Posted 12:02 AM by Andy
Time to examine the files of the days on the west coast, 2003.

The Boys. I hung out with some of my brothers in LA and SF over the last month and here are my impressions. I commiserated with Mike C, who bemoaned the paucity of eligible women for him to date at 33. Your time will come, dawg. I hung out with Greg W on a few occasions in Pasadena and Westwood. He’s becoming quite the socialite connecting the two ends of California, meeting new people, hosting visitors, trekking to Europe. I thought you were on a student budget? Funniest quote from him recently came when he commented on travelling with two girls abroad, “There is absolutely no difference from travelling with guys. Except we change in different rooms.” I shared a picnic with John H at Magic Johnson Park in Compton to celebrate his good students. Of course he was only one of 3 male teachers out of a group of about 20. Visited the Living Way Church in Hollywood. Waited for him as he conversed with and set up a tennis date with a sister. I balled with the Lumps guys on Memorial Monday before bidding adieu to Lydia at her BBQ. Tempers flared slightly before they were reined in. Dave C showcased his skills and his new wardrobe, hitting a baseline jumper off a pump fake on Ernest L that shook the crowd. Sorry, I had to do it, Ernest. I balled with Leon for 5 of the 8 days I was in SF. I’m starting to get an intuition about his abilities and where he likes to receive the ball. Tuesday’s runs featured a fight between Victor, a small high schooler, and a bigger guy. The latter guy was playing physical and taunting Victor and before we knew it, they were exchanging punches. I was the second guy on the scene to try to break it up. Leon tried to drill into Victor’s head the lesson that you cannot retaliate from the intimidation. You just cannot get rattled because it is psychological as much as it is physical. Wednesday I played with Hope EFC’s Pastor Sonny and his friends. After a couple days’ rest, I played again on Saturday and Sunday. Things I need to work on in my game: the reverse spin move off the hard dribble, and the tear-drop runner. I know so many guys from the playgrounds it’s really cool to be able to connect in that way. Today I just saw Dan, a former CIBC brother who I balled with up north years ago, and caught up with Chung, a former high school acquaintance who I played with on a weekly basis back in the day. Talked to John Y about his trip to Cape Town, South Africa. Talked to Drew Y about his trip to Japan. Talked to Pat about visiting Paris and going to Shanghai with him. Talked to Jason C about corporate ethics and decision making. Talked to Wai about when he will come out to California to fulfill his fantasy of surfing on our beaches. Talked to Mike T about life, business, and mentorship. He cooked sticky rice for me. Talked to Eli K about the art of the sale. “If you are not afraid of rejection, you will be successful in life and love” was a motto he shared. Talked to Phil D about life and mobile phones. He cooked chicken and bok choy for me. Talked to Bun briefly as he drove Ted around. Hung out with Alvin W. His assessment of my recent predicaments was “Andy, you’re finding yourself.” I suppose that’s right. Talked to Albert T and Jack T about job prospects. Saw Larry L and the Perspectives task force team at their celebration. People are still being changed by God for His kingdom purposes. Talked to Dan O and Brian T at Lumps. Have to take care of the younger bros.

New people. Susan at Lumps has a nice, soothing demeanor. Esther at Real World led a study on John 6 about Jesus feeding the five thousand beautifully, great for her first time. Had lunch with Anna and Josie after Christine and gang disappeared on me after City Church service. Met Rahumel F, an Air Force Academy graduate and owner of 8 businesses ranging from apparel design to investments to mentoring services. He is interested in connecting people of different social circles and expanding people’s ideas of possibilities and understanding of Christian power. He posed this question to me, “Do you think Michael Jordan played basketball for the love of the game or for money?” He quickly shot down my pat answer of “for the love of the game.” He explained that the NBA at one time banned MJ from wearing Nikes and levied $500 fines for every violation. Jordan had no choice but to wear the league approved shoes until Nike stepped in and offered outside sponsorship. Essentially Nike told Mike to wear the shoes and they will pay the fines. Commissioner Stern was unable to control the force of the marketing machine and MJ became the most recognizable international sports icon. He proceeded to tutor me in the ways of the world for the next fifteen minutes, saying how he is currently working to insert a senator into office. He was very no-nonsense about his approach, equating business to war, his field of training. I left that meeting convinced entrepreneurship is the path to follow. Now I just have to get more training and sponsors.

Christian sightings. As we rolled out of the parking lot at the park in Compton, a black lady yelled at us in an attempt at street evangelism. “Do you know Jesus?” was followed by “Do you speak English?” I gave her a thumbs up. How ironic is it that I am tested on my English ability in Compton and my Chinese ability in church when I have mad skills in both languages? Ha ha. Today cruising on Hawthorne in Torrance I saw a license plate “1ST SKHM” framed by “Jesus” on top and “His Righteousness” on the bottom. Can I get an Amen? The worship set this morning is still pulsating in my veins.

