the little things

one plus side about the new team/building so far:

we don't run out of soy milk.

it seems that too much people on the other building/floor drank it.

football season

the 2012 college football season kicks off tonight

with a match between south carolina gamecocks and the vanderbilt commodores.

on saturday,

we will be playing against the Alabama Crimson Tide, 

last year's national champions. 

it's a game I've been really, really hoping to see,

but it seems I won't be able to.

in fact, 

I probably won't be able to watch any games (live) this season.

sigh, no rowdy cheering with Michigan alums at Prof. Thom's...

except on 11/24.

I'm going to watch that game even if it means that I have to travel to another place just to see it.

laundry

there has to be some law of nature

where every time one does laundry,

one sock disappears

despite double checking both the washer and dryer.

more than enough

I seem to forget

that for all He has done for me,

what I do for Him is so little.

I'll do my best.

lyrics

oddly interesting

when shuffling through songs,

songs I don't even know I had,

and I listen to a song

with lyrics that makes me think,

"you know, that's pretty much what I'm feeling right now"

to put it into words

the first thought that comes on your mind

for anything,

anything you do.

suit up

weather's getting cooler again, 

so the suit jacket is back.

subway worker called me "dashing." haha.

michigan

was walking around east village,

the only kid wearing a t-shirt and shorts in a friday night.

I happened to be wearing a Michigan t-shirt.

along the way, 

someone exclaims "hey, it's michigan!" 

I give them a fist in the air with a hearty shout of "Go Blue!" 

then some kid spits out "ohio state rules" as he passes by,

(if you didn't know already, it's the worst school in the US)

to which turn around

and snicker at his ignorance without bothering to stop. 

finish up

last day with the team I'm working with at work.

when I came into this group months back,

I was totally confused and felt pretty left out in the new floor.

now I'm friendly with everyone around me,

and it almost feels bad to move to another team.

let's do my best for another day.

gotta love mom

had a bit of japchae in the fridge that I received a couple of days ago.

it somewhat smelled different, so I asked Mom about it when I called.

tells me that they're bad and that I have to throw it away,

and starts telling me how to make japchae.


"Mom, it's fine, I'll ask for it when I crave it"

"no no, you see, what you have to do is--"

"Mom, Mom-- really, it's fine, I don't really like japchae anyways"

"oh, you don't like them? I see.. so where was I, you first boil water.."


she just wants to make sure that ,

for that 1% chance I might crave it,

I might have some success in making one on my own.

no rush

working late ain't that bad

when there's nothing really waiting outside the building.

really need something to be excited about after work.

panorama series (9)

blimpy burger, back in Michigan:

arguably the best burger joint in Ann Arbor.

it makes greasy burgers,

but it's fact that the awesomeness of the burger is proportional to the greasiness. 

that was a pretty busy weekend. 

time flow

the end of summer used to mean that resting is over.

the transition from rest to work normally signaled a sense of new beginning every year.

I guess this is the first summer where this doesn't really apply,

and inside, I still feel like 2011 lingers.

panorama series (8)

this time, the Undergraduate Library in Michigan:

lovingly called UGLi (UnderGraduate Library) for being ugly, inside and out,

its lobby was renovated what is shown before I graduated.

still ugly in the outside to earn its name.


when you wanted to feel like you're studying but don't want to actually study,

this was the place to be--

always end up meeting someone you know, and the talking begins (silence not enforced in most floors).

football

college football season is right around the corner.

attended an alumni event that invited two sports bloggers to talk and answer questions about Michigan football.

a majority of the attendees and the guests agreed on a 8-4 or 9-3 season.

I'm hoping for a 10-2.

first game is a hard game against last-year champ Alabama on 9/1.

no joke,

last year's season had given me strength to stand up when I felt alien in this big city. 

I'm at home here now, 

but goodness, deliver us another good season.

give me the reason to shout our name.

also, 

the school spirit was stirring inside me

when the guests in the event didn't say, for example,

"the team is going to do well"

but

"you're going to do well" 

Go Blue!

greeting

bumped into my md in the restroom in the morning,

he says "hey,"

and I replied with

"yo."

sigh, the things I say..

chapter progression

it's already been a year since I entered the Roosevelt Hotel,

walked up to the reception table,

and picked up a nametag,

one that gave me a title different from before.

from student to analyst--

I wonder what my next nametag will say.

comfort

when it gets stressful enough to bury your face in the pillow

and shout for God on and on,

He says "hang on, dear," 

and puts you to sleep.

settling in

finally got internet,

and made breakfast.

I'm starting to get used to this new place.

'spring'

as part of my movie re-watching marathon due to no internet,

I watched "화려한 휴가."

what we did in 광주 in 1980 is basically what is happening with the Arab Spring.

while the beginning of our economic prosperity is more tied to the austere, authoritarian grip of president 박정희, one cannot deny the effect of freedom under a non-oppressive government, which was won with the blood and tears of many.

I hope that like us, these nations will prosper due to the sacrifices these people are making.

barbers

got my hair cut at a barbershop.

listening to the barbers make small talk to each other is pretty interesting.

panorama series (7)

have a couple more left, 

Sixth Street, Austin, Texas, 2001:

the center of nightlife activity in austin.

bars with live blues music and funky people walking around. 

it was like a large version of Ann Arbor, 

a "campus city" instead of a "campus town." 

marriage

talked to dad on the phone.

he tells me someone I grew up with got married,

and tells me that I should also start looking,

since I'm "settled."

it's still somewhat funny to hear it from dad.

want to say

come back,

don't go --

but who am I to say that.

heart

when I have a kid,

I'm going to make sure I teach my kid to have heart,

a strong will,

a backbone that can withstand any hardship.

teaching my kid to trust in God would be a good first step.

another week of disconnection

great job time warner

for confirming my internet installation appointment by phone today morning

then moving it to next week without informing me.

bravo.

as a side note, using polite words with a stern voice when angry gets you far.

more sleep?

passed out in my bed for 3 days straight.

I've been fine during the day though.

maybe I'm just not able to stay awake longer like I used to..

olympics

Dad tells me that he's been losing sleep watching the olympics until deep into the night,

following every Korean game despite the super slow internet connection and no TV coverage in his area.

he's very proud of how Korea' doing well so far despite the controversial decisions so far.


despite being away from the country for a good 20 years,

his love for Korea is still the same as it was back then.


I think it's a general trait of a Korean,

and one of the things that I'm proud of being a part of.

voice

when talking to the people you want to talk to

even silence is melody.

august

my "new start" started in this month a year ago.

many things happened,

and my self today is definitely not the same as myself a year ago. 

thankful to God for all the changes/growth/development.

please continue to lead me forward. 

the decision to come to the city,

the things I've done here,

experiences I went through,

the people I met--

all a blessing. 

moved in

so tired,

but almost done.