It’d be nice if I was more updated with recent happenings and medicinal breakthroughs in Bioengineering. Unfortunately, that has not been happening this busy quarter. Therefore, I’ve set up a new goal for myself:
Read a minimum of three published articles from different Bioengineering professors per week. Realistically and practically, make that one hour per day throughout the week.
May be difficult with my faulty time management recently, but this is a necessary and crucial matter that must be followed through with. Oh…if only I was as dedicated to this as how I am when it comes to listening to music. I will not be discouraged for this must and will be done! For I know the Lord is gradually working through me and will provide for me the strength necessary!
SIDE-Note: I am unaware of the many artists involved in the youtube artist movement, however I came upon, by chance, to two of the most sweet and loveable sisters from Australia (I am sure there are many more sweet and loveable siblings out there in this world too!)
An interesting talk about the concept of time by Professor Zimbardo of the Stanford prison experiment (that’s the main emphasis I can recall of him from high school psychology):
EDITED Nov. 13: This has been deemed impossible by Matthew, therefore a new goal is developing in the process…
Relearning Squall by Fukuyama Masaharu on the guitar. If only I knew how to speak Japanese. Masha is surely a gifted composer and lyricist. He still is handsome for his age.
I asked Matthew to learn, sing, and dedicate this to me, but he refused to learn another language =(
Anyways, Gemma Hayes (Yeah! It’s Gemma Hayes!) will be on the soundtrack of the new movie Janie Jones (Waiting for You). Additionally, Abigail Bresden will be singing songs composed by Gemma herself! Go! and SUPPORT!
I am not to spend any money, but will invest in getting Julian Lennon’s new album Everything Changes and older one Photograph Smile along with a few others.
Music to my ears, a few I came across recently.
Palmy has a new album! She’s so hip.
Siplor (Hugo’s Thai band).
Radiohead is wicked awesome. Matthew needs to learn the bass line to National Anthem.
Small Faces You’ve Really Got a Hold of Me. Their version is so a-mA-Zing. Let Steve Marriott’s voice do justice to this statement.
Came across both Nerina Pallot and Crowded House in one of Julian Lennon’s recent interviews.
Julian Lennon’s new song from his new album (SUPPORT) Lookin’ 4 Love. I hope he finds his compatible angel =)
Jon Foreman and Lydia Cole singing The Cure for the Pain
The Book of Morris Johnson by Zee Avi. I missed her this past Sunday on campus, but I heard this performance below the loft. Free Music!
A talented Hmong duo I came across.
Gah! There are so much good music waiting to be heard. I will end it here for now. To be continued…
Sidenote: Apparently I have the same wordpress layout as the mathematician Terence Tao. I thought Matthew was looking through my blog, only to find out it was actually the admirable professor. I feel so honored.
As I sit here trying to write my chem lab intro, I can’t help but contemplate about how different things are now compared to then. A manifold of turbulence is flowing within me, but at the same time, I possess a sense of peacefulness. I do thank God for His continual and bountiful grace He has bestowed upon me unconditionally, allowing me to find peace amidst all the chaos that happens (though much easier said than done). Earlier, I thought about my faith in high school and really do question whether it was ever present. My faith then, was very minimal; God was never central in my life. I did things that I do regret, and am deeply sorry about. There were many things I should’ve inquired thoroughly about. Even within the past two years, I’ve thought and expressed some things that were by no means “smart” that needed further prayers. If only my faith was stronger then, how different would I have reacted to certain situations? But that’s not what matters. The Lord has brought me to my current state, teaching me everyday to have faith, and most importantly, to keep growing in my faith. Within the past month, God revealed to me how weak I was still in my faith. Sometimes I can be extremely naive, letting my utopian values overpower me, discouraging me and my faith. I was being discouraged so much, to the point where I finally asked myself, “why do I keep doing this to myself? Where’s my faith in God? Why am I allowing myself to be discouraged by the things around me?” Facts are facts. I live in a secular world dominated by sin. Especially in the 21st century, it is exponentially harder to differentiate between what is right and what is wrong. Many things nowadays are in disguised as gray, not black and white. I’ve learned within the past two years that I am by no means gifted with discernment. I do pray that God will reveal to me what is right, pleasing, and delightful to Him in the various forms He sees fit so that I may continue to grow in my faith in Christ through the trials that may come.
