wh00t.

Street Preach'n in Seattle... interesting stuff.

New director of World Health Organization is South Korean doctor, Jong Wook Lee, survivor of Korean War.
posted by G at 3:28 PM   | (0) comments

Well, the long day is over and it was great.

Time to crash...
posted by G at 12:56 AM   | (0) comments

Wh00t... the toast is done.

Now if only public speaking came as easily as writing does...

*gulp*

Might have to get lucid to spit out my toast tomorrow night...
posted by G at 3:03 AM   | (0) comments

Pretty chill day, but a lot things got done.

Now, there's just one more thing to do... gotta write my toast. Argh... writer's block sucks.
posted by G at 11:59 PM   | (0) comments

I don't get faded, I get extremely lucid

Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated... yeah. Wasn't able to blog this past Friday since after Josh's bachelor party (part 2) on Thursday night, I crashed and hung out with him, his brother, and his cousin Adriel all Friday too.

A lot happened Thursday night (I didn't take pictures and even if I did, they wouldn't have been G-rated), but all I can say is that I was a pilgrim in a unholy land - albeit, a non-sober monk surrounded by a parade of flesh with aftermarket parts. 'Nuff said... but the best part of Thursday was kicking it for like 3 hours in this completely ghetto bar hidden in the back of a hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant. Our entire group of guys had the place to ourself... hell, the bartender even knew the (white) guy by name who brought us to the joint.

It's nice not having to drive onself after having some drinks... good deal.

Friday I hung out with Josh and Adriel... morning was spent dropping off Val and running some wedding errands, then an hour at the driving range (I suck), a stop at Pike Place Market for flowers, and then lunch at Costco (yum, 1.50 Polish sausage and soda).

We then drove to the 1:30 wedding rehearsal, which lasted a bit longer than I thought it would... I think it ended up being almost an hour and half. No big snags, Mr. Chris Fong was late (doh), but otherwise... smooth sailing. Got to meet more family from both Josh and Val's side, plus check out the wedding site... pretty fantastic place they got. I wish I brought my camera to take pics, but I guess I'll have to wait until Sunday.

After the rehearsal, we rushed off pretty much to rehearsal dinner, stopping only by Val's place again to pick up the bouqets Josh had bought at Pike Place (which has incredibly cheap deals on flowers) as presents for his mom, Val's mom, and the grandmothers. Rehearsal dinner was at Sea Garden in downtown Bellevue... nothing like a full Chinese meal to keep the family happy. Shiv got off work around then, so she was able to join me there.

An informal dessert for whoever wanted to come was held later back at Josh and Val's apartment complex at the main office / clubhouse which the tenants can reserve for events... when Forrest was going off to LA last year, we had a shindig for him there. We get to the clubhouse, but the bonehead managers forgot to unlock the place for us and Val had to call the emergency maintinence phone number to ask for help. She got no immediate reply when she called, but about 10 minutes later, she gets a voice message from the manager saying that we should try using... a butter knife.

Well, nobody's sure if it'll work or not, so the whole family wisely decides to chill at Val place while I get to dispatched to run down to the clubhouse with butter knife, Val's keys, and cell phone in hand (the duties of a groomsmen are many). Apparently, the lock is not completely tight, so even though Val's key can't open the locked doors (all the keys to the locks in the apartment complex share a common shape), it fits the lock enough that you can turn the door knob a couple of degrees. Turning just those few degrees exposed the beveled back of the lock's bolt, enough that I could jam the butter knife into the breech and push the bolt back, to force it open.

Whoohoo, unlawful entry! Sorta.

So with the clubhouse open, there was a pretty comfortable and large sitting room, enough that all the about 2 dozen family and wedding party friends can sit, chill, and eat ice cream / cake. During all the fun, one of the bridesmaids (from Hawaii) starts to complain about how there's no good bars to kick it at back home, how everything's either A) too high-brow / snotty / bling-bling or B) sleazy / dirty / trashy ghetto. So Josh's cousin Adriel suggests we hit up a bar post-dessert and we did... it was nice small gathering of Josh & Val, plus groomsmen & bridesmaids... minus Justin (underage), minus Kristy (bugged out with BF) and plus Adriel (the bar expert), and later Shiv.

