zeuang's Xanga

The Lord Giveth and the Lord Taketh Away

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 21:22:27 GMT

On Thursday I attended the funeral of my friend, P's mother. Like the previous funerals this year, it was cancer that was the culprit. She had been diagnosed this year and it has spread rapidly. P flew back from Australia while she was still alive, knowing he will be burying his mother before he returns to his studies in Queensland.

It was a simple ceremony. There was no religious tone. One side of the family was Catholic and the other Buddhist. I guess that was the compromise. I looked at our friends in attendance. I was the only one who had not lost a family member in the last few years. LL who lost his mother this year as well was sitting next to me. I don't know how fresh the memories of his experience where. P appear stoic. I had seen him go through the range of emotions already. Now there isn't much left but closure.

After some words were said, we helped carry the casket out to the hearse and then to the burial site. I told myself, this is the most precious cargo I carry in a long time. The older you get the more life takes away than it gives you.

Fish swimming in the sky

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:15:36 GMT

Air Art from flip on Vimeo.

A Pakistani Vietnamese Wedding in Texas

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:35:56 GMT

I had a great time in Dallas. I didn't catch up with Lisa too much since she was so busy with the wedding. The whole weekend was rushed. I stayed for approximately 36 hours before we flew out again but we made the most of it.

Toronto Pearson Airport waiting for our connection to Dallas/Ft. Worth

My cousin's son Nathan. He's two months old but is the size of a 6 month old.

Here is my cousin the bride (middle).

Here is the groom (right)

Crazy details in the henna

Bridesmaids. The middle two are single as far as I know.

Look out below!!!

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Hopefully by the time this post goes up, I am over Alberta.

Jesus Land

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 04:55:31 GMT

I am leaving for Dallas TX this Friday. My cousin Lisa's wedding will actually start on Thursday but we are unable to leave that early. I am looking forward to seeing my cousin get married. She is only a month younger than me. We grew up in Thailand together at the refugee camp. Our parents must have been really bored because they would switch our clothes around and make her dress as a boy and me as a girl. I don't remember much of it. I have one picture of us together. I think she has a few of her own. At the age of 3, her family was sponsored to Texas while were we taken to British Columbia. Lisa and I are very different, but I never let that get in the way. We grew up in very different worlds. She thinks I sound British and I think she sounds like a redneck. She spends money like water and I aim to be fiscally conservative. If we stood side by side, you'd never guess we are related. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if my family was the one that went to Texas instead and her family arrived here. I have tried to convince her to move up here by showing her what a nice place Vancouver is to live. Lisa has been trying to get me to move down there by setting me up with her best friends. This will be the first time I have had a chance to meet her husband.

His name is Ali, he is Pakistani and a Muslim. Lisa converted to Islam so they could get married. Think about this for a second. They live in the buckle of the bible belt. I know this has caused a rift on her side of the family. Her father, my uncle, is will not be attending some aspects of the wedding in protest. Lisa and I talked about it a few time over the phone but the long distance rates and time zones never allowed for us to go into depth. Frankly with how things were going down, I wasn't surprised she converted. One side welcomed her with love, and the other pushed at her with the law. Can you guess which side won? I guess that has been something I've been wrestling with. How can we expect non-Christians to act like Christians? And why is it that so many people who profess a supernatural change in their lives shows little evidence of it?

I am actually excited to to welcome Ali into our family. I have heard good things about him. I know he treats my cousin well and keeps her grounded. Do I wish things would have turned out differently? Maybe. It is strange how things pan out. She has done many things that I wish she didn't, but I never judged her for it. I guess I never let that get in the way.

How to get books for free

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:00:59 GMT

var isbn = "9781400202263"; var fontColor = "#fff"; var fontFamily = "Verdana, Georgia"; var backgroundColor = "#00539B"; var imageWidth = 150; var domainName = "csd.ingramdigital.com"; var cpid = "CHP000046TNW"; IdgInitWidget(domainName, cpid, isbn, fontColor, fontFamily, backgroundColor, imageWidth);

I have been following Micheal Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson Publisher, for a number of years now on his blog. He writes about management, leadership and publishing. I recently signed up to become a a Thomas Nelson Book review blogger. I can request a book to review from one of their list and in exchange, I will write a 200 word review on this blog and on a commercial site. It doesn't matter if the review is good, bad or indifferent. The first two chapters have already been emailed to me and the physical book will be shipped to my house free of charge. The first book I requested is The Truth About You by Marcus Buckingham. I have already received the first two chapters as a pdf file and I anxiously await for the rest of the book.

I think this is a great way to market the book. I can only request one book at a time, but I've already got my eyes set on The Faith of Barack Obama by Stephen Mansfield next. Happy reading!!

Monday, November 03, 2008

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Gearing up for Monday night

Story of a Ham

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:58 GMT

I never cooked a ham before but I decided for the Thanks Giving would be a good time to start. (in Canada Thanks Giving is in October)

I thought 5 kg should be enough to feed 20 people. There was one problem though.

No worries. Special Broiler to the rescue. I will see you in 4 hours.

5 hours later. It took nearly an hour for the water to get to the right temperature. It looks like Spiderman got to my ham before I did.

Some pre-carving before I get to church.

C'est Fini!! Even though I served more than 20 people, I still had enough left overs for two weeks.

Advent Conspiracy

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:20:20 GMT

AdventConspiracy.org

Physics, Aliens, Lost Time and Love

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:00:00 GMT

I love her and wait for her still.