“noooooooo, nowhere to run. nowhere to run.” – rivermaya
Great music=great productivity=happy me.
sara groves – eyes wide open
vienna teng – the tower
jessica vang – ua tswv yexus tsaug
vienna teng – blue caravan
rivermaya – nowhere to run
rico blanco – kahit walang sabihin
kuroki meisa – wired life
mr. children – shirushi
rico blanco – come close
priscilla ahn – the moon
hanson – give a little
hugo – sai lom
roddy hart – independence day
roddy hart – home
roddy hart – take me home
bao her – tus kuv hlub tshaj
benji hughes – you stood me up
hillsong – god is able
cheezymousetrap (janett) – you
gemma hayes – something in my way
gemma hayes – shock to my system
mr. children – and i love you
April shared a song/music video by Sara Groves in Sunday school yesterday, and I’ve been listening to it repeatedly. April mentioned us needing to pay attention to the signs God sends us in order to fulfill His will. I also read an interview Sara Groves had in discussing this particular song “Eyes Wide Open” and she stated the song was influenced by three stories/things. She explains that within our contemporary culture governed largely by technology, we’ve started to worship the things we’ve created and made them our gods instead of God Himself (you can hear that in her lyrics). The Bible verse this song is based on is from Amos 5:24 “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
I finally decided I will be reading Leviticus concurrently with Luke. I made this decision largely because I have such limited knowledge about the Old Testament, especially after the Israelite’s exodus from Egypt. Additionally, Leviticus emphasizes on praise and worship, along with holiness; all things I need to work on in order to be more in-tuned with God.
I streamed the last night of Harvest Crusade yesterday and listened to Greg Laurie’s message. It’s amazing to see how God work through all individuals there, and I’m sure at home too. I will be praying for all those who gave themselves to the Lord.
This summer (2011) is such a special and meaningful summer for me. I did not get the chance to be with my family and friends most of the time, but I was able to spend more time with the Lord. I think this is definitely what God had in mind from the beginning. I was isolated from everyone I knew in order for me to fully come to Him, to see the Light even amongst all the darkness around me. I was contemplating to myself yesterday about how peaceful I feel compared to earlier within the summer. I am at a point in my life where my thirst for God, Christ, and Holy Spirit have grown exponentially. I have so much yearning for the TRUTH, to find the truth; so much desire to be HOLY, because God my Father is Holy.
Short summary of my summer thus far before I sleep. Thank you to Matthew for our conversation this past evening. These past few weeks, I know that God is trying to open my eyes, my heart, and reveal His almighty Self to me. I’ve felt as if I’ve been living in solitude, praying here and there, but not fully dwelling on the Father Himself. Moving off campus, handling bills for the first time, stressing out over such things, has made me possess an extremely negative outlook and attitude on life recently. I’ve been having more consecutive nightmares in close proximity to one another, and I feel as if these bad dreams are a reflection of my negative, dark attitude this summer. This past week, I’ve never felt so alone, so solitary, so distant from everyone and everything. I’ve become so dependent, so attached to the secular world, to the few individuals around me. When God stripped me of this world, isolated me from it as He did so this past week, I became disillusioned and felt as if there was this void within me. Satan did all that he could to make me feel this way, to desire to do everything and anything else except fall on my knees and come to God. Yesterday, I went shopping downtown all by myself, took the city bus to the thrift store and back, bought things, trying to fill this imaginary void, and realizing at the end of the day I felt just as, if not more, dissatisfied, lonely, ashamed. To make the story short for now, I know God wants me to turn to Him, to seek refuge in Him alone, not transient worldly things/people. I am deeply sorry for hurting the few individuals out there with my selfishness. This is a difficult battle, and I am continuously praying for my triumph with my Lord over Satan and all his evil doings.
I’ve started up on Luke again this past week, and it seems as if every single snippet that I read every night, simply pertains to my current situation and walk with God. In Luke chapter 3, it talks about Jesus’ temptation in the desert for 40 days by the devil. Dwelling on it, the Holy Spirit was the one who led Jesus into the desert, to be tempted. In the study notes, it noted that sometimes we as Christians/new believers have this mindset that the Holy Spirit will lead us into calm waters, when in fact that is not always the case. What the devil’s temptations and Jesus’ replies/reactions show is that we have to possess both knowledge of and obey Scripture. Satan knows Scripture just as much as we do, so the fact that we know it makes no difference if we don’t obey it. It is when we follow and live by the Word, that we can be on the offense in wearing our armor. God, You are amazing. Even though I know about the trinity, it can be difficult to fully grasp. Today’s reading was able to help me understand You more, to know Jesus’ trials more, and the importance of Your Word. May you continue to truly bless me, guide me, protect me and all those around me.
“This is home, your face is home. No taste like home.”
I miss home, end of story.
