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New blog... Follow me at http://lifeofpi.ca/
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Sunday, August 16, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Nerds are Cool
I was standing in line this morning at Starbucks for my antidote for grumpiness (aka Grande Americano) and there was a guy in front of me with his girlfriend. They were in their own world, quietly conversing with each other, smiling and sweet. When it came time for them to order, he turned to the barista and ordered a tall dark and a tall tea misto. The funny thing was that his voice changed from soft and caring to deep and commanding, confident and professional. His stance changed and even his facial expression hardened as he turned his interaction from his girlfriend to a stranger. Same guy, two hats. 
People have many faces, and I don’t say this in neither a negative or positive connotation. One could potentially say that “She’s evil to her brother, but amazing to her husband.” Or “He treats his girlfriend like she’s his bitch but he such a momma’s boy.” Fact is, that all people are many things. You’re a brother, a son, a boss. You’re a granddaughter, a friend, a student. In every situation people act differently to different people. While your core is still the same, your intentions and actions and true heart will never change, but the way you act will. Whether all of your faces are kind, happy and genuine, or evil and spiteful, or a mixture of both, everybody presents different faces to each person. Think about the minor or major differences in the way you interact with your family members and to your best friend. With your significant other or with a police officer who just pulled you over for pulling a U turn on Lougheed Highway. The secrets you tell them, the politeness or lack of, the tone of voice you use. The way you treat each person is both dependent on their relationship to you and the current present situation. Does this mean that there really is no such thing as “just being yourself” because there is no ‘yourself’ as a singular situational context?
Recently I was going through my old photo albums with a friend. I saw the changes that I’d
gone through in my short lifetime so far. I’d experienced everything from racism and being constantly picked on as a elementary schooler, to being MVD* on my high school football team. I was all stereotypes, from nerd, to jock, to thug, to student and now a professional. Unpopular to popular and back again. I'd lived each of those lives and felt the difference in the way people treat you in all of those lives. Within each picture in my album, there was a story, a memory whether good or bad. I'd felt the pain of being ridiculed, I'd felt the pride of winning at sports, I'd felt the belonging when being with friends. Looking at the pictures only presented a snapshot of the physical moment and some of those snapshots were pretty funny looking back at how I used to be. (My friends cheeks and stomach ended up hurting because she was laughing so hard at some of the old pictures.) But because I was all stereotypes, I really was none of them. If you look through your old photo albums or jpeg files, I’m sure you’ll find the same. (Unless you were the same person all throughout, then I apologize my friend, you’ve lived a sheltered and unfortunately uneventful life.)
If we were to use an anology, I would use travel as one, because the changes in lifestyle and that of destinations are similar in experiences. Say a person grew up in, say, Edmonton. They were born and raised there and had never traveled anywhere further than 2 hours away. They’d shopped for groceries at the Safeway around the block for 20 years, and went to Stan’s Video Store for the latest rentals, until Blockbuster built a store right next door, causing Stan to go bankrupt and eventually losing his home to foreclosure. Then there was a person who was also born in Edmonton, but had snorkeled the Great Barrier Reefs of Sydney. They’d
built houses in Africa, walked through the slums and shanty towns of Brazil. They’d made friends with this girl who was from Germany and this guy from Amsterdam and they shared amazing stories while traveling together. They’d camel-backed across the Saharan desert, silhouetted by the setting sun and stood at the base of the Victoria Falls in Zambia and felt the ancient mist wet them through to the soul.** Who would be a more interesting person? Who would you rather have dinner and share a drink 
with? To hear their stories and to vicariously live through them by the excitement in their eyes as they retell their tales. While it doesn’t take a $2000 plane ticket and plenty of vacation time to be interesting, it does take stories. It also takes experience to make interesting stories, whether your stories are about world travel or about the many lifestyle changes that you’ve gone through in your life.
I think the many faces that you have are dependent on your experiences that you’ve gone through as those many roles. The more changes you’ve gone through, the better you are in many different situations and the more socially adept you are. Being a chameleon when you were younger makes you a deeper adult and a stronger and more independent person as you’ve already gone through the soul-searching and trying to ‘figure out who you are’ stage and now, who you are, is the pick of your choice, the best of the experiences. You may have gone through the nerd stage onto experience the popular stage. Then onto the rebellion stage and perhaps even lived in the Emo world for a year. Who you are at the end is who you’ve chosen to be because you realize that while you’ve gone through many different experiences, this is the one that suits you the best and the lifestyle is one that you are happy to live in. If you’ve only ever experienced one type of lifestyle, how are you to know that this is the best? In life there are many choices, from flavors of ice cream (which I continue to refer back to because I’m a huge ice cream advocate) to the different colors of shirts that you could buy. You are constantly bombarded with choice and generally, once somebody has been presented with multitudes of choice and experienced them all, they return to the one that best pressed their happy button. The most stable person is one who’s gone through instability, who’s experienced the extremities of life and have now found a niche for themselves out of their wide gamut of lifestyles. These are the most interesting people I've had the pleasure of meeting.
People have many faces, and I don’t say this in neither a negative or positive connotation. One could potentially say that “She’s evil to her brother, but amazing to her husband.” Or “He treats his girlfriend like she’s his bitch but he such a momma’s boy.” Fact is, that all people are many things. You’re a brother, a son, a boss. You’re a granddaughter, a friend, a student. In every situation people act differently to different people. While your core is still the same, your intentions and actions and true heart will never change, but the way you act will. Whether all of your faces are kind, happy and genuine, or evil and spiteful, or a mixture of both, everybody presents different faces to each person. Think about the minor or major differences in the way you interact with your family members and to your best friend. With your significant other or with a police officer who just pulled you over for pulling a U turn on Lougheed Highway. The secrets you tell them, the politeness or lack of, the tone of voice you use. The way you treat each person is both dependent on their relationship to you and the current present situation. Does this mean that there really is no such thing as “just being yourself” because there is no ‘yourself’ as a singular situational context?
Recently I was going through my old photo albums with a friend. I saw the changes that I’d
gone through in my short lifetime so far. I’d experienced everything from racism and being constantly picked on as a elementary schooler, to being MVD* on my high school football team. I was all stereotypes, from nerd, to jock, to thug, to student and now a professional. Unpopular to popular and back again. I'd lived each of those lives and felt the difference in the way people treat you in all of those lives. Within each picture in my album, there was a story, a memory whether good or bad. I'd felt the pain of being ridiculed, I'd felt the pride of winning at sports, I'd felt the belonging when being with friends. Looking at the pictures only presented a snapshot of the physical moment and some of those snapshots were pretty funny looking back at how I used to be. (My friends cheeks and stomach ended up hurting because she was laughing so hard at some of the old pictures.) But because I was all stereotypes, I really was none of them. If you look through your old photo albums or jpeg files, I’m sure you’ll find the same. (Unless you were the same person all throughout, then I apologize my friend, you’ve lived a sheltered and unfortunately uneventful life.) If we were to use an anology, I would use travel as one, because the changes in lifestyle and that of destinations are similar in experiences. Say a person grew up in, say, Edmonton. They were born and raised there and had never traveled anywhere further than 2 hours away. They’d shopped for groceries at the Safeway around the block for 20 years, and went to Stan’s Video Store for the latest rentals, until Blockbuster built a store right next door, causing Stan to go bankrupt and eventually losing his home to foreclosure. Then there was a person who was also born in Edmonton, but had snorkeled the Great Barrier Reefs of Sydney. They’d
built houses in Africa, walked through the slums and shanty towns of Brazil. They’d made friends with this girl who was from Germany and this guy from Amsterdam and they shared amazing stories while traveling together. They’d camel-backed across the Saharan desert, silhouetted by the setting sun and stood at the base of the Victoria Falls in Zambia and felt the ancient mist wet them through to the soul.** Who would be a more interesting person? Who would you rather have dinner and share a drink 
with? To hear their stories and to vicariously live through them by the excitement in their eyes as they retell their tales. While it doesn’t take a $2000 plane ticket and plenty of vacation time to be interesting, it does take stories. It also takes experience to make interesting stories, whether your stories are about world travel or about the many lifestyle changes that you’ve gone through in your life. I think the many faces that you have are dependent on your experiences that you’ve gone through as those many roles. The more changes you’ve gone through, the better you are in many different situations and the more socially adept you are. Being a chameleon when you were younger makes you a deeper adult and a stronger and more independent person as you’ve already gone through the soul-searching and trying to ‘figure out who you are’ stage and now, who you are, is the pick of your choice, the best of the experiences. You may have gone through the nerd stage onto experience the popular stage. Then onto the rebellion stage and perhaps even lived in the Emo world for a year. Who you are at the end is who you’ve chosen to be because you realize that while you’ve gone through many different experiences, this is the one that suits you the best and the lifestyle is one that you are happy to live in. If you’ve only ever experienced one type of lifestyle, how are you to know that this is the best? In life there are many choices, from flavors of ice cream (which I continue to refer back to because I’m a huge ice cream advocate) to the different colors of shirts that you could buy. You are constantly bombarded with choice and generally, once somebody has been presented with multitudes of choice and experienced them all, they return to the one that best pressed their happy button. The most stable person is one who’s gone through instability, who’s experienced the extremities of life and have now found a niche for themselves out of their wide gamut of lifestyles. These are the most interesting people I've had the pleasure of meeting.