We ended up at this place called Tini Big's in Seattle's Belltown area, which specializes in martinis, but also serves regular beer and liquor. Adriel, being the loving cousin he is, was quite insistent on everybody having something to drink, especially after the drivers and riders were designated. Since Adriel, myself, Lisa (the bridesmaid from Hawaii), and of course Josh & Val weren't driving, several rounds of shots were consumed, and everybody had a great time. I think the plan was to go dancing at a nearby club, but since nobody was particularly keen about paying a $10 cover-charge, we decided to go to Dick's for burgers... following an inebriated Adriel and Josh, I think we walked up the same street 2 or 3 times before we finally got there.

When we finally got there, I had to piss like a racehorse and I immediately grabbed the bathroom key to visit the little boys' room. I had trouble finding it, since you actually have to leave the restaurant building and walk around the back, but two cool homeless d00ds chill'n outside with their cigs were nice enough to give me directions to where it was. After relieving myself, I came back outside talked to the homeless guys for a little, thanking them for their help. I noticed they were sitting outside the restaurant and had nothing to eat, so I asked them if I could buy them something at Dick's for them. The guys laughed, and said they'd actually prefer a cold beer to a burger. I think I got a kick out of their honesty, so I gave $5, which isn't a lot, but they were pretty excited - they thanked me and were walking into a gas station mini-market as I left to go back inside Dick's. Yeah, I'm horrible... helping homeless old geezers get faded.

But yeah... Dick's. What a great joint. Nothing like a 1950's style deluxe burger, fries, and a chocolate shake to keep the fire water inside my belly company.

After Dick's, I walked Shiv to her car and she went home... Chris also was driving home by himself, so he left too. The uncorrupted bridesmaid (and DD), Alena, drove the rest of home, while I, being the most lucid of the drinking club, rode shotgun to give driving directions since Alena is from Cali and doesn't know her way around Seattle. That meant Josh, Val, Adriel, and Lisa piled into the backseat of the Accord, trading insults, random grabbing, and laughing all the way home. Thanks to Alena's safe driving and my alcohol-enhanced navigational abilities, we made it back fine, and I crashed at Josh's again before he drove my back this morning around 10:30AM.

Good times, good times... I can't believe tomorrow's the day.

I better get cracking on writing that toast I'm supposed to give at the banquet...
posted by G at 1:18 PM   | (0) comments

News wh0re'n...

If you any question why old people shouldn't be driving unassisted, check this out: Santa Monica man kills 9, 50 people hospitalized. I can understand the elderly wanting some freedom, but I guess the large number of elderly people on the road despite questionable driving ability is a symptom of American culture and West Coast living... a lack of respect for elders and pathetic public transportation. Pretty much in China or Japan, old folks would be getting chaffeur'd around by their kids... if they weren't riding the subways.

On a more local note... a forgotten tribe, a lost homeland. A whole area of Washington takes it name from the Wenatchi, and here they are today... shafted by the government. Make a deal with "The Man" and you're probably suffer genocide and oppression. What else is new, eh?
posted by G at 12:04 PM   | (0) comments

Disgruntled Asian Tattoo Artist Inks His Revenge

Pitt junior Brandon Smith wanted a tattoo that proclaimed his manliness, so he decided to get the Chinese characters for "strength" and "honor" on his chest. After 20 minutes under the needle of local tattoo artist Andy Sakai, he emerged with the symbol for "small penis" embedded in his flesh.

"I had it for months before I knew what it really meant," Smith said.

"Then I went jogging through the Carnegie Mellon campus and a group of Asian kids started laughing and calling me 'Shorty.' That's when I knew something was up."

In the last month, seven people unknowingly received explicit tattoos from the disgruntled artist. Kerri Baker, a Carlow College freshman, paid $50 to have the symbols for "beautiful goddess" etched above her belly button, but when she went into Szechuan Express Asian Noodle Shop sporting a bare midriff, the giggling employees explained to her that the tattoo really said, "Insert General Tso's Chicken Here!"

"I don't even like General Tso's," Baker sobbed. "I'm a vegetarian!" Sakai doesn't feel guilty about using hapless college students as canvases for his graffiti.

"I think I'm helping my fellow man by labeling all the stupid people in the world," he explained. "It's not a crime, it's a public service."

puwahahahahahaha... my sides are killing me

So funny, it's probably fake... still... heh. Borrowed from AngryAsianMan.
posted by G at 1:49 AM   | (0) comments

The world is a vampire
posted by G at 9:20 PM   | (0) comments

I come from a long line of chiefs...



