Hi Everyone. . . what can I say I am quit the reader. You know how I said that I was reading The Wedding again by Nicholas Sparks and I started it on Friday. I do believe I will finish it tonight, I have less than 20 pages left. Obviously, you can tell I like the book. It is a very heart warming story about love and life. Basically about a man who has been married to his wife for thirty years and after he forgot their 29th wedding anniversary realizes this his wife might not love him anymore. The man goes on a year long journey remembering how he fell in love with his wife, becoming a better man, and getting his wife to fall back in love with him again by the special gift he has for her on the 3oth anniversary. It is a sweet story.



Oh, where did the time go my three day weekend is over! I have to go back to work tomorrow, which just doesn't sound fun right now. I mean it isn't that work is boring, it is just with all the paperwork and 22 or 23 clients (I don't know for sure) everyday is interesting and exciting (almost more than I can handle on some days)!! But I have to believe that I am helping to make a difference and that I am serving God with my job even if I am not out there preaching Jesus' name.



The baby is sleeping right now. . . I don't know tonight could be a really good night. She has been sleeping for a pretty long stretch just now. I think church maybe wore her out today, she doesn't ever sleep there. Our baby has to know what is going on and wants to be part of the action at all times in public (at least most of the time).



Facebook has been fun so far! And hiatias is spelled hiatus, not the way that I originally guessed it as.

Facebook. . . yes after about a nine month hiatias I am on back on facebook. There were some issues before about facebook that made me get off of it. Oh, how I missed it and all the friends that I have and not getting to know anything about what is going on. Because we all know that facebook is like the main way to connect with people, find out what is going on, etc. I am not planning on getting addicted to it, but I am glad I can have it back in my life. I already have had friends say stuff about it.

In other news, it has been snowing all day! We didn't end up getting as much as they had originally said, which is good. However, for not icing and snowing last night much we are making up for it today. . . so maybe about six to seven inches total. I took the day off from work, which has turned out to be great! I don't have much time for me these days with everything going on. I have already got to spend about thirty minutes to myself laying in bed, with some hot green tea and a book to read a little. I am starting to reread The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks (right?), it is a sappy story I know, but I am pretty soft when it comes down to it. I think that is actually the first book I bought in Korea and read in like three days in my little bitty apartment before I had TV, internet, or a phone. I probably cried and probably will cry again. When I think about it, that was an interesting book to chose when I first got to Korea to read especially considering how lonely I felt.

I like Nicholas Sparks although I haven't read all of his books and really haven't enjoyed the movies based on his books in particularly. I remember I read A Walk to Remember my senior year of high school because another friend was reading it and suggested I read it too. It was a touching story, but the movie was pretty silly and lame if I recall. The books are much better!!

Last night, I had another weird dream. I was in a theater for a show, not a movie but an actual theatric performance. I had a ticket that someone gave me to sit up in the front, a really good seat but by myself. I remember having a hard time because a lot of my friends and coworkers were sitting in the balcony and I felt weird leaving them. I don't remember other details a lot, but everyone was telling me to get to my better seat and the people that worked there were trying to take me there before the show started and the lights went out. At the end part I remember walking down the steps in front of all these people watching me to get to the really good seat and someone had dropped their purse or scarf in the aisle. I picked it up and gave it to them and by that time the lights had gone out and I saw the worker all the way down by my seat, but it was too late to get there I felt. So, I sat on the stairs in the aisle for the show and felt pretty embarrassed and a little lonely I think. I am not sure what that dream could be interpreted as. . . does it mean that I am scared of success, accepting a higher status and role in life because I am worried of what others will think of me and that they won't want to be around me anymore because I am so high??

Winter isn't over yet!! We are expecting 6-12 inches of snow tonight and tomorrow with a little ice before that possibly. We are hoping the power doesn't go out, we have a generator, but I don't know much about that. I have already decided to take the day off tomorrow as a sick day. . . I finished all my notes that are due tomorrow today. I will just have to call the sick line in the morning and all my clients and cancel their appointments. Everyone is telling me I deserve a day off anyway because I have some stress dealing with all the "special" clients. I am a little sad because one of my favorite clients who has been having some major problems was admitted to the psychiatric ward in the hosptial last night. On the bright side that is what he needed and I hope he gets better.

