I unlocked my super old xanga!! Going through all these super old posts from college and post-college is quite interesting. I’m going to repost old stuff from there over here. Haha.

Friday, October 21, 2005
You own the curb…

The other day when I arrived at work I had to park around the corner along the curb because there was no parking left across the street. The same day when I was leaving work and walking to my car, a little light blue paper placed snugly under my windshield wipers caught my eye. The first thought to my mind? A ticket? No, I can’t get a ticket, its not Monday or Tuesday (since you can’t park there on one of those days). I grab the paper and read it as I get into my car. It said, “There is room for two cars in this parking lot (I’m assuming they meant the curb) PLEASE use only one.” I never walked around behind my car to see how much room was left, but I did notice that I only had about 2 feet in front of me. Perhaps I could have pulled my car up a little. I still think a car could have fit behind me. But it doesn’t matter. If I took up two spots then “my bad”. I didn’t mean to. I wasn’t really thinking about if another car could fit. But I did pull up as far up to the driveway as I could see from my car. So, my mistake. Sorry. The thing that amuses me is what gives them or anyone at all the right to put a note on my car? No, I’m not mad at all or upset in the least bit. I just find it amusing. I didn’t realize that they owned the curb. Perhaps it was just a slight polite gesture at reminding me for future occasions to make sure I leave room for another car. If that was the case, then it did work, because this morning when I had to park along the curb, I looked to see if another car would fit. Or perhaps they were just upset that they could not park directly in front of their residence. Who knows? But they own the curb. Do you?

LA and her mom seem to have this “sign” on their forehead that says “talk to me”.  It must be true because people always randomly start talking to them!  I would like to tell LA to please keep her sign and not pass it to me because I think yesterday I was wearing the sign.

A few of us hit up Jamba yesterday after football.  We had all ordered drinks and I started to head towards the restroom so I could wash my hands.  However, I never made it there.  I was maybe two steps away when this girl goes, “what does your shirt say?”.  I had happened to be wearing the red Hope Harvest shirt from the ultimate tourney last year.  “Hope Harvest International,” I reply.  I go on and explain to her what it was and she asks, “How can I help?  Do you have a business card or something?”  I told her I could give her the URL.  She proceeded to tell me she goes to Flood.  Coincidentally, I had been planning on going to Flood tomorrow (which is now today).  So I mentioned that.  She told me about how great Matt Hammett was.  She told me about the Halloween event they were having and were how they were looking for volunteers and gave me a flyer.  Then she said that she normally goes to Flood at the evening services but would go at the morning service if that’s when I was going.  She told me she has unlimited texts and to text or call her or email or facebook her.  She wrote down all her info.

Then, she seemingly told me her whole life story.  How she was stuck out here in San Diego but was from Massachusetts.  How she was staying with her ex-boyfriend in this other (older) guy’s house (who was standing next to her at Jamba) and that this other guy buys all their groceries and how he was so kind.  And how she really believes in paying in forward even though it has screwed her in the past.  How she let somebody or people stay at her house before and they stole all her sound equipment which was worth $15,000.  But even though sometimes you get screwed by helping others, sometimes you don’t, and it’s important to give and pay it forward.  She said she has two cats or dogs (I can’t remember anymore) and a girl duck named Charlie that is just like the Aflac duck.  And on and on and on she went.  I was trying hard to pay attention but admittedly I had lost focus a few times.  All the while, my drink was called and C. just walked by and handed me my drink.  And on and on she went.  She said she just wants to pay it forward cause she knows God will take care of her and she doesn’t have to worry because even the birds don’t worry about what they will eat referring to Matthew 6:25-27.  She kept talking about giving and giving and giving and not expecting anything back.  And I said, “Yep, that’s the beauty of grace.”

And then she wanted my information, but I was getting this weird vibe from her.  I had actually tried to go a couple times but she just kept going and going.  And I know for you guys reading it, it might not actually sound that odd or strange, but trust me, it didn’t start out that strange, but it got kinda strange.  So I gave her my name, email, and phone number.  In hindsight, I shouldn’t have given her my phone number and I should have given her some other email address.  But I didn’t give her my fb.  She was like, yeah, let me know so I can come to flood and talk to you.  Finally, the 10lbs (exaggerating) of wheatgrass she had ordered was ready and off they went.

So my attempt to go and wash my hands turned into a 20 minute conversation/encounter.  It was quite random and strange.  I don’t think I like the “Talk to Me Sign.”  Someone please take it from me.

I like working out.  Well, I like to think that I like working out until I’m actually in the middle of working out…haha.  But maybe I secretly like it.  I’ve worked out/ran more this year than I have in many many years.  Even though we did a bit of “bootcamp” last year, we never really ran ran.  I think I’ve improved quite a bit with running which is a really good thing.  It’s also satisfying to see progress.  I remember one of the first times I tried to workout with C. and I barely ran 1 mile (with a hill) and then tried to run another (w/o hill) and it was so difficult.  Those few beach runs we did, I also struggled quite a bit and they were for just over a mile.  The longest run I did was at Lake Miramar with F. where we tried to run a 5k but failed cause we started too far in the route.  I think we ran about 2.7 miles and I had taken a short walking break at the half way point.

Last week I ran with C. and did the usual nobel field loop twice but I also walked a little after 1 loop.  Yesterday, we did it again and I did the whole two loops without walking!  I thought it was only 2 miles but it was actually just short of 2.5 miles!!  Oh, and the last part was a sprint to the finish which left me huffing and puffing.  Yesterday’s workout was really tiring.  I didn’t realize that running actually uses up some of your arm energy.  After 2.5 miles we tossed the football around for about 10 minutes.  Then we did pushups, situps (which I still suck at but am getting better at), dips, plank, bench pushups, lunges, and some knee raise thing.  My arms were dead after the 3 arm exercises and it’s not like we did THAT many of them.  I was definitely struggling with the dips and bench pushups.  It was a tough workout, although C. says it was just ok.  Haha.  Well, it was good and difficult which is what I wanted.

I think working out with C. is good because she’s in better shape so she can push me more.  If it was up to me, I’d quit running after like 200 meters – like I did that one time I tried to run near the neighborhood.  I think I like it when someone is telling me what to do for a workout.  It’s easier and it’s more motivating.

Too bad the days are getting short – not sure what’s going to happen once there is no daylight when I get off from work.  :(

Have you ever thought about how friendships form?  This is something I think of on occasion.  How did I become friends with so and so?  How are some friendships stronger than others?  And then there are just some people you just aren’t friends with.

I think what makes friendships work as well as any type of relationship is vulnerability.  You have to be willing to open yourself up, reveal yourself, to establish trust.  If you can’t do this, I think it’s hard to become real friends.  Right..?  Think of all the people you consider good friends, whether new or old, you have to be open to letting people know you and they have to as well.

I definitely have friends that are close and friends that aren’t as close.  And then there are some people I don’t really want to be friends with.  Developing friendships really takes effort and investment.  Investment in people.

Eh..random thoughts.