So I've been meaning to write about this movie Shiv and I saw this past Sunday at The Neptune, called Whale Rider. Yeah, I know it sounds like a bizarre name for a movie, but let me say this:

BEST MOVIE I'VE SEEN ALL YEAR

If that doesn't convince you to watch this movie at least once, I don't know what will. Anybody who knows me, knows I love movies... but in a year filled movies Matrix: Reloaded, X2, and The Italian Job, this little film trumps them all.

I would describe the film as simply a story about a little girl and her family, but it seems like such a hollow description of everything this movie encompasses. The themes of this movie run across everything, from man's relationship to nature, traditions of native peoples like the girl's tribe in movie, to gender roles, to even the preservation of aboriginal cultures in a modern world.

Perhaps my favorite interpretation of the movie's theme: it's a messianic allegory that parallels parts of Jesus' own life and ministry. But I digress... though my brain has dissected the deeper parts of the movie a lot since I've seen it, I believe anybody can enjoy the movie, from a 7 year old kid to a 70 year old geezer. Definitely a mark of greatness in a movie, the ability to appeal to people on many levels.

Now go see it!

If you don't believe me, check out someone else's review. I think some people have interpreted the film as overly feminist-biased, but I think that glosses over the family and cultural relationships in the movie. Keisha Castle-Hughes perfomance of Pai is so innocent and sincere, that you can't help but be drawn in. Her grandfather, Koro (played by Rawiri Paratene) may seem like a villian to some, but if you're like me, a guy who grew up with hardcore Chinese uncles/OGs, he's a noble if flawed man.

Oh, and thanks to Sam for the tip... good pic, brah. New Zealand definitely is now on the lists of places to visit before I expire.
posted by G at 1:30 AM   | (0) comments

A Sordid and Sinful Saturday...

My best friend josh's un-traditional bachelor party was this past Saturday. Some pics of the fun:


Lookie, lookie... I got a friend to bring to the party.


IIStix LA's favorite... Jinro Chamisul Soju.


And of course, my good friend Johnnie.


Everybody chill'n outside... dun ask about the cow.


Shiv and Me.


(07.15.03 edit: gratuitious bachelor party pics are now gone... one day special only on Gar's blog!)

;)




"What the hell... my nails are painted..."


4 beers, 2 shots of Jaeger, 4 shots of Absolut, 4 shots of Johnnie, 3 shots of Chamisul, and two Chamisul-lemonades. Ah, gotta love bachelor parties... time to sleep.
posted by G at 8:44 AM   | (0) comments

My friend Joe has posted some pics from last year in LA on his Xanga... ah, good memories.
posted by G at 5:52 PM   | (0) comments

From Chinatown to home, to back to Chinatown, to back home.

A lot of traveling today... after I got off work, I had to head to Chinatown to help Ahn / Chan / Tam Industries film the Seattle Sounders game. Pretty exciting game; the only goal game near the end at the 79th minute.

After getting home, I figured I'd get to chill for a little bit so I went through my usual routine of checking the mail, checking e-mail, and calling Shiv... Shiv was busy talking to her roommates, so she said she'd give me a call later. No problem... I proceed to zone out via some old schoo' PS1 Street Fighter.

It's about this time my Mom proceeds to tell me that my sister and her switched cars, since my sister didn't want to drive her ghetto ride out to the Gorge. My Mom said OK, but finds out later that my sister's car has anti-theft CLUB locked to the wheel, so she caught a ride with a friend from work to get back home. I comment that my sister never locks the CLUB and I asked my Mom if she even tried to take it off... she gives me a dumbfounded look and says "no".

If I had spidey-sense, it would have tingled right about then.

About 5 minutes after my Mom tells me this, my sister calls to say that she's going to be home super late and that she can't pick up the car directly from Chinatown because she thought my Mom would have driven back to our house. My Mom gets heated because supposedly my sister didn't tell her about the CLUB being in the car or the fact it isn't locked. The car can't stay overnight in Chinatown; this weekend is the Chinatown street fair and a lot of normal parking is barred. Uh-oh.

Of course, guess who gets to drive my Mom all the way back to Chinatown to pick up the car... lovely. Sure, having a son around the house you like to verbally abuse is such a great thing... isn't it nice his filial piety compels him to drive you back to Chinatown in the dead of the night? Oh yeah, right around this time Shiv finally calls me back, but I have to bounce to drive my Mom.

