Quiet Friday

Had to come in today and work, but it actually doesn't feel like a work day. It feels like I'm here doing some extra work. It's interesting cause as I was on the way to work, I was wondering how many businesses would be open in our complex and how many would be closed. When I pulled in the parking lot I was shocked to find the parking lot completely empty! So that just made it seem even more like a day off. lol And the fact that I'm the only one here with hardly any calls coming in makes it pretty nice, and I may even get off a little early. I suppose it does help to get a few projects out of the way though instead of leaving them all for Monday. Hey, makes my life more bearable here. If I compare my work day to those poor retail employees who are being smothered by mad shoppers out there today...ehh...I guess I should consider myself blessed having a quiet, stress-free day!

So I hear pretty much every large retailer out there is omitting the phrase 'Merry Christmas' from their stores because a handful of people are terribly offended by it. Geeez it's not some kind of evil curse or satanic hand gesture or something. What's so offending about it? Because the word 'Christ' is present? That God loves us enough to send His Son to the cross to die for our sins so that we could have eternal life with Him in Heaven forever? Oh yeah...who would want that? That's terribly offending that a loving God cares about us. geeez. Well I hate to say that when you have a world who rejects a loving God who died for the world, you're gonna end up with a cold, dark world, and that's what it's coming to. I do not want to live in a world that completely rejects the Creator of all things. And who in their right mind would want to? Of course, all this to say that again, it's a spiritual battle. We don't wrestly against flesh and blood, but principalities and hosts of wickedness in high places. The whole world is under the sway of the evil one, and his tactic is to dupe people into rejecting the only One who can save them. But his day is coming as the bible says; he's not getting away with anything. Anyhow this world is heading toward a future that was already predicted by Jesus Christ 2000 yrs ago. I think all we can do is stand strong for righteousness and hope that the blinders are lifted off those who are deceived and living in darkness. Hopefully they will have ears to hear.

You know I think the best solution to avoid the madness out there at the malls and stores is just to stay home and shop online. How maddening can that be? I think that's the best solution not only to avoid the crowds and stress but also to avoid the possiblility of terrorism. If there's one good solution to sustaining life and business and keep the world going without resorting to being out in large crowds where terrorists hit the hardest, it's being behind a computer at home where you can shop, work and communicate in one place. I gotta admit to those minds who created the internet as we know it...they may have created a solution to keep us safe from terrorism in the world as we know it today. =)

Cruise control

This week started off pretty busy from the get-go but seems to be winding down already for me. We had some major projects that we just finished today so I was up Mon and Tues getting those done. Now I'm back at the computer back to designing for a bit. Thurs I'll be off of course for Thanksgiving with my brother's girlfriend's family, then Friday I'll be here but the owner wont, so I imagine it will be pretty slow that day. So actually Wed will sort of kind of be like my Friday and Friday will feel like I'm using a day off to come in and do extra work. lol On top of that we have no school this week so that gives me some leeway with homework and time do work on my designs, which is cool. So all in all it's been a nice week I'd have to say so far. so far. lol

We just finished a huge 8' x 16' sign for the city for a home development project. This will be our 3rd now. They said there will be one a month for us to do, which is good business for us! We also do smaller 4' x 8' signs also which are a little easier. I should post some of these sometime, they are rather huge. I might post them on my other blog however. Now those signs take ALL the energy out of me! lol They have to be done on the floor so it's pretty labor intensive...but worth it in the end. =)

Tiger Direct

I discovered a site where they have very low prices for computers and accessories. A guy is supposed to back up all our information pretty soon at work and overheard him mention this site as having pretty much the lowest prices you'll find on the net. So actually I didn't discover it...I don't know who discovered it, anyways that's beside the point here. lol I've seen a few accessories already that have impressed me so far but not everything. It's called www.tigerdirect.com. Also there's a pretty good deal at Dell right now for a basic computer desktop system going for $299 after a mail-in rebate. I think they're discounting all their items for the holiday right now. But who isn't? Right now it would be nice to get a flat-screen monitor for my desktop. I have one of those old 17" screens that take up the whole desk practically! But it was free so I'm not complaining, not at all.