Wake-up calls. It seems that lately many of my friends connect on the phone after one of us is roused from sleep. I woke up Dave W after a weekend trip to Vegas. Talked to him about the Austin technology scene and his upcoming wedding. Andy L woke me up at 6:12 a.m. on May 30. I checked caller ID and knew his wife had recently given birth. When I called him back later that morning, he was recovering from being a new father. Andy on his kid, “I’ve never seen someone so dependent on me.” He loves it. I woke up Paul L after his trip to India on the Clinton HIV/AIDS initiative. We compared notes on our life: how it’s unscripted from this point on and we have no idea what’s going on. We both have choices but they are not optimal ones. Enroll at Columbia Law School or reapply to Harvard next year? At least he understands the sickness of an active and restless mind. Woke up Annie L this morning to go to Newsong LA. She would have been an hour late if I hadn’t called. Sebastian H, a former Chinese mafia boss who was a fugitive from Dallas and ran New York's Chinatown like his own piggy bank, shared his testimony. He lived the thug life and reached a point when he was in a maximum security prison and a 66-year sentence. One day, a big dude came into his cell and Sebastian thought he was about to die. Instead the guy gives me a Christian book called "The Cross and the Switchblade." After fighting God for a while, he gave in to the love of God and cried for the first time since he was a kid witnessing the departure of his father from his family and vowing never to cry again. Now he is a urban minister in Dallas. The unrelenting grace of God at work again.

The girls. As much as women are a mystery to me, they nevertheless are a source of encouragement. Had lunch with Annie C in Menlo Park. She challenged me on my decision-making patterns and questioned whether I was more focused on success versus Christ. We compared different value systems. She is considering inviting a poor couple and their child to live with them. She works four days a week so she can spend more time in the neighborhood of East Palo Alto. Her behavior is completely counter-cultural, and I completely understand her motivations. Shared dinner with Sonia K in Mountain View. We compared our experiences in New York, she speaking more favorably about hers and me less so about mine. She related her triathlon training regimen and motivations. She shared about a recent trip to Mexico to build houses when she didn’t know her teammates prior to the trip and the faith she exercised to propel her to go. We are both somewhat restless and wondering what else life has to offer. Had lunch with Amy, Elizabeth, and Terry, three 20-year-old girls, all Cal EECS majors. I’m not worthy. Talked to Sherry about my change of plans. Talked to Tishia about our time in New York. Saw Lory as her usual upbeat self in SF. Hung out with Annie at her graduation dinner, at a film festival, and today. She is at an interesting point in her life right before her professional career. For now, she has to conquer the bar exam.

The most memorable. Back in the first entry in my online journal, I made some notes on the guys who have had the most influence on me, for better or for worse. For a new series, I will recount the most memorable girls in my life, family excluded. Some of them I don’t even talk to on a consistent basis anymore, but at critical junctures I shared many moments with them. There is something about each one that makes them unforgettable. Over the next few months I will reveal each profile, in roughly chronological order of when I met them in my life. Melanie L was a year older but two grades above me. I met her at a fellowship at the pivotal entry point to my teenage years. She was really sweet, and I told her so. The main thing I am thankful for is that I honed my jumpshot because of her. I had picked up the sport of basketball in junior high a couple years back, but in the church gym after fellowship in early high school was when I refined my outside shot under her gaze. One year, I had the audacity to ask for a ride to her place to deliver a birthday gift from the guy she was really tight with at that time. We corresponded for a short while when she went away to college until she stopped returning my letters in a not so subtle fashion.
The agonies of the first crush.

On the Shelf: California Real Estate Principles, Against the Gods (history of risk), How Would You Move Mount Fuji? (Microsoft puzzle questions and history of intelligence testing), Path to Power (bio of Lyndon Johnson, volume 1.) Things I am looking forward to: visiting Newsong small group on Tuesday with college buddies Denise and Sam, taking surfing lessons with John when he finishes teaching school.

Question of the day: Should I go to Austin? I have two weddings on the same day, one in the Lone Star State and the other in the Bay area. I already committed to the latter. There is a friendly Cal versus Texas basketball game set up between the groom’s friends on Thursday night. If only I had a Gulf Stream jet because there is no easy way to leave right after Dave’s ceremony in the morning in Austin and make it to Wade’s banquet that night in Millbrae. Looks like I’ll have to nix going to Texas and miss seeing my boys Dave and Paul.