This is not to say that once you’ve found your stability you won’t change anymore or acquire new ‘faces’. While I’ve experienced a lot in my first 3 decades of life, there are many more hats that I will be wearing in the future. What kind of boss will I be? Will I be a caring father or a strict one, or both? Will I be a good husband or a great one? Those are all experiences that still face me and you have many experiences that still face you. Don’t be scared of change and definitely don’t be scared to acquire new experiences. The more you have, the deeper of a person you will be and the more interesting of a life you will live. After all, you only have one, so make it as amazing as you can.
*Most Valuable Defenceman
** My sister has done all of these things and she is one of the most interesting people I know
Friday, August 7, 2009
25 Random Facts about Wah
25. I drive a right hand drive import from japan and now when I piss people off, they think it’s my passenger that did it and people glare at them instead of me. I have random people talking to me about being on the wrong side of the car...to which I reply "no i'm on the RIGHT side of the car."
24. I’m a clean/neat nazi. Everything at home has a place where it should be and it should be there. My dvd’s are all in alphabetical order, organized by genre.
23. When I was 5 and my sister was 3, I saved her from drowning in a kiddie pool. And now, she’s a better swimmer than I am.
22. I like swords. I have a 2 handed longsword in my coffee table. When I was 6 my parents and I went to a ceramics store in chinatown. I played with an intricately carved ivory (yes ivory) sword and broke it. They fixed it, but my dad had to buy it, and it’s been on display at my parents house for the last 20+ years. (He was NOT happy with me for about 4 months)
21. My parents put me in hockey, baseball (T-Ball!), soccer, kung fu and I quit them all after a couple weeks. For some reason, I stuck with piano for 15 years. I am a master pianist. (but I havn't played since I moved out of my parents house, so I'm a rusty pianist now)
20. I can play any song on rockband/guitar hero first time through in expert. (piano fingers help)
19. I want to be a published author. Everybody has ONE amazing story to tell (some people more, but everybody has at least one) I’m 1/3 done telling my one story so far.
18. I miss my dog Momo
17. I think Kid Carson and Nira Aurora talk about really dumb things sometimes like…who cares about kids date last night and whether or not nira had sex with her husband???? Benjamin rocks though. Amy’s cool too. (and yes, I am a P1 listener lol)
16. I have 2 sisters and 7 brothers from another mother who I can count on 100%: CL (who is this white guy singing Chinese??) SF (he wants to fight me) JW (bandana over the eyes and tank top at high school caf) TL (I’m luvaboy, wanna drink?) CS (futureshop!) CL (shoots a firecracker at me) JH (the token whiteboy) GF (I'm a doctor!!!)
15. I read a lot about everything. I like to learn new things. VALUE! I’m glad my sister is an English teacher because she recommends some awesome books.
14. the majority of my family is in Malaysia and I try to go back every 4 years. I love mee goring and roti canai and chili crab and laksa and bor bor cha cha and…
13. I think I would make a great life coach but sometimes I have trouble taking my own advice.
12. I’m deathly scared of heights. One time I rode “the Revelation” at playland and I shat my pants. My buddy was like “I know the guy who runs it! He’s gonna let us ride for extra long!” and I was thinking “aw fk, get me offfffff…” when I got down my arms were sore cuz I was holding on so tight and my face was white. Never again…I never thought I would die, but at that moment, I seriously thought I would die.
11. if I could, I’d live on the beach and wear only shorts all day long, sit on the sand everynight and drink.10. I have really bad eating habits. Sometimes I eat once a day, sometimes I eat 5 times after 10pm, I eat whatever’s in my fridge (the bachelor life). I’m a decent cook though, and I love cooking (it’s relaxing) but it sucks to cook for one person.
9. I knew my multiplication table up to 12x12 by the time I was in kindergarten. It took me until grade 3 to learn English though after 3 years of ESL. I was a lonely child.
8. I like to make things happen. I like to organize things, plan things and do things. I'm never really just sitting around doing nothing.
7. Coke (cocacola to clarify!) gives me a killer sugar high. My friends can always tell “you’ve had coke haven’t you?” “Ok time to quarantine Pi.”
6. I grew up in coquitlam and would drive out to Richmond everyday with JW, SF, DY and TC to meet up with everyone at hotshots. Then one day, all the boys came to coquitlam to visit me. ONE DAY out of 8 years. The Paseo had 250,000km on it when I sold it.
5. I have little patience for inconsiderate people. when people are ass’s to other people for no reason.
4. Random strangers come up and chat with me on the streets a lot. In stores, while I’m waiting for someone, outside a change room, crossing the street, in restaurants. There are some interesting people out there (and some not so much…some are just friggin weird)
3. my 2 things that bug me the most are people who are late, and people who sell out last second. I mean…come on!! It’s not like I didn’t tell you what time to meet up 5 days ago.
2. Trevor Linden is my hero cuz he’s a huge giver to our community AND he is captain canuck. But now, I vote kesler for captain. Lu can’t do sh*t from the goal to motivate the team.
1. I wanted to grow up a ninja when I was a kid. I had this shirt with a ninja on it and I wore it for my Grade 4, 5 and 6 class picture. My mom finally caught on and hid it when my gr 6 picture date came. I love ninjas.Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Dirty Thirty
There’s never really been anything I won’t try out once and since 2009 started, I’ve been a ‘yes’ man to anything new. It’s been quite the journey so far with marathons, world trips, and I even upgraded my motorcycle to a 750cc. I went for a foot massage this weekend with a friend after a long day. I’ve had back massages, neck massages and the most memorable to date was the Spicy Grandma in China that murdered my neck and made me a parapalegic for 4 hours, but never 
foot massages before. We walked into the reflexology place and was greeted by two China grandmas. 'OMG I’m going to die again' was the first thought that crossed my mind, but then again, we were in Canada, and governed by actual laws so if I was paralyzed, I could sue this time. So I relaxed a bit and we started chatting in Mandarin and Cantonese. My friend couldn’t speak much so she sat quietly, nervously smiling, enjoying her massage.
The conversation somehow veered towards what we did, whether we were in school or working, to which I replied that we were both working. My massage Grandma asked me how old I was and I answered. She suddenly stopped mid press, her gnarly knuckles still embedded in my heel and her jaw literally dropped. It was as if I’d told her I’d set her house on fire and punted her dog into the flames. “Nooooo, you’re not 30. You’re… lying.” She said in slow whispered tones.
Since last week, I’ve gotten quite a few of those. From the guy at the liquor store when I was buying my regular 24 case of MGD’s to the 7-11 guy who I bought a lotto 649 from. Regular disbelief that I was really 30 years old. My friend who was with me at the massage, who is almost 23 (but looks 12 herself) also finds it hard to believe that I’m so *gasp* old. I feel young though, I think young and I act young. I’m definitely no where near the ‘act my age’ of my
cousin, who is only 7 months older than I. He’s married and looks his age.