Anyways, where did this week go?? I can't believe it's over already. Geeez...Well I just hope this weekend goes by fast so I can look forward to another fun-filled week of labor! =)

Feeling the Pinch

This week was a very tight week financially, I mean especially tight! Normally I have at least some to spend at my leisure...not this week. Well thank God I made it through and got paid today, although the banks were closed today. :( Oh well...there's always tomorrow. And I got a nice surprise near the end of the day too! The owner came over to me around 3pm and told me we were going to go ahead and close at 4pm, an hour early, since it was Veteran's Day! Yes! That was nice I'll say. So I got to head out to Newport where I am now to hang out, study a bit...do whatever I want! lol Man...it was nice and peaceful a second ago in here, meaning Starbucks...they have the classical opera blaring now!! geeez what's with that? Someone back there loves it. lol Hey I love classical but not blaring in my ears. I suppose it's because they just got a huge rush in here. Funny how things can change in a matter of minutes. I must say it can be fun observing people, waiting for coffee, chatting, arm wrestling (yes, a few kids were arm wrestling the next table over! lol), sitting alone, like me, reading, talking on their cells.

So the Subway down here at Fashion Island now have these touch screens to order your sandwiches! They said it'll pretty much take over customer service. All they have to do is make your order once they get the printout on their end. All I do is take my receipt to the cashier and pay, and I'm ready to go! Pretty cool I thought, but at the same time I didn't want to order from a screen, I wanted to talk to a 'live operator' here. It felt...impersonal. Nevertheless I went ahead and tried it out...pretty cool I must admit. I guess...lol

Anyhow I think I'm gonna change gears here and do a little work. Until next time...=)

Different

Tonight's class was quite different I should say, combining two classes into one without our usual instructor or prof I should say. I got a good taste of pure lecture tonight! Yes I was a bit uncomfortable...our class usually interacts quite a bit with the prof's we've gotten. I don't think any of us were ready for that! lol I could tell we all had a bit of a struggle sitting still without being able to actually do the talking. Well after the break I was quite fine and more attentive actually, busy writing notes, asking questions. He actually was quite knowledgable and fascinated with the discussion of ethics, almost matched by our own prof Rae! He knew when he was going too far with a subject...after a certain point of driving a question into the ground it doesn't make sense any more..lol...but he was full of info and I was able to get something out of the discussion tonight.

As a side note I only have 19 more free plays on my Rhapsody...better pick and choose a little more carefully here...lol...how bout Enya...oooooh...well actually I can go to Borders and listen to the full length of each song which is unusual cause usually it only plays like 30 second bits..hmm

I used to really be into Yanni when I was younger. I remember putting on particular CD on and playing it over and over while I drew at night. I think it was very inspiring at the time. Since then I haven't really heard much of him...none of his recent music attracts me much, but Enya still does though. I used to listen to alot of classical music too when I was in my teens. Don't ask me why but during the day I would put blankets on all the windows, put classical music on as well as a few candles too and just draw to my heart's content! I think I know only one other person who did that, a brother I think I go to church with. Hmmm...maybe its a guy thing I don't know. Hey at least I wasn't covering the windows to do anything bad! lol

The path of terror

"Thousands of Jordanians rallied in the capital and other cities shouting "Burn in hell, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi!" a day after three deadly hotel bombings that killed at least 59 people."

You ever wonder where all this terrorism is going? Are we going to conquer it as Bush is so confidently aimed at doing? Will Iraq ever have rest again, or will it just get even worse? Sometimes I think that all this terrorism is actually setting up a worldwide security system that will be so precise and high-tech that every person will be accounted for and eventually be a system that the antichrist will use to his advantage as he takes his position as the world leader. I believe this as being highly probable because the bible says that when the world leader rules there will be a peace like never before, for 3 1/2 years, due to the peace treaty that is enacted. Of course he will use peace as his 'weapon' since he's trying to mimic THE Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Unfortunately it will be a short peace and end after those 3 1/2 yrs, when his deception is revealed. Hmmm...why did I say 'unfortunately'? I should be saying fortunately!! Cause then his true identity will finally be revealed, that serpent of old, the devil or Lucifer, the fallen one. Speaking of Lucifer, it's scary to think that there are many people caught up in some UFO cult out there who's name escapes me who actually use a technology to 'communicate' with who they call Lucifer, yet to them he's an alien entity who has all the answers. That is very unfortunate to see so many deceived by his devices, but the bible does say that the 'the whole world is under the sway of the evil one', meaning satan, or Lucifer. How can people not see this? Especially when the bible lines up perfectly with the current events we are now living in??? Hmmm