Today I had my two classes from about 3:30 to 7, we got out early tonight due to the weather. The grammar class seems to be getting and more interesting and complex with each passing week. Now we are to making sentence trees that go to the down to the deepest level of sentences! ~

The cool part is that one of my friends from Korea is in the one class. He is cool and I like him and especially since sometimes I can switch to Korean with him at times when I don't want other people to know what we are talking about. I haven't had a lot of time to talk and get to know him as much as I want, but I hope to make more time. Next Tuesday after the afternoon class we are going to eat Mexican food and drink margaritas! ^^ Really, sometimes I have to wonder why do I feel so comfortable around Koreans sometimes more than Americans??

Okay, I am going to have to feed the baby soon!

I am feeling pretty exhausted after today. I got to the office this morning at about 7:30 and finished my class at 4:45.

Let me tell you that Grammar class is boring, but interesting at the same time. In class I was practically falling asleep, but I just read the chapter and that was alright. Who knew there was so much controversy over subject - verb agreement in English, well there is.

For example, look at these three sentences and fill in which form of the verb you would normally put. Then try to find out if you are right according to the grammar rule, and if you don't know and for some reason want to know just ask me in a comment.

1. Marsha is one of those rare students who (have/has) finished the M.A. early.

2. Neither you nor I (am/is/are) trained for that job.

3. Neither of them (have/has) enough money to afford a car.

In other news I was thinking about the dream I posted about last night and looked up some stuff about dreams on the internet. (Not that I really per say believe in all of that or pay attention to it). . . but it sounds like I have a lot of worries and concerns in my unconcious that are hidden and I am afraid of those. Hmm . . . I don't know. Then last night I had like an epic saga of a dream about my family in the past through the years, but I didn't make it that far. There was a lot of falling into the ocean and stuff by people and going through that experience.

I just really want to sleep tonight without any kind of dreams. . . on that note sweet dreams!! I am barely keeping my eyes open trying to finish this post.

Hi Everyone. . . our baby is sleeping and it is almost 9 and the wife is sleeping in the other room too. So, what is there to do besides being happy that both women in my life are sleeping right now?? (Just wish that my wife and I got to sleep in the same place at the same time more, but that is another story.) I can't really read my text books for class (not enough light), I don't have the computer here at home set-up so I can do work stuff, can't read another book for pure enjoyment because of the same reason as the text book issue. So. . . that leaves blogging since I don't get many personal emails these days (I guess you all figure reading my blog is enough for ya!) Maybe I'll mkae it a point to blog everyday, hmm. . . . that is an idea!



That was basically a paragraphy about nothing important, wasn't it?!



Last night, my wife let me sleep for 5 hours straight (WOW!), but I think it was more like 4 1/2 but who is counting. She says that is enough. . . well I would like to be sleeping at least 7-8, but my wife even before the baby didn't sleep more than probably 4 or 5. I would wake up in the middle of the night before in Korea at 2 in the morning and she would be watching some movie on the TV laying in bed. I just can't do it anymore. . . but you are forced to with a baby.



Okay, once again another paragraph that just screams, "Where were you going with this again?"



Anyway, back to last night and the glorious 4 1/2 - 5 hours of sleep . . . well I dream a lot and last night's dreams were weird, freaky, and down-right scary!! I was dreaming and the people in my dreams, I have no idea who they were it was like I was part of a family or in relationships with these random people. It felt like someone was reading a book almost and somehow I was thrown into it. It started off with going to the mountains for skiing, but there weren't many people on the moutain or snow and it was very quiet and a little eerie. Then it went to the Grand Canyon (I've never been there) and going over a bridge or something. Then I am with this random family like I stated or something and I am maybe the father figure. Anyway, we get to this hotel and there are killer black snakes, like we are talking snakes that are smart and hunters and once they get to you, it is going to probably be over quick! So, we all are on the beds all fully dressed huddled up against each other freaking out about a snake that could come from no where at anytime and get us. Somehow, I think there wasn't much light or there was no light and these snakes that are black are going to find us and we all had this feeling of terror and fright. Then I woke up in a heap of sweat! Talk about sweet dreams!