I could pass for 23.5 and am actually probably healthier than most 19 year olds. My very active lifestyle also doesn’t reflect that of a 30 year old, although I’d say it’s about half half. I still laugh at everything like a 10 year old; loud and quick to smile. I like to talk about everything from aliens in outer space to how to properly invest your money in today’s sputtering economy. I like to hang out with the boys and play video games drinking beer and I like to go to live jazz shows sipping on Reisling. I party until 5am, until I can’t remember much of the night before on weekends and I fall asleep reading English literature on weekdays. There’s nothing really wrong with this though. I love the balance I have in my life. I may act like a 20 year old most of the time, but my assets, education and career are that of a 40 year old, so 30 is a good happy medium, the best of both worlds.
There is one 'issue', however, that I've been told of recently by a great friend of mine.
I’ve heard quite frequently that age is just a number, that you are only as old as you feel, that you’re only as young as you act. I’ve been told that while my lifestyle is fine as a single guy, that I will have trouble finding a partner to keep up with me, or rather, one that I find interesting enough to take along with me on my life journey. I’d thought about this for a while, and it’s kind of true. My partner would have to be one that would be able to act a child with me, accepting of my dorky ways and immaturity. She’d have to be able to accept that while I am 30, I’m still 23.5 at heart and all of the pros and cons that come with it. On the flip side, she’d have to be able to keep up to my ambition, my experience and be able to keep me intrigued through constant conversation of both deep philosophical debates and simple ‘how was your day’s of mature adults. I'm not sure what my friend was eluding to, whether she meant I'll never find someone like that, or whether she meant that I should change my lifestyle. She didn't say when I asked her, she only said that I had to find out for myself.
I guess being 30 has it's own new set of pros and cons. Gone are the insecurities of the teens, in the early 20's every person struggles to find themselves and their identity in the world and in the late 20's you get comfortable with who you are and really grow into being a strong individual as opposed to the conformity and social acceptance that we all strived for in our early 20's. Individuality is sexy, independence is amazing. What's 30 hold for us?
I'm looking forward to finding out.
foot massages before. We walked into the reflexology place and was greeted by two China grandmas. 'OMG I’m going to die again' was the first thought that crossed my mind, but then again, we were in Canada, and governed by actual laws so if I was paralyzed, I could sue this time. So I relaxed a bit and we started chatting in Mandarin and Cantonese. My friend couldn’t speak much so she sat quietly, nervously smiling, enjoying her massage.The conversation somehow veered towards what we did, whether we were in school or working, to which I replied that we were both working. My massage Grandma asked me how old I was and I answered. She suddenly stopped mid press, her gnarly knuckles still embedded in my heel and her jaw literally dropped. It was as if I’d told her I’d set her house on fire and punted her dog into the flames. “Nooooo, you’re not 30. You’re… lying.” She said in slow whispered tones.
Since last week, I’ve gotten quite a few of those. From the guy at the liquor store when I was buying my regular 24 case of MGD’s to the 7-11 guy who I bought a lotto 649 from. Regular disbelief that I was really 30 years old. My friend who was with me at the massage, who is almost 23 (but looks 12 herself) also finds it hard to believe that I’m so *gasp* old. I feel young though, I think young and I act young. I’m definitely no where near the ‘act my age’ of my
cousin, who is only 7 months older than I. He’s married and looks his age.
Funny thing is on the card it says "Think Young" when I was still young. I didn't get a "Think Old" card this year.
I could pass for 23.5 and am actually probably healthier than most 19 year olds. My very active lifestyle also doesn’t reflect that of a 30 year old, although I’d say it’s about half half. I still laugh at everything like a 10 year old; loud and quick to smile. I like to talk about everything from aliens in outer space to how to properly invest your money in today’s sputtering economy. I like to hang out with the boys and play video games drinking beer and I like to go to live jazz shows sipping on Reisling. I party until 5am, until I can’t remember much of the night before on weekends and I fall asleep reading English literature on weekdays. There’s nothing really wrong with this though. I love the balance I have in my life. I may act like a 20 year old most of the time, but my assets, education and career are that of a 40 year old, so 30 is a good happy medium, the best of both worlds.
There is one 'issue', however, that I've been told of recently by a great friend of mine.
I’ve heard quite frequently that age is just a number, that you are only as old as you feel, that you’re only as young as you act. I’ve been told that while my lifestyle is fine as a single guy, that I will have trouble finding a partner to keep up with me, or rather, one that I find interesting enough to take along with me on my life journey. I’d thought about this for a while, and it’s kind of true. My partner would have to be one that would be able to act a child with me, accepting of my dorky ways and immaturity. She’d have to be able to accept that while I am 30, I’m still 23.5 at heart and all of the pros and cons that come with it. On the flip side, she’d have to be able to keep up to my ambition, my experience and be able to keep me intrigued through constant conversation of both deep philosophical debates and simple ‘how was your day’s of mature adults. I'm not sure what my friend was eluding to, whether she meant I'll never find someone like that, or whether she meant that I should change my lifestyle. She didn't say when I asked her, she only said that I had to find out for myself.
I guess being 30 has it's own new set of pros and cons. Gone are the insecurities of the teens, in the early 20's every person struggles to find themselves and their identity in the world and in the late 20's you get comfortable with who you are and really grow into being a strong individual as opposed to the conformity and social acceptance that we all strived for in our early 20's. Individuality is sexy, independence is amazing. What's 30 hold for us?
I'm looking forward to finding out.
Monday, July 6, 2009
The Best Time in Vancouver
Things to do this Summer (My Checklist):
-Launch the hockey site (July 15th: after 5 months of work)
-Close on the Surrey condo (July 8th: after 1 year of planning)
-Rent out the Surrey condo (July 12th)
-Run the Underwear Affair Marathon (July 11th)
-Find a Burnaby condo (Prior to August 15th)
-Pack up my stuff and move to Burnaby (August 15th- September 1st)
-Fix up and paint the Downtown condo (August sometime)
-Rent out the Downtown condo (August 15th- September 1st)
-Party w Shin and Chucky before they leave (September)
-Plan a camping trip to Bamfield (August sometime)
-Plan a family BBQ (August sometime)
-Plan a riding trip out to either the Island or to Mt. Baker (August sometime)
-Do something on July 29
Spend every sunny day doing something out in the sun, nothing wasted (no regrets come rain season)
-Run the seawall
-Run false creek/English bay
-Rollerblade anywhere
-Rooftop patio Sunday wet lunches
-Ride
-Saturday afternoon sleeps on the beach
-Bicycle
-Tennis
-Frisbee at Sunset Beach
-Beach BBQ's
-18 holes of golf/Driving range
-Outdoor pool
-Launch the hockey site (July 15th: after 5 months of work)
-Close on the Surrey condo (July 8th: after 1 year of planning)
-Rent out the Surrey condo (July 12th)
-Run the Underwear Affair Marathon (July 11th)
-Find a Burnaby condo (Prior to August 15th)
-Pack up my stuff and move to Burnaby (August 15th- September 1st)
-Fix up and paint the Downtown condo (August sometime)
-Rent out the Downtown condo (August 15th- September 1st)
-Party w Shin and Chucky before they leave (September)
-Plan a camping trip to Bamfield (August sometime)
-Plan a family BBQ (August sometime)
-Plan a riding trip out to either the Island or to Mt. Baker (August sometime)
-Do something on July 29
Spend every sunny day doing something out in the sun, nothing wasted (no regrets come rain season)
-Run the seawall
-Run false creek/English bay
-Rollerblade anywhere
-Rooftop patio Sunday wet lunches
-Ride
-Saturday afternoon sleeps on the beach
-Bicycle
-Tennis
-Frisbee at Sunset Beach
-Beach BBQ's
-18 holes of golf/Driving range
-Outdoor pool
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Quick Story #1: Happy Canada Day
Quick Story: I went to safeway today to get stuff for the bbq tomorrow and needed a cart. I didn't have a quarter though, and I really didn't want to lug around 30 chicken wings, 2 boxes of burger patties and 40 pounds of other stuff for an hour. I waited at the customer service lady to finish up with the person in front of me and handed her a $5.
"Can I get change please, quarters for the cart." I said.
"Oh no that's ok, I'll lend you a quarter..." (as she opens the cash register and hands me a quarter) "...just return it here when you're finished with it."