New Habits

For some reason I've been getting into the habit of posting more...how curiously unusual of me. I'll need to spend time analyzing this abnormal behavior of mine. hmmm...they are some serious blogs going on around here too as I'm finding out...some people like myself keep it pretty simple, but others are posting serious political issues and what not that are sooo long I don't have time to sit and read that much!! lol I wonder if anyone does?? Well I'm sure they are advocates of those kinds of blogs who make time in their life to sit and read those articles. And to think that people actually take the time to sit and write that much too! Wow...that's some serious writing time I'm telling you...unless they're using some voice system to write, that's highly probable.

I'm trying to think of some seriously applicable ways to use car magnets and decals in a new way, as a way that conforms to one's car. I think that as car's evolve there will be a departure form your ordinary vinyl sticker applications as a way of avoiding cheapening a car's appearance, although it probably wont disappear completely. I've been dabbling in some new plastic/metallic designs similar to the dove and fish symbols you see on alot of cars. It would certainly by nice to invent a new application that catches on, an application that starts in the Christian market first. I can think of one invention that would certainly catch on yet would be very expensive and still in the making...that would be motion graphics on paper thin applications, which is either in the making or already on the market in retail locations. I did see a Carl's Jr about a few months ago who had a menu with that concept going! It was a menu where the images would change often and would even show short video clips. The whole menu had to be a digital image of course, and something like that is ideal for changing menu items and prices! But when I drove by later on I think they took it out...hmmm...too expensive?? not sure...

Well I for one am thankful it's Friday tomorrow...the week has been okay it's just that too many late nights is taking it's toll on my body. If I didn't have these darn allergic reactions I could bet that I wouldn't need as much sleep, cause my lack of sleep seriously comes from lack of oxygen due to these God-forsaken allergies! I'm not breathing clearly so I don't get a full night's rest every night, and even when I do I still feel like I'm not rested! So irritating...gotta get to the Dr and get it taken care of unless I like suffering...lol. =) nite

Created by a Higher Power

It's hard to read this statement made by critics of the newly voted for standard in Kansas schools that will allow for Intelligent Design to be taught with evolution without getting a little upset:

Critics of the new language charged that it was an attempt to inject God and creationism into public schools, in violation of the constitutional ban on state establishment of religion.

Oh yeah...I forgot that this nation was founded with the belief in evolution that was being taught in every school in the nation, and now suddenly people want God in schools. I forgot about that. Ummm...did I miss something here? This nation and it's schools, including those of Yale and Harvard mind you, were founded upon biblical principles that were actually at the forefront of education! All other education as I recall was secondary. And these critics have the audacity to make a charge like that? No, it's not an attempt to inject God and creationism into public schools, it's an attempt to bring him back into the school system where He was in the first place, a school system that you polluted with your THEORY of evolution that states there is no purpose in life! If you would read up on your history and think a little here it should be obvious who's making the attempt here to violate who you ignoramaces! I would say it's a sad day when people try to twist the truth, especially the truth of factual history.

It's so sad that people would put their faith into a man who claims to have the anwers to life's beginnings, and then use that theory as THE basis for the existence of man and teach it as the only truth that there is to life in every American school. Very sad indeed. Ummm...there's about a billion if not more people on this earth here...how completely narrow-minded, if not outright inconsiderate of everyone else in this nation for those who advocate evolution to think that their precious theory is the ONLY answer to life! Talk about intolerance! I'm beginning to believe that those people who push so hard for tolerance are the very ones who are the most intolerant. They're only tolerant if you believe and accept what THEY believe. For example, those activists who push for the legitimacy and legality of homosexuality also push for tolerance, tolerance of the homosexual lifestyle. Yet, if you approach them with the proven fact that homosexuals CAN change and live a heterosexual life, they won't hear it and are totally against it. Translation: they are INTOLERANT! They can't accept the fact that they CAN change. And that is sad indeed, especially for those who do want to change. Sadly, their so-called 'leaders' are liars.