I took a can of Coke to drink on the ride there, but I ended up not drinking it. I saw one of those homeless dudes chilling at the Dearborn freeway exit in Chinatown at 12:30AM and I decided he needed the Coke more than me, so I gave it to him.

By the time I get back home at 1:00 to call Shiv, she isn't too happy about a latenight call.

So to wrap things up, my sister still hasn't come home yet, my Mom is still heated, and my GF is grouchy. Wonderful. Note to Garrett in future live(s) / alternative realities: move to the Himalayas and live in a monastery away from women with tempers.

T-Minus 17 hours until bachelor party. T-Minus 9 days until my best friend gets married. Crazy.
posted by G at 1:37 AM   | (0) comments

A lot of things to take care of, and I'm still awake. I should be sleeping, yet I already know I am going to loathe waking up. I think the very anticipation of that feeling I have some mornings is enough to make me not want to sleep. And I love sleeping. The human impulse to avoid discomfort is powerful.

Self-medication via War-crack... Frozen Throne. Yay.

Did I mention I should be scheming ways to make ridiculous amounts of money fo Japan? I figure I need to come with:

-$600 - 700 : round trip airfare (gotta go and come back for Dave's wedding)
-$1000 - 1200 : to survive my first month
-$100 - 200 : dress clothes to fit dress code for work (suits, ties, collared long sleeve shirts)
-$800 - 1000 : laptop / notebook computer for digipics, e-mail, DVDs, music, etc

Last look, money in my bank account: $212.38

I guess getting a laptop is definitely out of the question. =*(

Poverty, poverty... you're in love with me so much, you never want to leave. But hey... the way things are going as of now, I'm starting to doubt whether I'm going to Japan at all. And I guess not going to Japan alleviates the strain to generate scrilla, not that I'm making that much at my part-time job right now anyways. Abd I doubt I'll find any job that will pay me better.

Oh well... at least I got to seriously entertain the thought of traveling and getting away from it all at least. Unseen cosmic forces both righteous and vile are probably enjoying another laugh at my expense. Bastards.

Random note:

Good 'ol GP playing for the Lakers? I guess I could cheer for LA now!














...yeah, riiiiiiight. Lakers... BAH! Those faeries.
posted by G at 4:20 AM   | (0) comments

This morning I woke up
Feelin brand new and I, I jumped up
Feelin my highs and my lows
In my soul, and my goals
Just to stop smoking and stop drinkin
But I been thinkin I got my reasons
Just to get by, just to get by
Just to get (by), just to get


Song of the moment:

Talib Kweli f/Mos Def, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Busta Rhymes - "Get By Remix"

Never thought I'd hear Jay-Z on a track with Talib and Mos. The song works, tho. Music is self-medication.

Wonky Blogger.
posted by G at 12:07 PM   | (0) comments

(we now resume are regularly scheduled resentment)

There's been several things that continue to make life difficult, but I'm trying to not let them get to me. Since I don't really expect anybody to understand, I never really feel the need to try and explain things. I suppose repressing all this disatisfaction and angst is either a one-way ticket to a room with padded walls or an all-expenses paid stay rooming with a bad man with tats named Marge.

Regardless... it doesn't matter really. For now, self-medicating via the usual vices will have to do to carry me through since my usual "carrier" seems to like dropping me a lot. Ow.

Did I mention my trip to Japan has now gone from the sunny paradise of "done-deal" to the murky stank-swamp of "umm, who knows?"... freak'n uncontact-able offices and monkey admins.

Life just loves to piss on me. If life were a man on the street, I'd chase him down and smash his face with a rusty pipe for the sheer pleasure of giving back what I've gotten. I'd stomp all over his bloated body for all the times the MF stepped on me, my feet doing a macabre cha-cha of wrathful glee played to the song of his snapping bone structure. Then, after my feet get their fill of dancing... a gentle double-tap to the head, right in the face. After all, I'm a nice guy... I wouldn't leave someone to just bleed on the street.

But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

Mr. Life forgot to tread softly. Hrmph.