I thought how cool it was that she would just 'lend' me a quarter from the Safeway till on promise from a stranger to return a quarter. It was a long ways down to my car and it would mean walking all the way back upstairs (Safeway on Robson), returning the quarter, and looping around to the exit and going back downstairs to the parkade, it was a good 2 minute trip to return a quarter. I took it, thanked her and shopped away.
I was picking out an apple when I thought about how lucky we were, to live in a community (and society) as trusting as ours. Recently back from China, you couldn't trust your wallet in your pocket. A friend of ours told us that he had his $2000 SLR Canon camera in a case behind him walking through Beijing. When he got home to take out his camera, he found a bag full of stones instead. They'd lifted his camera and counter weighed it. He never even felt anything. It's definitely something we take for granted at home.
After I loaded the watermelon and ice cream and the rest of the bags in my car, I did the 2 minute trip and returned the quarter. Happy Canada Day!
"Can I get change please, quarters for the cart." I said.
"Oh no that's ok, I'll lend you a quarter..." (as she opens the cash register and hands me a quarter) "...just return it here when you're finished with it."
I thought how cool it was that she would just 'lend' me a quarter from the Safeway till on promise from a stranger to return a quarter. It was a long ways down to my car and it would mean walking all the way back upstairs (Safeway on Robson), returning the quarter, and looping around to the exit and going back downstairs to the parkade, it was a good 2 minute trip to return a quarter. I took it, thanked her and shopped away.
I was picking out an apple when I thought about how lucky we were, to live in a community (and society) as trusting as ours. Recently back from China, you couldn't trust your wallet in your pocket. A friend of ours told us that he had his $2000 SLR Canon camera in a case behind him walking through Beijing. When he got home to take out his camera, he found a bag full of stones instead. They'd lifted his camera and counter weighed it. He never even felt anything. It's definitely something we take for granted at home.
After I loaded the watermelon and ice cream and the rest of the bags in my car, I did the 2 minute trip and returned the quarter. Happy Canada Day!
Monday, June 22, 2009
The higher the water, the higher the boat
I saw a report this weekend that said "50% of N. Americans say they're dissatisfied with their jobs." I hear this alot from my friends too (and unfortunately, there are more days than not that I'm a part of the 50%.)
Being unhappy at work has nothing to do with the work available or what you're doing. It has everything to do with your fear and inability to decide to go after what you want because at the end of the day (literally) your happiness has everything to do with how you'd spent that day. "Economic uncertainty is the perfect opportunity to seize control of your career, why? Because you have little to lose. You know everything you need to know now, but what you don't have is the ability to make a decision in the face of uncertainty." stated the report. It's fear, it's scary to dive into something unknown or different. But to change is to progress, especially if your unhappy right now. It's a big challenge.
To have progress, you have to suck first. The single best lesson is that you have to learn that there is no right choice, no right decision, no right path in the beginning. All decisions have opportunities, and all opportunities have a chance of success. Pick the one that seems the most interesting and run with it, make the best of it. Once it opens up and you learn more, you'll be able to decide if it is the right choice, but without change or action, it's a 100% failure rate.
Starting over is risky no? Off of your comfort zone, off the familiar path into uncharted territory. Lets look at the risks in your life. Your risk is that you will have to lose what you have, is it all that much? Imagine you shifted your focus on 'the opportunity that existed' as opposed to 'losing what you have' if you changed your life. Is it possible that the true risk is continuing your life as is? Most people get complacent and end up lowering their life standards due to comfort and contentment. The ambition that they once had to climb the corporate ladder, to innovate new ideas, to start new ventures...those all fade away with the unhappy daily grind that one accepts as a result of the fear of change. What do you risk losing if you do not change? Your energy, your enthusiasm,
your dreams. Your greatest risk now, is the status quo, what society looks on as safe is now what you look at as safe. Comfort trumps change, even though the 'comfort' you are experiencing now is the dumps.
A new life is calling for you! Don't be scared of change but welcome it with the happiness that new possibilities are around the corner. When you look at a task with happiness, it turns into something you want to do (as much as you don't want to do it) and it makes your passage smoother. Something else I'd read: "Difficult situations should be faced with courage and joy, the higher the water, the higher the boat."
Being unhappy at work has nothing to do with the work available or what you're doing. It has everything to do with your fear and inability to decide to go after what you want because at the end of the day (literally) your happiness has everything to do with how you'd spent that day. "Economic uncertainty is the perfect opportunity to seize control of your career, why? Because you have little to lose. You know everything you need to know now, but what you don't have is the ability to make a decision in the face of uncertainty." stated the report. It's fear, it's scary to dive into something unknown or different. But to change is to progress, especially if your unhappy right now. It's a big challenge.
To have progress, you have to suck first. The single best lesson is that you have to learn that there is no right choice, no right decision, no right path in the beginning. All decisions have opportunities, and all opportunities have a chance of success. Pick the one that seems the most interesting and run with it, make the best of it. Once it opens up and you learn more, you'll be able to decide if it is the right choice, but without change or action, it's a 100% failure rate.Starting over is risky no? Off of your comfort zone, off the familiar path into uncharted territory. Lets look at the risks in your life. Your risk is that you will have to lose what you have, is it all that much? Imagine you shifted your focus on 'the opportunity that existed' as opposed to 'losing what you have' if you changed your life. Is it possible that the true risk is continuing your life as is? Most people get complacent and end up lowering their life standards due to comfort and contentment. The ambition that they once had to climb the corporate ladder, to innovate new ideas, to start new ventures...those all fade away with the unhappy daily grind that one accepts as a result of the fear of change. What do you risk losing if you do not change? Your energy, your enthusiasm,
your dreams. Your greatest risk now, is the status quo, what society looks on as safe is now what you look at as safe. Comfort trumps change, even though the 'comfort' you are experiencing now is the dumps.A new life is calling for you! Don't be scared of change but welcome it with the happiness that new possibilities are around the corner. When you look at a task with happiness, it turns into something you want to do (as much as you don't want to do it) and it makes your passage smoother. Something else I'd read: "Difficult situations should be faced with courage and joy, the higher the water, the higher the boat."
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Something I heard
I just got back from China and there were 2 things I'd heard there that really stuck with me.
I was in a scripture store where the artist himself worked out of. He was a student of Confucious and h
e did a painting of a man on top of a rocky mountain, fishing off of the cliff into air. There was no water, no fish, but he sat there with his bamboo rod and string hanging off the side of the cliff. The painting had the chinese characters "Goh Shan Chui Diu" which means 'high mountain fishing'. The meaning of it though was that no matter the outcome, the end, you should always enjoy the journey along the way. The fisherman knew he wasn't going to get fish at the top of the mountain, but he enjoyed the climb and view along the way, so it wasn't a wasted journey regardless of his outcome. If we're able to enjoy the process as much as the outcome (the design and fabrication of fashion as well as the finished beauty of the end product, the cruise in your car along the highway as well as reaching your destination, the run along the seawall as well as the physically fit body), if we can enjoy the journey, then we'll be happy all of the time.
I liked the meaning so much I had the calligrapher write those 4 characters for me on a scroll.
On the plane ride back, I was watching a chinese movie, where they're dressed in armor and fighting with swords on horseback. Crouching Tiger styles. Leon Lai (Lai Ming) was one of the actors in the movie. He was the last remaining warrior of his clan and now lived in solitude in the forest until he ran across a Princess who was being attacked by her enemies. He saved her, though she was shot with a poison arrow. He took her back to his camp and when she awoke he showed her around. He was building a blimp, to carry him high above the forest and so that he could fly. In those days, people coudln't fly yet and he was trying a new idea. She said to him "You're such a dreamer, you're never going to fly" and he said back "Men need to dream, before dreams come true."
Keep dreaming, and one day your dreams will come true. (it takes action too though!!) Enjoy the journey, enjoy life right now, at this exact moment that you are living it, because it doesnt ever get any better than the present moment...and find inspiration anywhere and everywhere, from a little old calligraphy shop to movies that you watch.
