so cool lah! i just went to the gym today... which begs the question.... why ???????? it all started a week ago, when i stepped on the tennis court (yes stevie, i still sorta played). this is how the day went: after 20 mins, i nearly collapsed with exhaustion, heat stroke, dizziness, and a serious case of the wheeezies, and that was only the physical condition. in the next 2 hours or so, i managed to whiff 2 serves (YES, completely whiffed on 2 serves, which i was lucky cause my bro was facing the net - we played doubles), can't count the number of overheads i fanned as well, and pretty much filled my day with fits of uncoordination to the max. i mean, when i played forehand side, i think in 1 set i managed 2 returns! so naturally, i attribute to the lack of attention to my physical well-being. *sigh*

otherwise, i feel great!

i read the weirdest thing today.... 2 years ago, ABC (as in the tv station) started this show called the bachelor, which was u'r run of the mill reality show with a gaggle of hot women vying for the love of 1 man. the 1st season was a hit (ok, i confess to watching it toooooo), and ended with the guy not-quite-proposing to the last [wo]man standing. the 'bachelor' supposedly is looking for his wife in the show, and eliminates women every show. anyway, at that last episode, they brought in both girlies, so obviously one was booted. (for u interested, the original bachelor broke up wit his flame of choice cause it turns out she found out he still 'had feelings' for the other girl that he booted in the last show). then, for the 2nd season, they took the booted girlie, and made her the 'bachelorette'! oh man - americans are so pathetically into the reality shows now! but the funny thing is... for this upcoming season, the bravo network is doing.... the gay bachelor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh man - so first u have survivor, then big brother, then ozzy, then anna nicole smith, then this! i can't wait to see the clintons....

weekend was awesome. altho i didn't sleep much, who needs sleep when a w/end is just filled w/fellowship and praise??? today at church, my friend ed gave me a strong word when praying over me. it was just amazing cause before then, i was in my seat and struck by practically the same exact vision. that brought me to my knees, both literally and figuratively, and god gave eddie the words to reconfirm. thanks bud, i really needed that! b/c i been fighting a lot of issues lately, i needed to be spirit-slammed like that, and it's been real good to know that god is right there for me, always....

now my debate is whether to go watch matrix again tom'w! ugh.....

anyway - check out this game.... it so awesome. i'm hooked on it. i'm trying real hard not to go right now and check my city....

hk is now off WHO #*$@#$#@ list! woohooooooooo.... i feel safer already! i can't wait till china opens up so i can make it up to chung shan to play some golf there (not that i can afford it, but it sure sounds good!) :)

i'm excited... fired up and super-charged now! great things are coming up ahead!

saw the matrix on thurs nite! i thot it was AWESOME! man - i tell you - the watchowski bros got quite some imagination. however, there are more questions that arise from this:

1) how does neo have that power in the 'real' world? are the in another matrix??? cause agent smith also exists there, and he's just a program! or, did he reprogram that dude's mind and when he went back to his body.... whatever! explain!

2) what was up wit that french dude and the twins? (my friend christian hated the movie cause there were no character developments; i sorta agree on that point!)... i thot he was a programmer? but?? i know he says that everyone just has a role to play in the matrix or something... but where did the twins come from? if they were so powerful, then how come he only made 2? and how did they die in the explosion? or did they die?

3) how did the keymaker come about? that part was funny... but ok - what's the keymaker? another one of those programs? keys to backdoors?

4) so they said that zion was destroyed? i don't get lah

i'm confused... i'm sure there are many more q's.. i think i'm going to watch again, and be more confused. i hope everyone stayed n watched till the end to catch the teaser for revolutions!

well - it's been a couple days. i'm well as can be. so many emails going back n forth, it's depressing at times to read bout - not really the emails, but more the realization that nick really is gone. if u wanna read - here's the article... i guess thru this - i can say it's a good thing for the internet - cause at least we got to chat a lot thru im. how times have changed, eh? email, ok lah... but im is da bomb! and btw - nick, you still logged on aol! the wake's on friday and the funeral sat. there's gonna be much sadness... i hate wakes... shoulda been a doctor, so i gets use to seeing bodies in that state...