Tonight. . . I have been remembering some other things by looking at pictures my wife discovered again on my computer. They were of my first apartment in Korea, my trip to Taiwan and Japan and random pictures I took in Korea in Seoul and on trips before I met my now wife. It is really quit amazing to look at those pictures and know exactly what I was doing and the feelings behind them. It is also amazing to think about those pictures in my life in Korea before I met my wife and then looking at the pictures in Korea after I met my wife. Talk about a completely different set of thoughts and feelings involved. However, I am glad that I got to experience all of it, I wouldn't trade the days I spent in Korea and in Asia as a single man and then the days after I met my wife. I think I had to grow a lot as a person in that setting first before the time came for me to fall in love with my wife.

Can the news really be true about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie??
Brad Pitt, from my very hometown splitting yet again with another very beautiful woman again?? After 3 adoptions and having 3 kids of their own, what happened?? I guess I shoudl read more into this, but I am sure we will hear more about this later. Was someone cheating, did someone have someone on the side or did they just grow apart with all those kids running around between them??
I shouldn't judge, but maybe a couple that famous and wealthy, and two of the most beautiful people on the planet had too much going on that they couldn't make it last. I feel a bit upset about this because I like Brad Pitt a lot as an actor, maybe I am biased since he is from my hometown, but still. Angelina Jolie, well she is beautiful and I have to say they were hot together in Mr. and Mrs. Smith, the movie that caused all the stir about Angelina Jolie being a home breaker.

This all happening the week of course that Jennifer Aniston is on People Magazine with the caption 5 Years since Brad or something to that degree. Hm. . .

I don't know, but Angelina Jolie just doesn't seem as attractive all of a sudden and I personally always thought she looked like one of those "cold" beauties if you know what I mean. Brad, well I don't know what to say, but I guess I am not giving up on you though. . . just keep some respect for yourself and don't be photographed with some hot young thing in about a month from now!

Everyone this post is a little serious, but I don't think it is serious enough to break my vow for this blog starting in 2010.

I just wanted to let anyone out there, who reads this blog, know that deciding to have a baby is not some decision to make lightly. (I am sure everyone knows that.) Our baby girl is 20 weeks old now and I have to say we are still exhausted and maybe even more exhausted now since the lack of sleep really catches up with you. She is sleeping right now, but not without her good fit for about 30 minutes before she'll take her bottle and then sleep. It is about 5:40 right now and she'll probably sleep till almost 4 AM and then she'll wake up like its a new day and ready to go. Then maybe sleep for 30 minutes to an hour sometime around 7 or 8. But wait. . . were you thinking she was going to sleep from now straight through to 4 AM, oh if we were only so lucky, no she'll probably wake up two if not three times before that to eat. We'll still waiting for those long stretches of sleep.

Don't get me wrong I love our baby daughter, she is probably the most beautiful baby in the world!! However, it is a lot of work and she does cause stress and fatigue a lot. She is starting to be able to sit up on her own now and will turn to a voice when she hears her name. She is starting to get a personality and act more grown up. As much as we wish she would cry less and not yell so loud and sleep better. . . it seems like she is growing up so fast, maybe too fast! She is going to be walking soon, and that just sounds exhausting in itself. And then on to preschool, then kindergarten, then a teenager, graduating from high school, going to college and leaving mom and dad! That just sounds all too crazy and fast to think about!

I have to say I have heard some good advice or comforting words from others. Like you should be glad your baby even sleeps or she is so gentle and happy (when we are in public of course - they don't see the other side) and general stuff like that. One person told me that the first baby is always hard because you have nothing to compare it too, so of course you think the baby cries a lot and you never sleep, etc., etc. That is a good point, we don't have anything to compare it to because we've never had a baby before so I guess we should be happy that she does sleep and so fourth.