I was in a scripture store where the artist himself worked out of. He was a student of Confucious and h
e did a painting of a man on top of a rocky mountain, fishing off of the cliff into air. There was no water, no fish, but he sat there with his bamboo rod and string hanging off the side of the cliff. The painting had the chinese characters "Goh Shan Chui Diu" which means 'high mountain fishing'. The meaning of it though was that no matter the outcome, the end, you should always enjoy the journey along the way. The fisherman knew he wasn't going to get fish at the top of the mountain, but he enjoyed the climb and view along the way, so it wasn't a wasted journey regardless of his outcome. If we're able to enjoy the process as much as the outcome (the design and fabrication of fashion as well as the finished beauty of the end product, the cruise in your car along the highway as well as reaching your destination, the run along the seawall as well as the physically fit body), if we can enjoy the journey, then we'll be happy all of the time.I liked the meaning so much I had the calligrapher write those 4 characters for me on a scroll.
On the plane ride back, I was watching a chinese movie, where they're dressed in armor and fighting with swords on horseback. Crouching Tiger styles. Leon Lai (Lai Ming) was one of the actors in the movie. He was the last remaining warrior of his clan and now lived in solitude in the forest until he ran across a Princess who was being attacked by her enemies. He saved her, though she was shot with a poison arrow. He took her back to his camp and when she awoke he showed her around. He was building a blimp, to carry him high above the forest and so that he could fly. In those days, people coudln't fly yet and he was trying a new idea. She said to him "You're such a dreamer, you're never going to fly" and he said back "Men need to dream, before dreams come true."Keep dreaming, and one day your dreams will come true. (it takes action too though!!) Enjoy the journey, enjoy life right now, at this exact moment that you are living it, because it doesnt ever get any better than the present moment...and find inspiration anywhere and everywhere, from a little old calligraphy shop to movies that you watch.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
woah!
It’s been a busy last 2 months since I started my new job. I used to slack at work allot because I had so much free time. I’d have time to do other things, like…play organize the hockey team, make weekend plans, do my banking, read some books…all non-work related. Now at my new job, I’m busy from start of day to end of day. Which is good…makes my day go by a lot faster, but now I have to do all my personal stuff at home! On my own personal time! Wth! =P
The last 2 months I’ve been going out a lot. Way too much for my liking, but its fun. I’ve seen a lot of old friends again, after a long hiatus. Made some new friends, met some interesting people. All the fun stuff that happens when you step out of your hermitdom. I’ve been a “yes” man for a while, like Jim Carrey. I joined Pilates at my work gym. I’ve run the Sun Run and I’m running in the Underwear Affair marathon in 2 months (Cancer research fundraiser for cancer below the waist. Pledge me!) I’ve gone to Vegas and I’m going to China this week. It’s funny all the things that you don’t do when you’re in a relationship. Though it’s been a while since I’ve just chilled at home and watched a movie or gone out to a nice dinner at a new restaurant (on a date). Funny the things you don’t do when you’re single.
All in all, I have to say…it’s been fun and the summers not even here yet.
The last 2 months I’ve been going out a lot. Way too much for my liking, but its fun. I’ve seen a lot of old friends again, after a long hiatus. Made some new friends, met some interesting people. All the fun stuff that happens when you step out of your hermitdom. I’ve been a “yes” man for a while, like Jim Carrey. I joined Pilates at my work gym. I’ve run the Sun Run and I’m running in the Underwear Affair marathon in 2 months (Cancer research fundraiser for cancer below the waist. Pledge me!) I’ve gone to Vegas and I’m going to China this week. It’s funny all the things that you don’t do when you’re in a relationship. Though it’s been a while since I’ve just chilled at home and watched a movie or gone out to a nice dinner at a new restaurant (on a date). Funny the things you don’t do when you’re single.
All in all, I have to say…it’s been fun and the summers not even here yet.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Twitterblog: 2.5 weeks is Over
So it's over...I'm bittersweet sad about it. Tomorrow I start my new job.
TBC...
TBC...
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Dating Game
Soooo...I'm single.
It feels almost blasphemic to say those words. For so long, it was pounded into my head that I was not available, that I was in a committed relationship with someone and thou shalt not lookest at other Godesses. After half a decade of being with one girl, I'd forgotten alot of things about being single. Here's a list of the things I'd forgotten about The Dating Game:
1) The rules havn't changed...unlike technology, that changes every 18 months, you'd upgrade your PC or risk not being able to support MSFT's new blue screen, the rules to dating have not changed at all. there's still the 2 day rule for calling, the weekday date and you level up to the weeknight date. then if you're REALLY special, you get a weekend date. There's still the 'my friend likes you' the 'what are you drinking' and the 'hi my name is...' but now, instead of giving phone numbers, everyone's exchanging blackberry pin's.
2) When you date, you're searching. It's like 510 Flavors of Gelato. You walk in, do you pick the wasabi green ginger ice cream right away? No. You ask for a
taste and they give you one of those little tiny plastic spoons with a chunk of ice cream. You taste it and you decide if you like it or not. I decide that I will pass on wasabi green ginger ice cream today. Can I try some lime lemon sorbet? And so on, until you have the flavor that you like and then you say "Give me more of that. I like that." So now you walk out of the Gelato place, happy as a clam in high tide with the ice cream of your choice. You're confident that the choice you made is the right one because you've tried the rest, now you're with the best. Isn't dating the same? You go on one or two dates, figure out that the guy who you thought was soooOOOooo funny was really just drunk that day or that the girl who you thought was really deep because you philosophised about the meaning of life on the first date just turned out to be really not-smart (PC for dumb) and was really just asking alot of questions for real and not just rhetorically.
3) It sucks when one person likes the other person more. The difference with People-People relationships (vs People-Ice Cream) is that it goes both ways. While you don't think they are a match for you, they might think they are. I had a chat with a friend over dinner tonight and I'd said to her that her relationship is great because they both cared and liked and obsessed over each other in the same 'level'. While sometimes one liked the other more, it was never a large gap so all that was done, was appreciated. All good things were seen as good. All positive intentions were seen as for what they were. The problem comes when one person likes the other way more, like on a scale of 1-10, one person likes the other 8 and the other just feels a 3. So now, all that was done, is not appreciated. All good things will be seen as annoying. All positive intentions will be seen negatively. The 20 text messages a day turn from "aw he cares about what i'm doing and can't stop thinkin about me" to "oh damn she's totally blowing up my phone and being obsessive." The hour long phone calls go from "i can't stop talking to you cuz i love the sound of your voice" to "Oh damn. i got so much to do and this is totally killing my time." It's funny how feelings can change perspectives, but perspectives don't change feelings. (booya that was deep. think on that one for a second.)
4) That the grass is always greener. How many times have you heard this one? When you're in a relationship, there's times when you just want your own time, your own things, your own life. You feel like a babysitter, a gaurdian, a driver, a call center help line, a therapist. You feel like you have to think for 2 all the time, that you have no say in your own life. You wish for greener pastures, for the wide open space to run around in and do your own thing whatever it may be. But when you're si
ngle, there are times when you long for someone to care for, to cherish. You want to be a gaurdian, you want someone to call you, to open up to you. The time you have now seems too much. The wide open space is too vast, too empty for one person. I guess the perfect relationship would have a bit of everything and not just too much of one. Your life, my life and our life, all proportioned perfectly to both persons liking. I guess when you want the greener grass on the other side of the fence, it means that you're in the wrong field to begin with. I'm sure there's a plot of land out there that's just green enough for me, and when I find it, there will be no greener grass. (I'm sure my future girlfriend would love to see that I called her a plot of land.)
5) That if you don't look, they'll come along in their own time.
It feels almost blasphemic to say those words. For so long, it was pounded into my head that I was not available, that I was in a committed relationship with someone and thou shalt not lookest at other Godesses. After half a decade of being with one girl, I'd forgotten alot of things about being single. Here's a list of the things I'd forgotten about The Dating Game:
1) The rules havn't changed...unlike technology, that changes every 18 months, you'd upgrade your PC or risk not being able to support MSFT's new blue screen, the rules to dating have not changed at all. there's still the 2 day rule for calling, the weekday date and you level up to the weeknight date. then if you're REALLY special, you get a weekend date. There's still the 'my friend likes you' the 'what are you drinking' and the 'hi my name is...' but now, instead of giving phone numbers, everyone's exchanging blackberry pin's.