School has been in session a little over a month, and my brain is finally realizing the need to accept this school agenda. Year two of college is going exceptionally well, minus the last minute assignments due, physics, lab, lab, and lab. I don’t despise lab, just not enjoying the fact that I’m working very hard, almost too hard, for a two unit course with the combo of a decent and not-so-useful, in fact useless, TA (pardon complaints). Although I hardly lift my finger for anthro, I’m very much enjoying it and the issues it brings forth concerning multiculturalism, minus the professor’s ongoing tangents that takes up three fourths of each lecture. Physics and math are becoming too conceptual, so conceptual it hurts, but concepts go a long way. Anyways, I’ll finally be taking a course on my major next quarter. Yay. I’m extremely nervous though, unsure why, but I know there will be a myriad of daily struggles. I can only simply pray, work hard, and be encouraged.
Living on campus has been quite convenient, but most importantly, I adore my apartment mates. They are simply fun, quirky, outgoing, and amazing. Additionally, Matthew has been a very helpful and delightful boyfriend. It’s a blessing to encourage, and be encouraged in return by him.
Matthew being hip.
.Music.
My copy of Brooke Fraser’s new album Flags came in today. Having already listened to the digital files, I am delighted with it. I somehow was expecting her album to have more of her first single sound, but I was sure wrong, in the right way. I also received BoA’s latest album Hurricane Venus (Copy&Paste edition). Besides being a huge fan of hers, I really do like her comeback album, and that includes every song. She definitely incorporated many of the music styles and influences she’s accumulated over the years. Get your copies now.
Only two more weeks, two more weeks until I return home. I’m uber excited, not only to see my family again, but to meet my newborn nephew. His photos are so adorable, and he’s so huge for a newborn, well normal size I’m assuming, just very huge and ntxim hlub heev. I miss home. Very much. Living on campus apartments is nice, but I don’t know if I can necessarily call this home. Something temporary, but temporary in a memorable way. May the Lord help me to be patient and not too hard headed these last two weeks.
“Home, home, no place like home, home. Your face is home, home. No taste like home, home.”
I only have a few weeks left of summer before fall quarter of college starts again. Considering the fact that I’ve been procrastinating, relaxing, relaxing, relaxing, and oversleeping, I need to gradually adjust myself back into school mode. I tried to be an early bird, but that sleeping cycle just wasn’t working out for me once summer came along and swept away that lifestyle temporarily. So adieu to my laziness, though it sure was nice, because I need to fulfill some of my short-term goals before I return for the fall.
I continued with some of my readings from last summer. Now that my library fines were finally paid off, YES, I checked out a few inspirational, informative, and thought-provoking (or so I hope at least) books:
Till We Have Faces, The Problem of Pain, The Four Loves by CS Lewis A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity by Bill O’Reilly
I’ve also been reading the Bible, praying that I will come to comprehend as much as I can as the Holy Spirit works through me, along with The Latehomecomer by Kao Kalia Yang. I started The Latehomecomer last summer, but was unfortunately unable to finish it as school began. It’s definitely a good read so far, giving me an insight into my Hmong culture and background. These are the few books on my ‘to read-list’ for now because the more there are, the less likely I’ll be flipping the pages between them. May these readings refresh my intellect and inspire me before school comes around the corner.
.MUSIC.
I’ve been listening, on repeat, to an upcoming artist from Jay-Z’s Roc Nation record label, Hugo. First off, to be signed onto the same label as Jay-Z should definitely spark curiosity. According to my sister, Hugo was and is a former Thai rock singer and actor. I watched the trailer of a scary movie he made with the beautiful Thai actress Sirita Jensen, better known as Rita, and listened to some of his band Siplor’s music. He’s also married to a Thai actress who portrayed one of the teachers in Rita’s lakorn called Jan Euy Jan Jao (which is one of my all-time favorite lakorns). Anyways, I stumbled upon his music through my sister actually after hearing his gonna spread you like butter, give you my bread (bread and buttersong). It’s an ingenious simple, catchy tune that I happen to like very much. As simplistic as it may seem to me, at the same time it’s also not, due to its uniqueness. He simply gives off this 60′s and 70′s vibe, but somehow is able to modernize it. I don’t really know what to think about it except that I sure am hooked. I’m more fond of his song Disappear, where I read that Beyonce heard and liked it enough to put it on her album. Beyonce’s version is angelic and simply engulfs one into the whole song. However, I prefer Hugo’s original version. The melody, arrangement, lyrics, his voice, the simplicity of it all got me once again. Anxiously awaiting his debut album.
disappear
bread and butter
I’m a fan of Thai music, and will have to say I’m saddened by the fact that though I’ve heard of his band before, I’ve never actually listened to them. I really enjoyed this song and cute music video though. Recognizing some of the actors, they look way young here.
Ruk Pen Chen Dai
.OTHER FREE/NON-FREE TIME.
- learning and practicing a very special song for my best friend’s upcoming birthday next weekend
- thanks to my dear Matthew for the guitar chords.
- family =)