On a lighter note here (I hate having to start like that), today was actually a good day in design, albeit a little busy at the end though, but not hectic busy. An online friend whom I haven't spoken to in ages it seems has suddenly appeared again! That was pretty surprising. I got an IM message from her a day or two ago just saying HI so it seems she's been coming around slowly. I think it's actually been about ohhh...I want to say 6 months or more, I think since last year. We were talking for a while, I was actually calling her here and there, then she kind of disappeared for a bit, mostly cause she was in the middle of alot of changes in her life and very busy with her business. Well, hopefully she'll be around a bit more.

Anyhow I do need to read a bit...blah...I'm so unmotivated this week for some reason. Got things to do like watch live concert DVD's that my brother has! lol bad I know. Very bad. I guess I'm not too motivated to read...hmmm...don't know why...maybe because I didn't understand a word I read of that ethical argument last time!! lol well, I guess I could skip to the next one. In fact I think the reading on that one is more my kind of reading...easy and to the point and not full of flashy uncomprehensible symbolisms and what not. Well I'd like to just go on and on here but there's always tomorrow...or at least later tonight. =)

The Myths and Truths

The following are just some interesting points I found on the issue of homosexuality and the gay lifestyle from NARTH.


The Three Myths About Homosexuality

Myth #1

Homosexuality is normal and biologically determined.

The truth...

There is no scientific research indicating a biological or genetic cause for homosexuality. Biological factors may play a role in the predisposition to homosexuality. However, this is true of many other psychological conditions.
Research suggests that social and psychological factors are strongly influential. Examples include problems in early family relationships, sexual seduction, and sense of inadequacy with same-sex peers, with resulting disturbance in gender identity. Society can also influence a sexually questioning youth when it encourages gay self-labeling.

Myth #2

Homosexuals cannot change, and if they try, they will suffer great emotional distress and become suicidal. Therefore, treatment to change homosexuality must be stopped.

The truth...

Psychotherapists around the world who treat homosexuals report that significant numbers of their clients have experienced substantial healing. Change has come through psychological therapy, spirituality, and ex-gay support groups. Whether leading married or committed celibate lives, many report that their homosexual feelings have diminished greatly, and do not trouble them as much as they had in the past.
The keys to change are desire, persistence, and a willingness to investigate the conscious and unconscious conflicts from which the condition originated. Change comes slowly, usually over several years. Clients learn how to meet their needs for same-sex nurturance and affirmation without eroticizing the relationship. As they grow into their heterosexual potential, men and women typically experience a deeper and fuller sense of themselves as male or female.
If some homosexuals do not wish to change, that is their choice, yet it is profoundly sad that gay-rights activists struggle against the right-to-treatment for other homosexuals who yearn for freedom from their attractions.

Myth #3

We must teach our children that homosexuality is as normal and healthy as heterosexuality. Teenagers should be encouraged to celebrate their same-sex attractions.

The truth...

Scientific research supports age-old cultural norms that homosexuality is not a healthy, natural alternative to heterosexuality. Research shows that gay teens are especially vulnerable to substance abuse and early, high-risk sexual behavior. It does far more harm than good to tell a teenager that his or her attractions toward members of the same sex are normal and desirable. Teens in this position need understanding and counseling, not a push in the direction of a potentially deadly lifestyle.
A 1992 study in Pediatrics found that 25.9% of 12-year-olds are uncertain if they are gay or straight. The teen years are critical to the question of self-labeling, so the facts must be presented in our schools in a fair and balanced manner.

-brought to you by NARTH, the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality

Monday Make-up

My makeup class was actually quite nice, when I finally got there that is..lol...it was further than I thought it would be actually, almost an hour. I thought it would be less. But I liked it cause it was alot smaller than my own group, around 8 people total, and we each had our own small desk, which were all fitted together though so we were all still together, and the prof ended up being prof Ching who I had for my HR class! So that was a nice surprise. He's a great guy, not to mention quite humorous. And we were able to finish a little early so that was nice considering the drive I had ahead of me. I think a few of the girls in there also had to drive a ways to since they were from the La Mirada group, so I'm sure they lived up that way somewhere. And the people were very friendly also. They were a bit more mature sort of folk, I must say, who's company I quite indeed enjoyed over the course of our discussions that eve. Hey I think that rhymed! lol

Well that's one step closer to graduation, albeit a small step however. But I am excited that I'm in my last class for the program this year. Then I'll get a much needed break for about 3 weeks or so until I start making up a missed term. But thank God I got in one right off the bat in January huh? I was quite pleased with the results that were born so perfectly from a much needed meeting with one AB in sync with the meticulous deeds wrought forth from one B. I appreciate all their effort truly.