2) When you date, you're searching. It's like 510 Flavors of Gelato. You walk in, do you pick the wasabi green ginger ice cream right away? No. You ask for a
taste and they give you one of those little tiny plastic spoons with a chunk of ice cream. You taste it and you decide if you like it or not. I decide that I will pass on wasabi green ginger ice cream today. Can I try some lime lemon sorbet? And so on, until you have the flavor that you like and then you say "Give me more of that. I like that." So now you walk out of the Gelato place, happy as a clam in high tide with the ice cream of your choice. You're confident that the choice you made is the right one because you've tried the rest, now you're with the best. Isn't dating the same? You go on one or two dates, figure out that the guy who you thought was soooOOOooo funny was really just drunk that day or that the girl who you thought was really deep because you philosophised about the meaning of life on the first date just turned out to be really not-smart (PC for dumb) and was really just asking alot of questions for real and not just rhetorically.3) It sucks when one person likes the other person more. The difference with People-People relationships (vs People-Ice Cream) is that it goes both ways. While you don't think they are a match for you, they might think they are. I had a chat with a friend over dinner tonight and I'd said to her that her relationship is great because they both cared and liked and obsessed over each other in the same 'level'. While sometimes one liked the other more, it was never a large gap so all that was done, was appreciated. All good things were seen as good. All positive intentions were seen as for what they were. The problem comes when one person likes the other way more, like on a scale of 1-10, one person likes the other 8 and the other just feels a 3. So now, all that was done, is not appreciated. All good things will be seen as annoying. All positive intentions will be seen negatively. The 20 text messages a day turn from "aw he cares about what i'm doing and can't stop thinkin about me" to "oh damn she's totally blowing up my phone and being obsessive." The hour long phone calls go from "i can't stop talking to you cuz i love the sound of your voice" to "Oh damn. i got so much to do and this is totally killing my time." It's funny how feelings can change perspectives, but perspectives don't change feelings. (booya that was deep. think on that one for a second.)
4) That the grass is always greener. How many times have you heard this one? When you're in a relationship, there's times when you just want your own time, your own things, your own life. You feel like a babysitter, a gaurdian, a driver, a call center help line, a therapist. You feel like you have to think for 2 all the time, that you have no say in your own life. You wish for greener pastures, for the wide open space to run around in and do your own thing whatever it may be. But when you're si
ngle, there are times when you long for someone to care for, to cherish. You want to be a gaurdian, you want someone to call you, to open up to you. The time you have now seems too much. The wide open space is too vast, too empty for one person. I guess the perfect relationship would have a bit of everything and not just too much of one. Your life, my life and our life, all proportioned perfectly to both persons liking. I guess when you want the greener grass on the other side of the fence, it means that you're in the wrong field to begin with. I'm sure there's a plot of land out there that's just green enough for me, and when I find it, there will be no greener grass. (I'm sure my future girlfriend would love to see that I called her a plot of land.)5) That if you don't look, they'll come along in their own time.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
VICTORYYYY!
Yesterday was my last day at work. I was laid off 7 working days ago when my boss asked me to step into his office and proceeded to tell me all the reasons how it wasn't me, it was him...and how maybe there would be a possibility for us to work together again in the future, that right now it was just bad timing and that he just couldn't afford to pay me anymore (wow, that 
sounded like how I've ended relationships). Of course, just as my ex's do when I tell them that, I freaked out a bit. I cried. I fetal'd up and rocked back and forth for an hour or so...in the dark. It was kind of sadly funny, because the day before, I'd hurt my foot running around the seawall. Something called Plantar Fasciitis (wiki: Plantar fasciitis is a syndrome of heel pain due to inflammation of the thick ligament of the base of the foot. A tight, inflamed plantar fascia can cause pain when walking or running, and lead to the formation of a heel spur. ) And that morning, it was nice out but it'd started raining heavily during the day. So here I was, freshly laid off, limping home in the rain with no umbrella. I could almost hear the violins, serenading my tragedy.
sounded like how I've ended relationships). Of course, just as my ex's do when I tell them that, I freaked out a bit. I cried. I fetal'd up and rocked back and forth for an hour or so...in the dark. It was kind of sadly funny, because the day before, I'd hurt my foot running around the seawall. Something called Plantar Fasciitis (wiki: Plantar fasciitis is a syndrome of heel pain due to inflammation of the thick ligament of the base of the foot. A tight, inflamed plantar fascia can cause pain when walking or running, and lead to the formation of a heel spur. ) And that morning, it was nice out but it'd started raining heavily during the day. So here I was, freshly laid off, limping home in the rain with no umbrella. I could almost hear the violins, serenading my tragedy. That was it though. When I'd gotten home from the walk, I'd let all my anger, sadness and negativity out already. It'd washed away with the rain dripping down my temples. I let myself go for a bit, I let myself wander and lose all hope, to be really sad, to be really angry and be the victim for a bit. I told myself I was screwed, I told myself it was the end, that I was done. It felt good. It felt like a relief to be a victim, to know that there was nothing you could do and that you just had to accept what was. But once the feeling subsided, it never came back. It's funny how that works. When my ex and I broke up, I'd run into some random things and feelings welled up inside of me. Memories flooded my mind and I'd get emotional about it. But the next time I'd run into the random thing, the feelings never came back. It was a one time thing. I think from that, I'd learned that if you hold things in, push it to the back of your head, it never goes away. But if you let it take you over and control you for a powerful short time, it will leave you and never come back.
I made a few calls. I applied at a few places. I broke it down to one small step at a time, one doable task at a time, leaving my doomsday thoughts out of it, but just concentrating on one step at a time. Today I had my final interview with a company and throughout this week, I'd had several. I have 3 offer letters in front of me, all equally attractive. I had a CEO come into the 2nd interview and try to close me on why I should work for his company. I had a Director challenge me in foosball on my way out because he wanted to show me how great of a culture his company had. This last 7 days have been amazingly busy but well worthwhile. Now, I'll have a week or so off of work (a mini vacation!! woo!) and my pick of futures to walk towards.
In the words of Johnny Drama, VICTORRRYYYY!!! And like Drama, I couldn't have done it without my friends. They kept me up, they kept me motivated and they let me know that I really wasn't that screwed. ;) Thank you. 
Monday, March 23, 2009
Aw fukuruku
I was laid off today.
My boss said he appreciated my work, and really didn't want to but because of the economy, can't afford to keep me anymore. He said that as soon as the deals I brought in closes and we have the contract for them, he'd bring me back but until then, he can't keep me.
*pow* smack to the face
*bam* kick to the nuts
*ka-donk* boot in the ribs
Well, I think this is my 3...I hope its' my 3rd. I can't take much more, tag me out.
My boss said he appreciated my work, and really didn't want to but because of the economy, can't afford to keep me anymore. He said that as soon as the deals I brought in closes and we have the contract for them, he'd bring me back but until then, he can't keep me.
*pow* smack to the face
*bam* kick to the nuts
*ka-donk* boot in the ribs
Well, I think this is my 3...I hope its' my 3rd. I can't take much more, tag me out.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
HOCKEY HOCKEY HOCKEY!!
When I was younger in my preteens I didn't watch alot of TV. I'm probably one of the few guys that never watched the Transformers growing up (which I think eventually saved me alot of money seeing all the toys my autobot-obsessed friends buy) There's a whole other story to that, but I'll tell that another day. Growing up, my family had only ever had one television, which my dad was usually on for most of the evenings, watching chinese shows with my mom. My parents also didn't 'believe' in television, something that today I'm grateful for. We were enrolled in piano, kumon, chinese school, judo, swimming. All things little Asian kids do! Don't mess, we'll karate kick your ass while playing the violin speaking in 4 different languages and drinking bubble tea.
One of the things we'd watch all the time though, was hockey. I'd remember that hockey was the
only thing my dad would watch that my sister and I were interested in. Moreso than the chinese dramas which, while were funny in a 'I-only-understand-every-second-sentence' kind of way but was way too adult humor for my 10 year old mind. So when hockey was on, my sister and I would be in front of the tv, our only time with the elusive technology. The year Trevor Linden was drafted into his first season of the NHL, 1989, was the year we started watching hockey.
