Friday, February 07, 2003

What's eating Jung Lee

Something happened today that I cannot really talk about. But if this thing happens, it leaves me with a tough situation. There are certain situations in life that you don't want to abandon. Something that you cherish. But the same thing is causing you so much heartache. What do you do when someone gives you a way out? Do you abandon something when it needs you? Do you leave the all the those that are counting on you? Are they counting on me? Am I over analyzing what is going on? Will it go on with or without me? reminds me of U2........

See the stone set in your eyes
See the thorn twist in your side
I wait for you
Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails she makes me wait
And I wait without you
With or without you


Paradise

I am really discouraged when I come to paradise these days. Have you ever heard the song "where the streets have no name" by U2? I heard that the song is about heaven. Paradise..... I call the place that I work paradise. Let me tell you, it is getting hard to get motivated to come to paradise. Frustration is eating me up. I can't stand it. Some jerk called me this morning at work and started yelling at me. I wish I could have five minutes with the guy. I just wanted to beat him to a pulp. My boss is having stress related problems. I can't stand the voice of some co-workers. How is Paradise for you?
Finally Friday is here. I can't wait till I go home. Away from Paradise.

Thursday, February 06, 2003

Skull & Bones

I played basketball last night as I usually do on wednesday. At that damn Japanese Gym, where I sucked yet again. Jonathan Klein called me from the airplane while I was on my way to the gym. It was good to hear from him. I think out of all my friends, he is the most successful and accomplished friend I have. Here are some reasons why.
(1) He is a Yale grad.
(2) Execative Director of Teach for America.
(3) Member of Skull and Bones society (hush hush stuff)
Actually this list can go on forever so I will stop now.

I am not sure if you've seen that God awful movie called "Skulls". But that movie is loosely based on the Skull and Bones society of Yale University. George Bush was one of the members of the society. They pick the elite students at Yale and initiate them into this exclusive group. There are some seriously big shots that belong to the Skull & Bones society. If you see a list of some members from the past, I am sure you would be impressed with amount of powerful people in that society. There are all kinds of theories about what goes on behind closed doors. But who knows? I remember when Jonathan was a Freshman. He was talking about all kinds of different rumors dealing with the Skull and Bones Society. Once he became a member, he stopped talking about it. In fact, it was by accident that I found out that he was going through the initiation. He was back home and he was preparing for a presentation of his life. Pictures and accompishments and awards, it was a huge presentation. I asked him "what is this for?" He said, "Oh for this thing I am doing." Jonathan is a sharp guy and he never answers with that much ambigouity. So I said "What are you? joining the Skull & Bones?" I was laughing. He was not.

To this day he is not very talkative about S & B. When I asked him about the rumors, he just says "I am not at liberty say." Well Most of the time, I am not sure if he is joking about the secrets or really serious about it. One thing that is for sure is that he is a member of Skull & Bones society. On the other hand I was member of Delta Sigma Phi. A dismal organization that is no longer a part of Cal State Fullerton(we got kicked out for too many wild parties). A place where I got drunk and accomplished absolutely nothing. To this day, being a memeber of Delta Sigma Phi never helped me in any way. It seemed fun while I was in the fraternity. But was it really fun? Or was I just passing time with bunch of other losers that drank and tried to get laid?

Some are part of greatness and some are not. I wonder where I stand?

Wednesday, February 05, 2003

Mix Master Mike

For anyone who is a Beastie Boys fan, I recommend that you watch their DVD. Filled with videos and and special effects, I must say that it is a treat. The coolest video of the DVD for me is when Mix Master Mike is featured in one of their videos. For those who do not know who Mix Mastaer Mike is, I will try to explain in this blog who he is. He is a DJ from NY. I had the pleasure of seeing Mix Master Mike in a concert while I was a student @ Cal State Fullerton. One of the best musical experience of my life. I've seen other good DJ's such as Qbert and others. Believe it or not I even saw Biz Markie DJ in a concert and he was also off da hook. But none compared to Mix Master Mike. He is awesome. Just awesome. He is also featured on a document called "scratch". He gives an example of how you can make Hip Hop from Country music. He has this old funky ass country music on vinyl and cuts that into this mad scratch session. THIS IS NOT SOME WACK ASS DJ SAMPLING MUSIC LIKE SOME WEAK SAUCE RAPPERS DO THESE DAYS. This is some original, old school, hip hop creation, created purely for enjoyment. He has couple of albums. I suggest all you Hip-Hop lovin' fools check his music out. ANd check out the movie Scratch.
Placido Domingo

