When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.
Helen Keller

made some cereal

then was worried i wouldn't have a clean spoon. it's that time of the week where the dish washer is getting loaded and i may very well be out of clean silverware. But lo and behold! there is a clean spoon! It's cereal time! This will be the highlight of my day.

8 things about me

I am being offered $600 to have my wisdom teeth removed. I asked them which one was my sweet tooth, the one I get from my mom.

You know how Gorbachev the former Russian leader has that huge birthmark on his forehead? Well, in addition to the teardrop mole on my brow I have an equally impressive gorbachev on my left thigh.

I am the hairiest among the five men in my family. My darling sisters, bless their hearts, are pretty darn close.

My biggest fear is dying and believing that my life had not mattered.

I've always wanted to be adopted by different families. First it was a Black family because I wanted to see what it would be like to be so open and frank with one another. Then it was a Hispanic family to see what it would be like to have huge parties all the time. A different culture for every week of the month.

People tend to believe more in me than i sometimes do myself. And sometimes vice versa. And then, when the cosmos align, the image others have of me and that which I hold for myself match up. That about covers this particular thought.

I have extremely long toes on an averaged sized foot. Am not sure if that accounts for anything other than "springy" hops and the ability to use chopsticks if I were so inclined to develop that talent.

I'd love to be in a boy band, perhaps an all-asian 80's tribute band. I believe that would be a first. A wikipedia search confirms my intuition. The closest thing is an rock band called "Asia" formed in 1981 by four white dudes. Interesting. Gonna check out their tunes.

January Review

Highlights

* went on a heavy metal fitness bicycle ride. i could not keep up, they were so so fast! but decided to continue at my own pace anyways. good for you, Dao! (pat on the back).

* figured out how to download and convert youtube videos! wow! i didn't know if i could do it!

* attended Thuan's Summit Elementary Teachers Talent show. The kids were so cute.

* putting our model plane together and succeeding that was really cool, very proud of you dao you found a way to do it, take your time you don't have to do it all at once, when the momentum is there then focus and go, take a break. flew plane for first time and almost hit a family walking their dog, be mindful of others, dao. it was really exciting getting our plane put together.

* got a job as a black jack dealer at the austin convention center.

Lessons Learned
> recall the lesson that it's not about winning but about constant and never-ending improvement (CAN-I)
> we all progress at different rates and at different ares in our lives and focus on the task at hand and what we can control.

our reasons rap

put your dreams on the shelf
don't compare with others, yo baby you got to know thyself
I only have today, it's where i'm starting from
yesterday is in the past gotta focus right now on building my momentum
and i try to dig for what's inside
gotta keep my eyes on the big picture, the prize
to build our reason tree
must show some consistency
in me i must trust
slow as i might be, to have faith in the tortoise
push through the pain, keep on believing, you'll transcend through the pain, you're conceivin'
hurts so bad, wish it'd go away
i'm not a fad, yo, i'm here to stay
Searching for my reason, my reason to be
if not, yo man, I cease to be
Gotta continue, continue getting stronger
Gotta endure, gotta last longer
These are my reasons to be,
If I want to change the world, I got to start with me.
My hands are small, i know, this much is true
But my hands are my own, yo, man they must do
can't rise above it??
it starts with self love
reasons everything is predicated on this
when i feel like caving in, yo I must resist
gotta believe reasons are my breakthrough
goddamn will i let this cycle continue
set the pace that you go
set the pace for yourslef, the self you know
don't feel like i'm making progress
the more i strive the more I feel movement is less
gotta hold on strong
hope is here, jesus has helped me all along
rise above, awake! sleeping giant
when you tear me down i will be defiant
i'm my worse enemy
this cannot be the end of me
gotta stay
eat, love, and pray
live laugh love, give your best everyday
let the cards fall where they may
i only see one set of footsteps, i ask jesus where have you been all my life
jesus says he's been carrying me all this time
jesus died for our sins this much is true
all i ask in return is the best in you
don't give up
keep your eyes on the prize, don't let up
my mind is tired, i need to rest
it's at these times that i can push, give my best
jesus died on the cross
for our gain, his life he loss
inspire stay strong
help each other along
need a day to rest and just relax
mind body and soul do not tax
gotta continue to believe
gotta add the reasons to my reasons tree
dig deep in my heart
dig deep underground for a new start
strain my ears for a sound
for my spirit digging underground
my siren song
other's people's pain, makes me strong
what are my reasons todain?
what are my pleasure and pains?
Lotta daily pains
gotta maintain
when my situation seems dire
dig underground a mole in a whole, i must inspire
idea,
sincere
everyday
before i turn gray
i got too much time
gotta use it to bust some rhymes
i don't want all the money
it's just not me
i'm like no other
asisn hippie from an asian mother
tooth hurts like a mother fucker
why must i continue to suffer?
gotta believe in my mind
keep hope alive, who knows what i may find?
what do i for my life have to show
when i die this i must know


Domestic Violence and other social issues
child was beatin'
this cycle keeps repeatin'
this is how life is, hard as a rock
no sir, not on my clock
break the silence
stop the violence
change me as a man
no need to use violence, no need to raise a hand
why did you have to raise a hand
did it make you feel more in command?

the newspapers keep him warm
the vultures about lurking, swarm
being able to connect to your own soul
that's the deepest connection you know

tags: music, reasons, rap