Fast forward 20 years, Linden has just retired. He will
forever be remembered as Captain Vancouver, not for what he did for the Canucks on the ice, but for his off ice work. Lindens given so much back to our community, from the terminally ill children at Canuck Place to property development out in the Kits area, not to mention he was also President of the NHL Players Association, representing all the players to the owners and league commissioners. Sentimentally, my sister and I were at his retirement game. Seeing him years ago put on the Canucks sweater for the first time and now, seeing his banner lifted into the rafters put a tear to my eye. I love hockey.
So while being a fan of the game for so long, I'd just recently started playing the game. I tell ya, it's not as easy as it looks. My post season dreams of carving down the ice, dipsy doodling the puck around all the defenders to score with a spin-o-rama backhand went crashing down as hard as I'd crashed down on the ice in my first game. I could barely stop and when I had the puck, I would panic and end up ass down on the ice. I even bravely attempted a slapshot, which I missed the puck completely and ended up face down, splayed out. Somehow in my mind, I'd pictured it all differently. A year and a half later, I can't say I'm that much better at the game, but I can say that I've practiced my heart out, played every single week, took all the advice of the better players and I can at least stop now.
On my way, my boys decided to join me on this journey. So about 8 or 9 of us had never played before and started to dedicate ourselves to the art of ice hockey. I started to book ice times, and began organizing a recreational drop in night every second Friday. Since then, my excel spreadsheet has gone from 12 players to over 90 contacts and next month, our team, the HotShots, is heading into our first year of league hockey.
(Our Team a year later)
One of the things we'd watch all the time though, was hockey. I'd remember that hockey was the
only thing my dad would watch that my sister and I were interested in. Moreso than the chinese dramas which, while were funny in a 'I-only-understand-every-second-sentence' kind of way but was way too adult humor for my 10 year old mind. So when hockey was on, my sister and I would be in front of the tv, our only time with the elusive technology. The year Trevor Linden was drafted into his first season of the NHL, 1989, was the year we started watching hockey.Fast forward 20 years, Linden has just retired. He will
forever be remembered as Captain Vancouver, not for what he did for the Canucks on the ice, but for his off ice work. Lindens given so much back to our community, from the terminally ill children at Canuck Place to property development out in the Kits area, not to mention he was also President of the NHL Players Association, representing all the players to the owners and league commissioners. Sentimentally, my sister and I were at his retirement game. Seeing him years ago put on the Canucks sweater for the first time and now, seeing his banner lifted into the rafters put a tear to my eye. I love hockey.So while being a fan of the game for so long, I'd just recently started playing the game. I tell ya, it's not as easy as it looks. My post season dreams of carving down the ice, dipsy doodling the puck around all the defenders to score with a spin-o-rama backhand went crashing down as hard as I'd crashed down on the ice in my first game. I could barely stop and when I had the puck, I would panic and end up ass down on the ice. I even bravely attempted a slapshot, which I missed the puck completely and ended up face down, splayed out. Somehow in my mind, I'd pictured it all differently. A year and a half later, I can't say I'm that much better at the game, but I can say that I've practiced my heart out, played every single week, took all the advice of the better players and I can at least stop now.
On my way, my boys decided to join me on this journey. So about 8 or 9 of us had never played before and started to dedicate ourselves to the art of ice hockey. I started to book ice times, and began organizing a recreational drop in night every second Friday. Since then, my excel spreadsheet has gone from 12 players to over 90 contacts and next month, our team, the HotShots, is heading into our first year of league hockey.
(Pic from the first ice time)
(Our Team a year later)
I want to own a piece of Vancouver and be able to positively influence the city that I live in...can I do it with hockey?
Working with several talented partners, who are also some of my closest friends, we will hopefully be able to realize that vision soon. The two-fold plan is to, one, have an online ecommerce portal for recreational ice hockey players in Vancouver to buy gear, meet, discuss, and research the sport and two, start our own full blown rec hockey league. The league will promote the site, and the site will promote the league each effectively piggy backing off one another towards being strong enough to influence the Vancouver rec hockey culture. Once that happens the plan is to quit my job, do this full time, and just play hockey all day long... =D
(LOL)
but until then, I'll keep skating, keep practicing and if I'm able to come even 1% of what Linden did, I'm a happy man.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
29 Year Cycle
Beginning at birth, there are successive periods of about seven years in a person's life, each one a stage of important adjustments to reality. At about 7 years of age, the first quarter of the 
transiting Saturn cycle, the first crisis of maturity occurs and self-awareness takes form. At about ages 14 or 15, the change from child to adult occurs. About 21-22 years of age brings another adjustment to the demands of society. When Saturn completes its first cycle at about 29 years, people must come to terms with themselves and the society in which they live. This point in the cycle is called the Saturn return. It is almost always a time of important commitments, decisions, and the acceptance of responsibilities and changes of lifestyle.
transiting Saturn cycle, the first crisis of maturity occurs and self-awareness takes form. At about ages 14 or 15, the change from child to adult occurs. About 21-22 years of age brings another adjustment to the demands of society. When Saturn completes its first cycle at about 29 years, people must come to terms with themselves and the society in which they live. This point in the cycle is called the Saturn return. It is almost always a time of important commitments, decisions, and the acceptance of responsibilities and changes of lifestyle.I don't remember much about my first Saturnism at age 7. I remember running around alot, doing my Kumon homework and playing the piano. At the second cycle of 14/15, that was the awkward time. I was coming out of my shell, previously sheltered and protected by my parents. All of a sudden I'd discovered girls! (I'd also discovered that they had no interest in me, a chubby, pimple faced Chinaman who didn't wear the coolest clothes or say the smoothest things.) At age 14 was also when I realized I could be an athlete and so I did and I excelled at it and thus was my identity for 7 years.
21. Ahh, good ol' 21. In hindsight now, looking back at the stage of the planets and moons and all that jazz, it makes sense. Or rather, it fits into the story nicely. I had not a worry in the world. The minute responsibilities of a recent university graduate who had every option of the world in front of him. I travelled in packs like hunting wolves, with 30 of my closest boys (not kidding...30...) with me everywhere we went. Big Bamboo, Hotshots, Hong Lok Yuen, No. 9, BP, everywhere. 
We had girls with us and because we were all gentlemen, they loved us. The weekends and weeknights were spent racing down the highways in our garage made rice rockets with the +10hp stickers, going from restaurant to pool hall to kareoke bar, laughing all the way. It was quite the change from my restricted popularity in high school, going from ugly duckling to swan (albiet a ruff gruff manly swan..argh!) We thought ourselves to be complete bad asses. Brotherhood, blood brothers, if one of us got into trouble, the other 29 would be there with a beep of the pager. (Only one of us had a cell phone so his bill was always the highest: hey Gurt, can I borrow your phone?) We were respected by our peers, looked up to by those younger. Guys wanted to hang out with us, girls wanted to get with us. (Or so that was our mentality, I mean, with a pimped out honda civic with stickers on the door and chopped springs so that you'd bottom out on every speed bump, who wouldn't want to be with us!) We ruled the world. Those were the days when we had no worries (mortgage? bills? what are those things? responsiblities? ugh, kill the word.) We were in the middle, grown out of the childish restraints that society places on teenagers but not quite at adulthood status yet. We were armed with the positive outlook that our futures were still unwritten, that we could become anything we wanted to be and our destinies and fates were like a fresh jar of play-doh, soft and moldable.