gotta move on sometime tho... alpha is tonite. i'm looking forward to spending time in fellowship n fun. i'm glad being half way round the world affords me opportunities to do that. (having no real anderson folk around helps too, i guess). my buddy howard said we gotta move on, and so we talked about golf... golf always brings a smile to my face - just not when i'm playing :)

speaking about golf - the colonial is this week. annika's there already. i know i shouldn't really make a big deal. but if she woulda just tried to qualify for it, i wouldn't have any beef. but with the exemption - it's so cheap. ben hogan is definitely snarling at this one... she won't make the cut - and that will be the end of the story. i'll be watching all them dumba$$ sportswriters all backtracking and justifying later on when she's packin her bags on friday. the colonial, sad as they be, are selling "go annika" pins for $3 in the pro shop!!!!! how unbelievable is that? you've gotta take a stand, have a position, if you're writing opinions - otherwise it's not an opinion. so this one's mine.... tough as it may be, cause those that know me know that, u know, me n annika had a thing (hehehe)... she's outta the picture now. but u know what? jennifer garner just filed for divorce, sooooooooo................

top picture: that's nick on the far left, mike, & me at graduation
bottom picture: bronnenberg's marketing group...our last group at anderson: olga, howard, cerena, nick, me

today i wake up, get online, and immediately, an im window pops open from my friend suzanne in LA... "hey... bad news... can you call me"... a million things were running thru my head at that point - and i'm like - what could be so bad that i can't be told thru im? so i started getting chills - and it actually took me a few times to dial cause i couldn't hit the numbers right. well - our friend nick (another anderson classmate) passed away this morning (sunday morn in cali while running a marathon). i'm still in shock. i called our classmate friends in asia, but really couldn't even find words to say to them (sorry stevie - it wasn't even 5 mins removed from the time i got off with suz). then my other friend howard couldn't stop cussin' for like 15 seconds (it's tru dude... i got the tapes)... i mean - we're all in disbelief. me? i was just chatting wit him saturday about the bachelor party he's arranging for mikey (in the middle of the pic) and just a bunch of other guy stuff. it's so hard to accept. i've never had anyone close to me, as in my peers, pass away - so this is something i'm def not familiar with.

those who know him can attest that he has the LOUDEST and most infectious laugh. and when we were chatting online (having a good time as always), i could always audible-lize (don't think there's such a word, but u know what i mean) the laugh when the jokes go thru and the 'HAHAHAHAAH' comes across the screen. that laugh is ringing thru my head right now. it's not even sinking in for me right now... i look on im, and he's still freakin logged on.. shock the world, nick.. u shocked the world. u just didn't have to do it so early...

hahaah.... i had this long ass rant yesterday, and i felt bad about it, so i deleted it. what i really shoulda done is delete my posts on my basketball picks! but being the MAN that i am, i gotta keep my shame up for all to see....

so last night's alpha was awesome! there must have been still over 120. i heard that week 1 had bout 165! wow, that's muchos people. my group had a good retention, altho there were a couple of no-shows on the guest side, but then we picked up a couple of new guests too, so it all evened out! i know that god is doing something unbelievable through this, and i'm so encouraged just to be a part of it! well - i know that this will continue!

what else... sars is really starting to die down in terms of new cases here... with more and more people recovering, i really hope that we'll be off the WHO's s#$#T list soon. it's a shame, cause there'll be residual sentiment for many months to follow, as long as china is still getting sick. still - i have heard of no cases where the random person gets ill - mostly they all have had some direct relation to another sars carrier. so, i'm up to a month off the mask thing, and still breathing (normally, that is). thank GOD!

so the goodies... once again - the ducks win! up 3-0 on the wild! i'm not gonna toot the sweep yet, but it's def looking like a win! wow... my ducks goin' for the cup! and not 10 years ago, we were the laughing stock of the league! i just might have to don the jersey for church this sunday for all my canuck buds to see! hehehe... the other.... MATRIX:reloaded in a week! yes, we have our tickets, and yes, we are so anxiously awaiting this! this one gotta see at least 2x in the theaters!

go ducks!
i was just reading the ny times - and it had an interesting article on the beegees (YES the beegees!)... the thing that caught me was that this article reminded us that saturday nite fever was da bomb back in the late 70s! (i was like 7-8). so... that means, they were equivalent back then to wat nelly is today to dancing... scary thot huh? i wonder what happens in another 25 years?????

yesterday was mother's day! the whole family came in, and we had a feast for the whole day, as in non-stop eating! everyone's fav - chasiu fried rice noodles, shredded duck congee w/the preserved egg, my mom's special roast chicken... that just for lunch! during the afternoon - my mom's baked brownies, a black forest mommy day cake, and some of maryanne's (my bro's helper) famous spring rolls... at nite - some steamed crab for appetizer (ewwwww), my dad's special penne with meat sauce (inspired from some mag pic), and my helper's ultra famous (more) home made chasiu! hehehehe... ohhhhh boy.... and then we ended the evening watching iron chef while eating watermelon... *sigh*.. i'm not eating again till alpha!!!!!