Can anyone help me understand what this sentence means:

The executive and the artist are equally tempted to identify and articulate a higher rationale for their work than their work itself. But only in the improved human consequences of their efforts do they find vindication.

It's an argument about the morality of advertising, and the argument this man is making can be very confusing to me. His language is something beyond me and almost seems to be in a language all his own actually. First, what is the difference between 'work' and 'work itself'? I don't see any difference here and I don't see his point either. Second, what in the world is the 'improved human consequences' of their efforts?? huh? Improved human consequences. I still cannot make sense of that. Is he missing something here, like 'improved' human consequences, possibly implying that the consequences of our mere human effort that we deem as improved are the very thing we try to justify? Is it a sarcastic reply to the supposed improvement of human effort by way of evolutionary thinking? Again, this is just one instance where the author loses me. Some writers seem to get so wrapped up at creating a language all their own that they think is creating some profound intellectual and symbolic statement when all they're doing is losing the reader altogether! Then again maybe it's just me, who knows. I think I can just make things more complicated than they are...lol.

Anyhow this is getting long, wow. I like short and sweet. Actually I like aggressive, especially when it comes to women. I like women who are very aggressive and very outspoken and speak their mind with power and prestige and who are at the same time very beautiful. They aren't intimidating to me at all...cause deep inside they're just little fragile teddy bears who have built up a huge wall and all they really want is a gentle man to simply love them and support them. That's all. When it comes down to it, it's exactly as Nat King Cole says in Nature Boy: "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love, and be loved in return." All anyone wants is just to be loved. It's true. And btw, I do not like aggressive women eh...no that's not true! lol I love them short and sweet. My blogs that is, not women. hehe


Overcome evil with good!

I'd like to destroy a heinous invention that's been propagated by those who want to destroy purity. The acronym LGBT will NOT stand for Lesbian, Gay, BiSexual and Transgender. To me it means 'a Loving God who Brought the Truth'. That truth appeared in the form of Jesus Christ who payed the penalty for sin. But I can only say that these individuals have twisted many things, including the word 'gay' which initially meant 'happy' not 'homosexual', and the meaning of the rainbow which is the symbol God gave us in His promise to never again flood the earth catastrophically, which they use as a symbol of pride, which is completely contrary to the character of God, but instead, personifies the character of Satan instead. Well satan's fall was due to his pride, and the Word of God has many things to say about those who are haughty and their fall due to pride. Homosexuality is a self-destroying lifestyle and doesn't move me a bit. I don't have to say a word against them to hurt them whatsoever cause the truth is, they're already hurting themselves. They can call us Homophobic, they can call us intolerant. But if inolerance mean standing in God's truth, then yes, I am intolerant! Cause they're caught in a lie, and the only thing that can save them is the salvation that Jesus Christ offers them, if they are only willing to believe in Him. And all I can do is be a light in the world. Cause it's not worth arguing, it's not worth fighting. But it is worth striving for excellence in Christ and pursuing righteousness and simply being an example of that righteousness in the world.

Listen to what the Lord says: "If God is with me, who can be against me?" "Do not fear those who can destroy the body, but fear Him who can destroy both body AND soul in hellfire!" If I tell the truth with unwavering persistence in the face of threats, just as God told Jeremiah, "Do not be afraid of their threats though they give you dirty looks," the absolute worse that can happen is that someone will be offended enough to want to kill me. And? Yeah? So? That's not doing to do squat to my eternal salvation with God. Nothing. My spirit will be with God forevermore! No man can touch my eternal soul. No one can touch yours. So why do those who follow Christ shy away from being a witness as though man has some authority over them? Man does NOT have authority over us except for those authorities God has placed, and those authorities for the most part are looking out for our best interests. If we have a Father who created the Heavens and Earth, who has all power over all things, who's sons and daughters we are, then why aren't we acting like that?? Sometimes we can act like complete cowards as though we serve a useless idol. We don't serve some useless idol...we serve an Almighty God who has control of over all things! We need to remind ourselves of that! We serve a God Who's prophecies are REAL, Who's power is undeniable, Who's precense is within us!