Notice that the person told me the first baby is always hard, well let me tell you. . . before I was all about having a family and I thought oh yeah 3 or 4 kids, sure. NOT ANYMORE! I am like one is enough and I am not about to have any more, I mean if we were rich and everything, sure, maybe lets get to it! However, I don't know how we are going to afford this one especially when you think about how much college is going to cost for her in about eighteen years!! OH MY!! I am here to say that I am not planning on any more. . . . one is truly an amazing blessing in itself.

That wasn't too personal, right?? That was just a general feelings that any new father has and things he would talk about.

I am really finding the joy of blogging again!!

I have to say to everyone that I am praying about the situation in Haiti these days because that is a tragedy what has happened! I pray that they get all the help they need and that God's presence be at the center of the relief.

Anyway, the baby is sleeping right now and mommy is sleeping in the other room. I read a chapter online for my grammar class and just can't get myself to read the second one right now. I would like to read my text book, just read a book, or even work or something but this room is so dark because the baby needs to sleep.

I sent an email update out last night with some pictures, I got one reply back. Not too bad I guess.

Today, I billed for 4 1/2 hours at work which is the goal. 55% of face-to-face time with the clients, I am going for 22 hours this week which is the target. Then anything after that is bonus and incentive pay!! I am going to really work in this billing session to get close to the target of 74 1/2 hours billed I think. The last one I only had 47 1/2 but it didn't officially count yet.

안녕하세요 ~ 여러분 잘 지냈죠?!
Hi again, you'all doing good, right??

I don't really have a lot to say right now or have much to post.

오늘은 주일이니까 교회에 갔고 예배를 봤습니다.
Since today was Sunday we went to church and worship.

우리 예나 때문에 아기 방에서 예배를 봤습니다. 우리 교회 세 아기가 있는데 우리 예나는 친구를 있어요 ~ ^^ 예나는 행복합니다!
However, today we had a brief scare with our daughter. My wife was going to put her in the swing, but the back of the swing was not tight, so our daughter fell back all the way almost to the floor! However, she was just surprised so cried, but she didn't hit our head or anything. There was a doctor in the nursery room too and she said she was okay. So, everything was okay, but we won't be using that swing anymore even after they fixed it.
Thank God everything was okay!

In other news, 샤브샤브를 너무 먹고싶어요!
I want to eat shabu shabu so much!!

Hoy en dia no quiero olvidar espanol. A veces siento que olvidar mucho, es triste. No tengo tiempo para practicar mucho o ver las telenovelas en la television. Todavia me gusta leer los articulos por Jorge Ramos en www.jorgeramos.com. Todavia quiero encontrar a Jorge Ramos porque he is cool and I like his style and opinions.
Yo lei dos libros por Jorge Ramos; his autobiography Atravasendo Fronteras y Morir en el Intento. Estos dos libros eras interesantes, especialidad Atravasendo Fronteras porque la historia (the story?) de su vida.
Jorge Ramos si usted esta leyendo mi blog, yo quiero encontrar!

Yep, I have changed the look of this blog yet again for probably the third or fourth time at least.
I like color, and I like this rose color. I think it is bright and happy. . . just like 2010 is going to be for all of us!!

I really want to read a good book soon so that I can post and share about it.
You know the other day a book at Borders entitled something like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies it looked so ridiculous, it was funny! I couldn't see myself buying this to read but the premise was along the same lines as the original Pride and Prejudice (one of my favorite books) but Elizabeth was a zombie fighter too! Laugh out loud funny!

Another book I want to read is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (?) who wrote The Fountainhead, and I can't remember when I finally had the patience to read and get through that book. I don't really agree with her philosophies at all, but that was a very interesting and thought provoking book. Atlas Shrugged is supposed to be an expansion of The Fountainhead.

What else?? I saw some other books that looked good and interesting but can't remember them off the top of my head right now.