so yesterday, i finally got called in for a casting!!! i was the only one of the ma bros not to have been 1) picked off the street by an agency and 2) get called in for a casting (now there's only 3) remaining, getting a commercial of my own! which both have also done!).... anyway, i think it was for a credit card, cause during casting, she asked my to just do an impromptu pitch for one. dunno... i thot they just made u laugh and do stupid stuff. whatevers.... it was fun, and i got to sit and talk to a camera for 20 mins or so..

anyway - i found that i'm a bad picker of nba playoff games. altho, the spurs finally showed the anemic offence that i thot would kill them against the lakes... now it's just a matter of time b4 they self-implode. obviously, if they win the next one at staples, it's all over for the champs... (notice the non-commital)... i think i'll just leave it at that.. hehehehhehe

"do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where theives break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where theives do not break in and steal. for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (matt 6:19-21)

yesterday, i read in the paper that this hongkie man, who started an investment firm in hk 10 years ago, jumped to his death in taiwan in some hotel. the paper said he left a note which said that his firm had gone under due to sars and the war. so he couldn't deal with that 'failure', and left behind his family. now the sad part is, as he leapt off the 12th floor, he landed on a poor 24-yr old who was having lunch with his girlfriend. that guy is likely now to be paralyzed for the rest of his life... geez - i mean, if you're gonna kill yourself, at least have the common courtesy of NOT jumping into a crowd! i wonder if leslie cheung checked before he jumped? speaking of which - he's another one of those. it's 2 sad events, but u know - this is what you get for 'storing treasures on earth'. people like these who place their worth and being in money, status, power, fame, and vanity, in the end will live a life with no meaning, especially so once those all disappear. even king solomon, who had all the riches and material wealth possible, realized that all was in vain.

"then i looked on all the works that my hands had done, and on the labor in which i had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. there was no profit under the sun." (eccl 2:11)

it rained so bad last nite.. definitely felt like some flash flooding. went out this morn for a meeting, and as we crossed over this li'l bridge, there was this big ol' tree parked right up there in the middle of the li'l stream. it looked like it got all uprooted and was stuck at the bridge. so weird. the storm caused a blackout in our area, but 3 truckloads of the china light and power guys were able to fix that!

today only 3 people died in hk, and 8 new cases. that's the 2nd day in a row that we had single digit new cases... very encouraging. i've ditched my mask. screw it... actually - i've ditched it for prolly over a week now. it's not that i feel safer now, but more that i don't wanna continue living like everyone's a leper. i gotta say tho, there was one (and only one) cool thing about wearing a mask - i felt like one of those transformers that had no mouth... i was optimus prime.. *sigh* (if u look closely at his face - he's wearing one too!)

nuthin much else... alpha is 2 days away! keep up u'r prayers!

another 3 days till alpha! i'm so excited right now! had a good day today - great message at church on just the assurance of god's promise to us. sat thru a church meeting following, where the elders gave a half year review of the church's activities... i'm still somewhat in the review mode of the vine - so kinda sitting back and observing anything and everything, and keeping my nosey nose outta biznass till i make a commitment. i think i'm close to it now, cause i like the direction of the church. it's been like 2 months there and just hanging back n seeing all the groups - young and old - have that fire for serving god - and one just can't help but be excited. the alpha course is just an example of how much this church wants to take to heart christ's commandment to 'make disciples of all nations' - by reaching out to the community and sharing the good news. i don't think i've ever been a part of something like alpha, so wed nite will be definitely be awesome!

sat nite i actually cooked.. well - ok... quasi-cooked. i made this chicken caesar that i learned from my friend christine in san jose. such a simple recipe, but yet - mmmm - what a perfect compliment to a roast chicken (which my bro brandon made... and with stuffing!)... i love home cooking, and mom knows i got a special spot for roast chicken n stuffing....

next week will be busy. this project in china i'm working on might just get another life after all! china projects (esp guangdong) are difficult cause of sars, but u know - this is a good one and i'm hoping we can make it work soooooooooooooooonnnnn. speaking of which, another 5 died today, totalling 184 so far. 8 new cases is somewhat comforting in that new cases have reached single digits (altho it's still reported cases?). well - gotta look on the bright side! encourage! well.. suspend that thot for one second... gotta write this one down. yesterday nite - our less-than-esteemed chief executive tung chee hwa came on tv and said the absolute dumbest thing. he said, on camera, that he had really, really wanted to go to this hospital to visit some sars patients. he said that he thought of this not once, not twice, but on several instances, but on the advice of his personal physician, he decided not to go. however, he ended saying again, he really, really did want to go. now - WHAT THE#@!$*!&#@($@!($*!@$*)(!&#@$@!??????? there's a verse in the bible that says "take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them....therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do....." (matt 6:1-2). now - it's one thing to actually do the deed, but to sound the trumpet w/out even actually doing it????????????