Today as I was stuck in the freeway again. I decided to listen to opera. I have couple of opera cd's in my cd book. Actually for about a year I listened to nothing but opera. Remember when three tenors were in LA(Dodgers stadium)? Well I forked over some cash to actually go to that event. These days the blind opera singer Andrea Bocelli seems to be extremely popular. I think he is a good singer too. But I don't think he is as good as 2 of the 3 tenors. I leave out José Carreras beacease I think that Bocelli might actually be better than Carreras. Everyone loves the flamboyant Luciano Pavarotti. I must admit, I don't think anyone's voice is as powerful and loud as his is. But my favorite tenor is Placido Domingo. Listening to Domingo's soothing voice is like eating caramel. So smooth and sweet. So this morning I was listening to Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni. This delightful little opera is most famous for it's intermezzo. But listening to Domingo sing "O Lola" from Cavalleria Rusticana was really nice.

Tuesday, February 04, 2003

My Father's strange behavior

Yesterday was my real birthday. My grandmother made me dinner and my father came little later. After dinner we talked about what I do everyday. My father said "why is it that you are not dating?" Of course my grandmother also joined in. It was awful. Now that I am 28, they feel that it is time for me to get married or something. My father also told me about my mother's concerns. Apparently they talked over the phone yesterday. Well I escaped that coversation by saying "I have to go and meet someone." So me and my father left. We drove seperate, so we both got in our cars and left. As I was driving I noticed this strange presence following me. It was my FATHER. I thought "why is he following me?" So I acted like I did not notice and kept driving. Than I started driving all over the place and there he was still following me. So I parked my car in a parking lot. He parked next to me. I said "why are you following me?" He replied "I wanted to know who you were meeting" He said " I wanted to know if you were meeting a girl." Basically I did not have anyone to meet. I just said that I had to meet some one because I wanted to get out of the "Coversation" earlier. So he just left and I went to the bucks in Brea for a while and had a cup of joe. I went home little later and my father said "so who did you meet?" I said the meeting was cancelled. He had a unsatisfied expression and went to sleep. I think my parents are really worried about me all of a sudden. Since I am the only child, I am sure they are concerned. But my father's little spy game yesterday was ridiculous.

Monday, February 03, 2003

Ideal Woman

I almost forgot about this little event. Last night Mike ha, Hoon and I was discussing about what girls we want. Of course they said we want nice girls. And of course that is what I want too. But how generic. I said "their are certain girls you just want to do things for". What I mean by that is this. There could be JaneA and JaneB. Both could be nice and both could be good looking. they could both ask you todo the same thing. But for some odd reason, You don't mind......I will go as far as to say you want to do thing for JaneB, but you just don't want to do the same thing for JaneA. Does that make sense? If you want to call it chemistry or whatever, I don't care.

I have three uncles in Korea. The middle uncle is married to a wonderful woman. She has been one of my favorite aunts for a while. My uncle is always under the influence of the alcohol. I mean he is always drinking. he definitely is the least succesful of my uncles. Apparently he was quite a player when he was younger. Basically I just did not understand how he scored with such an awesome women. I asked her couple of years ago

Me "why did you marry him?"
Aunt "He had many girlfriends but I knew that I would marry him."
Me "how?"
Aunt " He told me that he just wanted to do things for me."
Me "huh?"
Aunt "He said he would never do certain things for any of girl friends in the past but he did't mind doing things for me."
Aunt "Either I got suckered or it is true. But to this day he still does things for me that I still get surprised"
I just smiled. And I still measure my heart with that philosophy. I always evaluate to see if I want to do things for JaneB. JaneB, Whoever you are, I hope you are doing well.

I think this thought rushed back to me as I was explaining to Hoon and Mike what I was looking for. I love those nostalgic momments.
Murphy's law.

Murphy's Law - "If anything can go wrong, it will"

Curse that Murphy for creating this Law. If this law really is true, he must be working overtime to ruin my worklife. I am now officially broke and my boss Dr. Fou-Sen Chang told me that "we don't know when you will be paid". If I ever see this SOB Murphy, I will kick his/her ass. No Christian grace for this jackass. As much as I hate this concept of money, I need it. I hate the fact that this piece of paper with dead guys on it, dictates my daily functions. This monitary reward system is ridiculous. Just thinking back in my life, I absolutely am digusted by the atronomical amounts of times that I got asses out. How many times does "Murphy" have to get involved before he leaves me alone. Fou-Sen must be having such a hard time with this.

Dr. Fou-Sen Chang

He is definitely a man that I respect more than I can say. He is my boss and he has given me the help as a boss that no other bosses can offer. He has spiritually and mentally helped me and led me. He is awesome.