7 years later. 29 years old. Commitments, decisions and responsibilites. Over the years my 30 man crew turned into a 4 man entourage. Our consecutive 4 night party days turned into once a month and the weight of adulthood comes crashing down hard onto our shoulders. How easy is it to manage your own life, while simultaneously attempting to balance those of your friends, family and colleagues? To try to make their lives fit into yours and not become a selfish hermit. Never in my 29 years of life have I faced such a daunting task and a more difficult year. I left my secure job of 3+ years due to changes out of my control. I ended a relationship of 5 years with a girl I loved with all my heart, though was no longer in-love. I bought a 2nd Condo before the 
market crashed and now am down on the investment. And now, my two best friends are moving away, one of them for good, one of them for 2 years. To those who think they've been knocked off of their comfort zone, I'll join you in the parade. Hell, I'll organize it. Change is good and it is what I need. This past several years, I've been too comfortable, too relaxed and my fire has died down a bit. I remember the ambition and drive I had when I was 21, and I felt alive and motivated. I want it back, and I'll get it back. But for now, I just want to turn 30 in 4 months, and get 29 over with. This 'Saturn Return' cycle isn't all it's cracked out to be. The Play-doh's been left out too long, long forgotten by the first hands that started to mold it. It's become hard and stiff. 4 months to go.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
I Want to Own a Piece
I remember once a long time ago, in what is another life time now. I was 17 or 18 and I'd had just gotten used to driving my new car. It was brand new, off the lot and I was making payments on it. I owned it. I remember stopped at an intersection, and looking around me. I took in the stereo, I touched the door handle and caressed the seats. This was mine, I owned it. At that age, there wasn't much I'd owned that wasn't over $50, my kriss kross jeans were probably about $50. maybe my hypercolor shirt was up there, i can't remember. Looking around, I felt a sense of pride, that I'd reached a man-milestone somewhere. That I'd started on the track of independance because I now had something to my name that the banks would consider an asset (even though it was a depreciating asset.) Of course by 17, I'm sure some African kid in a lost tribe somewhere was now a father of 4, had his own dirt hut by 13 and had collection of death spears and blow darts that he'd bought with his hard earned hyena fur. But for me, it was a first.
I felt the same way after I bought my first condo, the first night I'd slept over there, on the floor of my soon-to-be-but-not-quite-yet furnished room. I owned it. (well, not quite since the bank still owns about 70% of it. Mortgage literally means dead pledge. damn banks.)
I love Vancouver. I can confidently say that I am a Vancouverite for life. I want to own a piece of Vancouver. Not just property, or businesses, but the culture. I'd love to be able to shift Vancouvers culture in a positive way somehow, build this young city into something more. Inject new ways of life into the always (and not always good) relaxed paced of our sleepy, marijuana induced city. Lets start something. How people say to surround yourself with those smarter than you, I've lived that saying. I'm working with a few partners on some exciting things. I havn't felt this way since I was editing film in University until 4 in the morning. It's something I passionately enjoy and I hope it will one day soon start paying the bills too. That's the dream isn't it? Stay tooned. To love what you do and to do what you love with those you love. That's the dream.
I felt the same way after I bought my first condo, the first night I'd slept over there, on the floor of my soon-to-be-but-not-quite-yet furnished room. I owned it. (well, not quite since the bank still owns about 70% of it. Mortgage literally means dead pledge. damn banks.)
I love Vancouver. I can confidently say that I am a Vancouverite for life. I want to own a piece of Vancouver. Not just property, or businesses, but the culture. I'd love to be able to shift Vancouvers culture in a positive way somehow, build this young city into something more. Inject new ways of life into the always (and not always good) relaxed paced of our sleepy, marijuana induced city. Lets start something. How people say to surround yourself with those smarter than you, I've lived that saying. I'm working with a few partners on some exciting things. I havn't felt this way since I was editing film in University until 4 in the morning. It's something I passionately enjoy and I hope it will one day soon start paying the bills too. That's the dream isn't it? Stay tooned. To love what you do and to do what you love with those you love. That's the dream. Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Loss of a Brother
Nothing is forever. My brotha is moving. It was in the works for a while, that he would be offered a lateral move but with a raise. The catch was that he would have to relocate to Austin, Texas and become a team lead to the new crew that was just assembled down there. It was a great opportunity. He would work closely with the VP who was based in Austin and it would earn him accolades from his company. The raise was crap though, meager compared to the job at hand. At first, he had said he wouldn't do it for under a certain number, and when they counter-offered him last weekend with the current bid, I didn't think he would take it. But I guess nothing stays the same forever. The bid didn't change, but Shins mind did.
When we were first introduced, it was not an amicable encounter. We'd went to different high schools, but in the same district and back in the 90's there was only 3. We were rival high schools (How Riverdale-ish eh?) and the first time we'd met we were in opposing gangs, set for a fight. How 14 years later, he's one of my best friends, my brother and roomate...there's a story to tell. There's a thousand stories to tell. Like all friendships, like all the people that you have around you, those that you care for and care for you. Your brother, your sister, mother, father. Your cousins, your best friends. There's a thousand stories to tell for each of them, how you went camping every year. How you go for drinks after work. How you used to just cruise the streets. How you party on the weekends, and chill on the weekdays. There's a thousand stories within the stories too, as I'm sure there are for each of you. How does it end? It ends with the disappearance. They're no longer here. Shin is leaving. The stories will end there.
I'm at a loss of thought. I'm pulled in two directions. I'm happy for him that he's moving on up. He's an ambitious guy and said to me "I'm not happy with where I'm at in my personal life and it's a big factor in me changing my mind." He's going to be a millionaire one day or die trying. I see that. This move will set him up nicely in the long run, but it means moving to Texas. He'll have to fight the dragon if he's going to get to the princess one day. On the other hand, I'm losing a brother. I respect Shin the most of all my friends. He's always calm and never seems to be upset over anything. He's also always had my back. When shit goes down, I can always count on Shin to be right behind me without even looking for him, that's the kind of friend he is. And now I'm one down. It's a selfish reason, but I don't think anybody could not help but feel the way I do. My lifestyle as I know it is about to change, again. It's only been 3 months since my last 8.0 richter scale lifestyle change* and my buddy moving equates to about an 8.4. I'd just recently stopped feeling the aftershocks from the first quake and now it's like a Hiroshima style disruption.
He leaves June 1st. There are still 2+ months left to party it up, 2+ months left to make some crazy new stories. It's funny, how life can change so quickly from one comfortable moment to the next, a not so familiar territory. I have to admit, I took the last 5 years for granted. The last 5 years held some of the best times in my life and as it was passing me by, I just let it slip away without thought, without ever thinking that one day it would end. 2+ months.
*My girlfriend of 5 years and I called it a day. We seperated and she got custody of our dog.
When we were first introduced, it was not an amicable encounter. We'd went to different high schools, but in the same district and back in the 90's there was only 3. We were rival high schools (How Riverdale-ish eh?) and the first time we'd met we were in opposing gangs, set for a fight. How 14 years later, he's one of my best friends, my brother and roomate...there's a story to tell. There's a thousand stories to tell. Like all friendships, like all the people that you have around you, those that you care for and care for you. Your brother, your sister, mother, father. Your cousins, your best friends. There's a thousand stories to tell for each of them, how you went camping every year. How you go for drinks after work. How you used to just cruise the streets. How you party on the weekends, and chill on the weekdays. There's a thousand stories within the stories too, as I'm sure there are for each of you. How does it end? It ends with the disappearance. They're no longer here. Shin is leaving. The stories will end there.
I'm at a loss of thought. I'm pulled in two directions. I'm happy for him that he's moving on up. He's an ambitious guy and said to me "I'm not happy with where I'm at in my personal life and it's a big factor in me changing my mind." He's going to be a millionaire one day or die trying. I see that. This move will set him up nicely in the long run, but it means moving to Texas. He'll have to fight the dragon if he's going to get to the princess one day. On the other hand, I'm losing a brother. I respect Shin the most of all my friends. He's always calm and never seems to be upset over anything. He's also always had my back. When shit goes down, I can always count on Shin to be right behind me without even looking for him, that's the kind of friend he is. And now I'm one down. It's a selfish reason, but I don't think anybody could not help but feel the way I do. My lifestyle as I know it is about to change, again. It's only been 3 months since my last 8.0 richter scale lifestyle change* and my buddy moving equates to about an 8.4. I'd just recently stopped feeling the aftershocks from the first quake and now it's like a Hiroshima style disruption.
He leaves June 1st. There are still 2+ months left to party it up, 2+ months left to make some crazy new stories. It's funny, how life can change so quickly from one comfortable moment to the next, a not so familiar territory. I have to admit, I took the last 5 years for granted. The last 5 years held some of the best times in my life and as it was passing me by, I just let it slip away without thought, without ever thinking that one day it would end. 2+ months.
*My girlfriend of 5 years and I called it a day. We seperated and she got custody of our dog.
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