finally played a round of golf today. that's about the only good of it. i think i'm getting too used to shooting really high scores, and making a ton of really dumb mistakes. my line today..... 5 fairways, 2 regulation greens, 30 putts and a WHOPPING 11 penalty strokes...all culminating in a round of 89. how bad is that? it was actually sorta ok cause i managed to find my swing on the last 2 holes, but otherwise.. ugh....

well - finally saw X2 yesterday! it was sooooooo good - much muchos betters than the first one. nitecrawler is awesome - and he's clearly the coolest of the new mutants introduced. then just chilled with friends for the rest of the day. i'm amazed that people can eat a full meal, and then sit at this tea buffet for another 3 hours!!! ok - i understand the company was good... but that was essentially eats for almost 3 1/2 hrs straight. i couldn't stomach a tea buffet after lunch, so i hung and had a coffee.... somehows, i feel like i'm missing out on something (like banana crepes w/fresh whipped cream?)...

my friend richard, upon arriving at lunch, announced to us all that he just got married! wow... surprise! heehe... he was like - well, i got an announcement for you all, and BOOM! ahhhahhah - so funny, yet so happy for him.

so now that the lakers won in 6 (see down on 4/27 post!)... and seeing as how SA looked very pathetic last time i saw them play, i am now sticking it all out and saying they get swept. to cover my buttocks, i'd say that SA gets no more than 1, but i can't even do that, altho i'd really like to! :p i think the kings will have a tough time wit dallas (who have yet to win, but will), but i'm confident they can take that one in 5. boston/nj will be interesting, 'specially since the nets have looked horrible at times... but then boston - they just don't hit shots when defended well, and nj plays D - so i think it'll be nj in 6 here. finally - orlando (will beat det in 6 or 7, but will win!), but most likely will fall to philly, but this'll be a close one - so i'll go wit the only 7 gamer here! bank, baby....

pretty toned down day today.... had lunch with d - he's absolutely amazing! it's not easy organizing such a diverse event like alpha - and i'm so surprised that he's managing with patience while maintaining calm cool and effective thot! it certainly has gotten me excited about the whole program of events for the next 10 weeks... puts into perspective really wats important in life. the devotion the group of leaders has put into this is incredible, and i know god will abundantly bless the event. plus, how can a great buffet dinner at grappa's country go wrong? :)

then in the afternoon, i picked up my friend dwi from the airport train in central. she coming from beijing, so i wasn't too surprised when i see this girl with like 5 masks on that was 2 inches thick! it was a wonder she could even breathe at all! ok... in case she ever sees this - it wasn't quite 5 layers, but it was 2 thick ones!!! and when she sees me, she points to it and says, 'is this all right?' well, being as how i wasn't en masque at that time, it well better have been all right! after getting her stuff all checked in at the hotel, we ended up walking all round town looking for a chinese-english dictionary. fyi.. all of us in beijing were looking for one of those at one point or other, convinced it was the key to unlocking the latent mandarin ability deep within our subconsciousness.

funny thing again at the grand century mall where derek and i had lunch.... at mcd's, this british dude clocked some local dude in the face, leaving a huge gash along the left side of his nose, running up the bridge almost to his eye. i didn't see the punch, but i saw all the cop commotion... the brit dude got all animated when describing how there was NO KETCHUP (or something like that.. screaming as loud as possible).. then this chinese guy dares to come and quiet him down, and then to make things worse, allegedly spits on him, which then precipitated the punch to the face. somehow, i doubt i would believe a man who had been screaming at the top of his lungs for ketchup, and gets all irritated over it! well... i guess u had to be there... it was funny.... yep....

tomorrow is X2! i was all excited until today - when i realized it's just a movie. i have these weird times sometimes, where i watch a movie for the umpteenth time, and i'm actually thinking, hoping that the ending is different. that happened at the end of matrix so many times. it also happened pretty much everytime i watched X1... so here's hoping the 2nd is better than the 1st.

7 more in HK died today... that's 157 overall. sadness.... and 1589 infected. gov't says this is slowing, but who knows lah? look at beijing - they right up there w/just about 150 deaths too! plus, they got 9,650 quarantined, still waiting to see how many of those are infected. beijing is in complete lockdown. near my old wle compound/residency, all the restaurants have been ordered shut. one of the univ's where some of the year long students take classes is under strict quarantine... the only restaurant open was this one japanese restaurant adjacent to the residency. now normally, i think i could prolly stomach a week or so of japanese food - but u haven't really had this one... that's why my friend dwi had to leave and return to indonesia... well - at least we ain't taiwan... but then again, we all part of the motherland anyway....