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No Time for Workout you say?: Adapting to the Situation

With two kids, and a wife who has part-time teaching job in the evening, I always have to juggle the work time and church and family to near-perfection. So you can sense how much trouble it would add by trying to work out on top of all this.

Well, with my mother-in-law in town, I try to take whatever good weather we can get to get away. Like Friday, for example. I found out that the temperature near the sea in Galveston was going to be about 80 F so I got out early on Friday and took the family down to the beach. I try to work out 3 times a week but it’s been hard.

Today was no exception. Praise practice was at 10 am at church as I have to play bass the entire month to cover another person. By the time I got back, it was 12:30 pm and after lunch, it was 1:30 pm. The dilemma? On Saturdays, the JSC gym closes at 5:00 pm and I got into work at 2:30 pm. I had to put in about 3 hours so I would then get out after the gym closes.

I was worried that I’d have to skip out… but then my brain finally thought outside the box for once! Why not walk back home after work? It’s a bit hot (mid 80’s F) but it’s doable. At slightly more than 4 miles, it would easily take at least an hour of walking… Well, that’s what the mp3 players are good for, right?! I walked for a good hour and 15 min… Then it was already 7:00 pm almost home.  Well, the family couldn’t wait so they picked me up nearby.. so I walked about 3.5 miles or so…
The lesson learned? Adapt. Mold your life around so your body can be healthier. Think outside the box so that I could find the time to fit.

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The Ever-rising Cost of the Next-Gen Consoles

As an aging 33-year-old gamer and a father of two with a full-time job, I do what I can to stay near the top of the gaming status. But it’s hard, and with every new iteration of new consoles going higher in price, it is becoming evermore painful to even think of buying one!

Might as well… I decided to focus hardware to be current only on my PC and since I have ’nuff games to last till Wii and PS3 and Xbox360 fall well into the price range (few years), I will do just that.

I remember having to work the summer at local K-Mart to buy my own original NES system for $100! I had to both hurry AND justify to my back then soon-to-be-wife that PS2 ($300) was also gonna be a DVD player for us! Now, if I want a decently confiured Xbox360, I have to shell out at LEAST $400 to $500?!! And PS3 to be similar?! I know that both companies lose out even at those prices… but …

Time is my only friend and the only one who will remain by my side.

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GM Hy-Wire Working Concept Car!

Wow… GM has a first working concept car that runs on Hydrogen fuel cell technology AND drive-by-wire technology in one!!  Read and watch the video here!

This looks very promising!  Though you may sneer at its 0-60 time of 16 seconds, ask yourself if you want to keep paying the $5/gallon gas prices (worst case scenario of summertime gas price!)!  😮  I for one am for the technology to move AWAY from gasoline powered vehicles!

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In the spirit of “End the Hatred”

I recently watched another thought-provoking movie, and it’s called Joyeux Noël, a movie about World War I in the year of 1914.  The significance of this is that it was a first of its kind:  trench warfare.  It did an unimaginable mental damage to the soldiers, more than anyone ever thought to know.  Constant ear deafening bombing raids from the shells, and just raising your head above the trenches guaranteed  a headshot.

Enter the three countries: Scotland, France, and the Germans.  In the heat of the battle, and amidst series of God-given situations, the three come to a temporary truce on the eve of Christmas.  How symbolic.  They begin sharing more than just that, as they share food and drink, songs and music.  The three squadron leaders of each country develop a bond that surpasses the horrors of the war.  Though it comes to a sad and abrupt ending, I left with a warm feeling that hatred can be defeated… just as these soldiers did on the Eve of Christ’s birth.  I was very moved to find that the three countries’ soldiers didn’t let a war divide them and let hatred overflow in them.  Rather, they embraced the differences.

I can only pray that we could do the very same.  End the Hatred!  Stop it now.  In me.  In you.  In those around us, both near and far.

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Weekend with Grandma

As many of you know, Soojin’s mom has been in town. So here’s the summary of the weekend…

First, it rained… so the kids played outside after the rain…

Totally reminds me of the childhood days… 🙂

And here’s what JJ started…

Is this odd? No? How about this?  😮

And on Saturday, when the rain totally cooled the afternoon into cooler 70’s, we rushed to Bayou Wildlife Park in Alvin, Texas! It’s a very nice petting zoo with a tram ride on loads of animals from zebras and giraffes to antelopes and other animals!

But first… a family picture… sort of…  😛

And here’s Soojin’s typical facial expression during the tram ride…

And as a personally made gift from the grandma, these are what we all received…

And what’s not to like about Anna’s “special” hairdo, courtesy of grandma?! No wonder Anna loves her to death!

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“End the Hatred” Xanga Blogring

After having watched “Hotel Rwanda” and “Fearless”, I was reminded of how much hate exists in this world.  And I’ve come to conclusion that we must END it here.  and now!  Now in 21st century, we have Darfur in Sudan.  This is sheer madness!

I want my kids to grow up in peace, not being hated for being different, but to be accepted for who they are.  Let alone genocides, but any kind of hatred must end.  If you share this committment, please join the blogring… and spread the word.  I know it’s a Xanga site… so don’t worry if you haven’t an account…

God wouldn’t want hatred. 

End the Hatred