Anyways... deep breath. I'm trying to keep a sunny outlook. Josh and Val's wedding is less than 11 days away; bachelor party is this weekend (I think). Since a good majority of Josh's friends from work are of the non-Christian variety (I prefer to describe them as morally flexible, it's more fun), I expect the bachelor party to be filled with prodigious amounts of booze, raunchy entertainment, and humiliation. Don't expect pictures.
posted by G at 9:29 AM   | (0) comments

"If I speak, my pain is not lessened,
And if I hold back, what has left me?

"But now He has exhausted me;
You have laid waste all my company.

"You have shriveled me up,
It has become a witness;
And my leanness rises up against me,
It testifies to my face.

"His anger has torn me and hunted me down,
He has gnashed at me with His teeth;
My adversary glares at me.

"They have gaped at me with their mouth,
They have slapped me on the cheek with contempt;
They have massed themselves against me.

"God hands me over to ruffians
And tosses me into the hands of the wicked.

"I was at ease, but He shattered me,
And He has grasped me by the neck and shaken me to pieces;
He has also set me up as His target.

"His arrows surround me.
Without mercy He splits my kidneys open;
He pours out my gall on the ground.

"He breaks through me with breach after breach;
He runs at me like a warrior.

"I have sewed sackcloth over my skin
And thrust my horn in the dust.

"My face is flushed from weeping,
And deep darkness is on my eyelids,

Although there is no violence in my hands,
And my prayer is pure.

"O earth, do not cover my blood,
And let there be no resting place for my cry.

"Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven,
And my advocate is on high.

"My friends are my scoffers;
My eye weeps to God.

"O that a man might plead with God
As a man with his neighbor!

"For when a few years are past,
I shall go the way of no return.

Job 16:6-22

Nobody knows the trouble I've seen; nobody knows my sorrow.
posted by G at 1:55 AM   | (0) comments

Return of guerilla video.

So yesterday I spent most of the day working with Chong on our video project for King's Fools... met up with him around 3:30 after I got out of church at our usual spot in the U-Village. The scope of the project has changed from a "fun" video to more a documentary / informational style trailer, so we pretty much had to scrape some footage and brainstorm some new ideas. Actually, I think going documentary-style will be a lot easier, given all the documentary work I did for Wing Luke earlier this year. Interviews definitely can be interesting. I think we interviewed roughly 15-20 people yesterday, including the King's Fools themselves.

We met up with the King's Fools around 4:30 at the church before their soundcheck and we ended up staying until the end of their service until around 10:00pm... we conducted the interviews before and after the service, while shooting more stock footage during the actual service itself of Jubilee's congregation.

Time frame is gonna be a little bit tight to get this video out and done with, but I think Chong and I can do it. We definitely want support the guys... after all, I think it's pretty amazing King's Fools, guys who originally started out in the Korean-American Christian community, are making a big push to gather youth from all backgrounds for the upcoming gxp camp. Hopefully the video will help them get the word out.

It's interesting to see the Asian American Christian community continue to grow and evolve. Traditional Asian culture can be very insular, and Asian American churches often have impressive missions programs to the countries of their ethnic origin. However, their community mission to people in the surrounding area who aren't the specific Asian ethnicity of the church can often be lacking. There's a lot of outside forces / historical issues that have shaped ethnic churches, most of which have their roots in social / class prejudice / racism.

While the trend of multi-ethnic churches continues, I don't think it'll evolve past pan-Asian churches until certain social issues are addressed. Mainstream culture continues to marginalize, tokenize, and stereotype Asian Americans, while Asian America's relationship with other minority groups seems frequently antagonized by the white majority use of us as the "model minority" beating stick. After all, I can think of plenty Chinese American people who attend Japanese American churches and vice versa, but Hispanics or African Americans attending Asian American churches? Not that common beyond the token case...

Oh yeah, white guys are pretty prevalent at most Asian American churches. That's common enough, and though most come for the right reasons... there are several who do not. Bleh. =P

Anyways...

Time to work.
posted by G at 1:39 PM   | (0) comments

Shiv and I went to have dinner with Josh and Val. Lots of fun. Witness what happens after everybody has imbibed too much red wine / several shots of tequila and Val pulls out the swiffer. Oh man.

Josh and drinks


Val and impromptu limbo


Shiv and impromptu limbo


"No, drunken dancing is for faeries..."


A nice Saturday.
posted by G at 1:12 AM   | (0) comments

test
posted by G at 1:11 AM   | (0) comments

Weapons of Mass Consumption...