___________________________________________________________________
A little bit later on. . . so I have been doing some major reminiscing by reading some of the post that I have wrote o this in the last 5 years. I started this in my last year of undergrad days at KU! I don't know if I posted much while I was in Korea, but probably not. . . it's okay I have my own personal journals full of memories in those. But talk about some really fun times, to some hard times, to just some crazy experiences that I wrote about. For example, driving to Dallas right after graduation to visit a friend and then driving back the next night and that whole experience! (One of my favorite posts)

Random Survey:
What has been the most enjoyable post or event on this blog that I wrote about??
Anyone??

It is 2010 and I was looking at my blog. . . and in August it will be 5 years since I started this blog!! That blows me away, how fast the time went!!

After reading another friend's post recently and stopping to consider everything I feel like maybe that I have been way too personal. I might even have shared way too much personal information for just the random person who stumbles across it. I guess I feel like it is okay, but I am going to have to control myself a lot more. I have decided that if I really want my friend's to know what's going on with me in detail or want to get some stress out, I will use email just to those specific people. There are probably a lot more people who read this blog than I think even though no one really writes comments, I got to tighten my reigns. I do this and I am good at it everywhere I go with people, but when it comes to writing and putting stuff over the internet. . . I let it all hang out sometimes. :(
Have to save it for email.

So, yeah for 2010!! I am ready for a better and brighter year than the last!!

• I am hoping that we save some more money this year than we did last year.
• I am hoping sometime this year to take a little trip with the family to visit some good old friends that I haven't really seen in a good long while.
• And to reconnect better with some other friends.
• To find some time and read some really good books that I find or have wanted to read and then to talk about them.

As far as this year, reading books there are a couple that really struck me and that I will remember.

1. Sashenka - don't ask me who the author was, I forgot. This was a story about a woman from an old aristocrat family in the former U.S.S.R. that grew up and came to age during the Lenin Revolution and joining it and ended up being married to a very high officer in the government during the height of communism. She had two kids, was rich, her husband and her were good friends with Stalian, etc. She was the editor of a woman's magazine for good Communist women and was very high up in the country. However, she didn't know anything else that was going on and was blind to the cruelty and horror of the communist regime because she lived a life of privelige and was protected. That is until she met another man, a writer from France and fell in love with him during this wild short lived affair. This was more than an affair of course it helped her to see all the injustice and horrible things that were happening in her country and by the government that she so strongly believed in when she first joined the cause. She was killed of course, and so the second half of the story is her granddaughter being hired by her aunt (that she didn't know at the time) to research and find out what happened to her aunt's mother (her granddaughter). It is a very intense, chilling, but fascinating story. . . it made my stomach turn at times it was so vivid. I thought this book was very interesting and tragic, but very well written and thought provoking.

2. The Commoner - was a story about the an Emperess of Japan. This was a very quiet story, but nonetheless deep with feeling and emotion that you could feel and sense through the quietness. This story made me feel kind of lonely and sad, but at the same time it was beautiful. For some reason, it did a good job of portraying how I felt (or a lot of foreigners) feel in Japan. . . mainly the sense of quietness. Anyway, it was a story about a young woman who found herself in love with the future emperor of Japan in the 1930s sometime right before the war I believe. Well, once the woman married the future emperor her life as a civilian was over; she had no contact with the world outside of the palace and royalty that she lived in, no contact with her family. She was expected to be the symbol of Japanese and produce offspring (mainly a son) to be the future emperor. Well, she was the first so called "common" woman to marry into Japan's royal family and soon found out how hard and suffocating this was to do. She got so depressed that she didn't speak to anyone including her husband, the emperor for 15 years. This story was very sad and made you really feel how lonely this woman was, but it was very well written and I am glad I read it.

3. The Reader - this book and movie stirred up a lot of controversy. I don't know I didn't really agree or approve of what happened or took place, but found it very moving. I admit that I cried at the end of this story. Even though I don't agree with the relationship that took place, I felt very sad for the man about what happened to him and how much the relationship hurt him. The man loved that woman despite everything that happened and how much that hurt him, but to say it was all because the woman took advantage of him and started it at the beginning. . . to me that part gets blurry. He had a choice too and both the characters had big inner struggles going on, but it was horribly sad!