Ufortunately many are falling for the lies of the enemy in these last days, many are falling away from the truth, and we need to stand strong in these last days. We need to call what is evil, evil, and not sugarcoat it! We need to endure these dark times and endure to the end, for the Lord says 'those who endure to the end will be saved.' We need to be a light, we need to stand in truth! We serve an Almighty God who's promises are true! He WILL come back for us as He said, and while we wait we need to be busy about His business, in the ministry He's called us to. I heard a very sobering sermon the other night about having a Vision for our lives, having a purpose. He asked, "What do you want to do for the rest of your life?" I myself truly want to serve Him in the ministry He's called me to, to use the gift He's given me. He said 'great sacrifices have to be made in order for your vision to be great.' This convicted me greatly, cause I have the tendency to goof off, to be idle, to even act foolishly and be about lollygagging and wasting time away, instead of building on the foundation of the ministry He's called me to be in day by day, little by little, and contributing greatly to the Kingdom of God. Procrastination, foolishness, laziness, idleness...it all needs to go. If I don't crucify this selfish flesh, it will end up crucifying me. By His power, it can be crucified. =)

Busy week

Well this week will be quite busy...tonight makeup class in Laguna, Tues FLM practice, Wed finish homework, Thurs class, and Friday is finally free! Then Saturday night we're having an FLM event at the church, like a game night for married couples. Should be fun.=)

Maintaining Order

Man, some days can be trying. I thought I handled things pretty well while the owner was gone for a few days due to a small injury and I feel like I made things worse. Well, at least that was how I was made to feel cause I know I kept things as orderly as possible with all our invoices and what not, but the owner can be very unorderly and tend to lose things within the piles of paper covering her desk! And that's not exaggering either, there are literally piles of paper and notes all over the desk and I even get frustrated when I can't find something I'm looking for. So when something is missing I almost feel like I'm to blame for it, although there's no logical reason for me to feel this way cause it's not my fault. And for the last few days we were all looking for her keys and they were nowhere to be found. lol

Yesterday I was a little upset about an incident concerning using her computer. I needed to use her computer to find the file that she uses to type up quotes to fax to other vendors, and when she got wind of it from her son who works here that I was using her computer, she got all upset and went on about it's against the law to use her computer cause there's files on there I shouldn't be looking at and I'm like 'I just needed to type a simple letter for quoting'...geeez. I'm not here to snoop around and would never do that, but when you're doing your best to keep the business going and instead of being commended you get the third degree I almost feel like saying why even bother...it makes me feel kind of untrusted and almost worthless to her. If that's how you feel Mrs. O then hire someone else then honestly. Anyhow, I usually don't rant and rave about work here but I just needed to get these things off my chest. It actually helps to put it in writing although very cautiously.

Although it can be trying here, I try to stay positive and examine myself to see if there's something I might be doing that is confusing or questioning in my actions. If I'm doing things right however I know and God knows I'm doing things right or at least to the best of my ability. So I don't worry too much about it.

Well I hope tonight's class for Ethics is a little more interesting than the previous three. It's just that the prof doesn't really lecture...at all. He just sits with us and goes over the homework. I mean that's great but not for the whole 4 hrs! It's nice to here him lecture about things we don't know, about things that are interesting to here and what not. Usually every prof does it that way, and there's a balance to it. No other prof has just gone over the homework the whole time. It's almost as if he wants to here more from us than he wants to lecture to us...hmmm...anyhow I hope it's interesting. =)

QuickNote

The owner may be gone for a few days due to an eye injury...ouch! Apparently one of the plants she was watering poked her in the eye, or something fell into her eye rather and scratched it. So she's home recovering for a few days. I'll be alone til Mitch comes in later. The phone was ringing off the hook this morning too which can be a tad irritating when I'm trying to get my own work done here, but then again I guess it's all a part of my work here so I might as well face it. lol I really need to get these allergies checked out badly cause I think it's really been affecting my sleep and my body in general, feeling tired and out of it sometimes. I think pretty soon I'll be getting one of those air purifiers for the apt to help me breathe a little better. I found some for under $100 at BestBuy. Hopefully one of those will do the trick. =)

More later...