So I spent most of the day at Siobhan's house... woke around 2pm and drove up to see her. All Shiv's housemates are gone for the weekend, so it was a both fun and odd - almost like playing house since it was just her and me the whole day. I'm sure to most people it sounds pretty boring to lounge around and stuff, but I guess when you start to get old (or *gasp* mature?! me?) , you don't crave the thrills of going out and partying as much... just a simple meal with friends and hanging out is enough for me to feel good these days.

All in all, it was a pretty domestic day... watching TV, going grocery shopping together, and cooking together for the imprompt potluck we had at night. I used Kristie's gas grill to BBQ some chicken, as well as cook some chicken sausages and roast some corn. Shiv made some yummy baked salmon and the mandatory Asian side dish: steamed rice.

Ryan, Siska, and Dave came later bringing with them fried chicken, drinks, and assorted deli items. Dennis, Stone, and Stone's GF, Stacey, popped over later and made beef kabobs with peppers, onions, and shrooms. Kristie's grill seems destined to cook kabobs.

Whenever holidays come up, there's mainly two things I enjoy about them:

1) Spending time with friends & family

2) EATING FOOD

I guess it's one of the few things in my personality that I can directly trace to my Chinese heritage - the importance of connecting with people via sharing a meal. Definitely not a bad thing... I wish I took as much joy in other mundane activities as I do in cooking and eating with people.

Most of us decided to avoid the ridiculous crowds and just watch the fireworks on TV instead... yeah, we're lazy bastards. Wh00t.

And July 4th came and went... happy Independence Day.
posted by G at 2:01 AM   | (0) comments

Thinking about nothing.

This morning, I recall having an odd thought as I poured myself a glass of juice and munched on a granola bar...

This is the breakfast of geezers, health nuts, and fitness wannabes.

Standing and eating in the kitchen, the house was empty and quiet, but I swear I could I still hear something in the background. A soft sound, a faint song in my ears that couldn't readily recognize or place.

Maybe it was the sound of silence. The empty ringing of things that I can only hear when I'm not busy; the clarity of solitude. Perhaps the idle mind creates the sensation that isn't there.

I don't know why I'm thinking about this right now while I'm at work. Which reminds me...

...I'm off.

Happy 4th, you pyromaniacs. Just remember it's all fun and games until you set your own house on fire.
posted by G at 6:17 PM   | (0) comments

I'm thinking my friend Mel, who flew out yesterday morning for Japan, is probably in Osaka by now.

The odd clock keeps on tickin'...
posted by G at 5:36 AM   | (0) comments

Borrowing this pimpin' link from the Yellow Vato Liberation Front...

That Was Joy Luck, This is Now.

Amy Tan novels and their thinly veiled propaganda may be comfortable for non-Asian Americans to read, but I for one am glad a new generation of writers are now coming up. No more tired and predictable plots of "I'm an immigrant daughter oppressed by my culture and the white man is the only one who can liberate me" crap.
posted by G at 6:37 PM   | (0) comments

Well, would you look at the time.

For the first day of Frozen Throne's release... I'm ranked 117th on the Random Team ladder on the whole West Coast server. Before the high school kiddies with no jobs and no lives overtake me sometime tomorrow, I will bask in my own un-g0su, ch0b0 glory. wh00t.

On a more serious note, I looked at the calendar and I can't believe how quickly July came. In less than 3 weeks, my best friend's getting married.

Damn, I'm old...
posted by G at 4:18 AM   | (0) comments

A slacker by permission...

My boss called and told me not to come in today... said there's not much to do and he's gonna be doing some planning stuff. I guess my job isn't that steady after all, but I'm not complaining... Frozen Throne is out today and I'm gonna get me that copy I reserved. =D

On the otherhand, non-steady work... hrmmm. I need to save a lot of scrilla for Japan. Guess Frozen Throne will be my last purchase for a long time.

Oh, and finally posted my pictures from my trip to Cali here.

More later... I'm off to indulge my war-crack habit. wh00t!




Yah, I look like a geek. The little boy in me is love'n it.
posted by G at 2:37 PM   | (0) comments

in?scrip?tion (n-skrip-shun)n.
1. The act or an instance of inscribing.
2. Something, such as the wording on a coin, medal, monument, or seal, that is inscribed.
3. A short, signed message in a book or on a photograph given as a gift.
4. The usually informal dedication of an artistic work.
5. Jeremiah 31:33