Bio
Fou-Sen Chang, President and CEO

Years in the printing business: 28

Education
Ph.D., Physics, University of Rochester

Other Activities
church leadership, Bible studies, Chinese historical fiction, beating computer games

Biography
Before leaving to found AHT, Fou-Sen spent 16 years at Xerox, holding numerous positions in engineering, product planning, and project management. His many accomplishments include coordinating Xerox’s West Coast team in a successful effort to win Xerox’s first ever Malcolm Baldridge award as the best-managed corporation in the country.

Fou-Sen has also held teaching and research positions at the University of Rochester, University of Pennsylvania, and Princeton University.

Now
It breaks my heart to see him these days. Strugling so much because of AHT. Must pray for the man.
As in the wise words of M.C. Hammer, "Got to pray, just to make it today".



Sunday

Showed up to church late because I had to sleep s'more. Bad! bad! bad! Still recovering from the previous night, I went to the Bucks to have a cup and I went to church. People asked me of I had a good time and obviously I told them yes. Ate lunch with bunch of people at Gil Moke. One of the new comer named Hellen joined us for lunch. We found out that she went to El Dorado high school. For those of you who did not know this, I attended El Dorado. She was a freshman when I was a senior. Here is the eerie part. She did not remember me. At first I was appalled. But I guess she was a recluse in high school. Well It's alright. Some of us had coffee after luch. We discussed about this, that, and the other. It was a bunch of guys and Esther. We had a discussion about weakness of our sisters fellowship. I guess our EM sisters are so "independant" that they do not hang out with each other. If they do, it is so clickish. To make the long story short, we concluded that we lack leadership in our women's ministry. The guys heard what Esther had to say. Me, Hoon, and Mike Ha played in the league game. We lost. funny thing happened. Hoon got blocked by a..... well, a midget. Hoon went up for a jumpshot and the midget jumped up and PACK!!!! It must have been embarrassing. Afterwards we went to church for a communion service. Stuck around for a short while and went to the Starbucks in Cerritos town center. And so the weekend ended and now I am back in Paradise. This was a great weekend. I really felt loved.

Sunday, February 02, 2003

Saturday

Wow.... What a birthday. I think this birthday was more fun than any of my birthdays in the past.

BBQ

I had a meeting with my welcoming comitee at 9:30 in the morning. It was cool. Afterwards I head over to Al's for preparation for the BBQ. Al and I went to costco for stuff and we headed over to the park. Mel was there to help me and Al. As usual evryone was late. One by one people showed up to the park. We had these huge sausages and buns. I stuffed myself. I had a great time at the park. Some played hoops, others played cards. I hope it was a fun time had by all. Craig park is one of those secret parks that people do not know about. From the outside it is just another ordinary parks and you can't really see anything. But you go in and BAM! It is so much bigger than you think. Parking meter was broken so everyone parked for free.(the Lord works in mysterious ways) It was a pretty diverse group of people that showed up. The variety ranged from High School to collge to church to co-workers. I really felt special...... Too many people to thank for making me feel so good.

Chinese New Year....

In order to celebrate my birthday/Chinese new year, We went to fire cracker in China Town. Everyone left from my BBQ and some came back for round 2. We met at Starbucks and on to the China town we went. Al, Peter, Mel, Henry, Kim, Hoon, and I packed into AL's new rental mini van. Andy, Brian, Austin(goofy) joined us later. We first arrived and there was a free stage set up with bands playing. We watched this group called "Nemo"(?). They were pretty good. after listening for a while, we walked into the bar. What I am about to tell you is some what hazy. I don't remember everything cause... Well.... I was Darth Faded last night. I took shots and chased it with Long Island Ice Tees. Bad.... I stepped outside for a smoke and ran into my friend George. He started buying me drinks. After drinks after drinks I saw Sarai and her friends. Witnessed AL hitting on some market protesting half Korean. Saw ritchie, Don, and Kile. They went to Cal State Fullerton with me. Drank some more.... Before I knew it I had the "GOGGLES" on. Every girls started looking good to me. Yikes..... SO I waked outside to sober up a little. Talked to a black nation of Isalm dude named Muhammed. That sobered me up quick. But went back to the club and more drinks. Met a girl from my high school there. Talked with a girl who was in a movie with Jeff Fahey(Lawnmower man). Told her she was the love of my life(goggles). My mind was playing tricks on me. Than I went home. I don't really remember anything else. Though being drunk is never good, I had a blast.

What a day it was.