Summer of '08

Highlights from Summer 2008 thus far:

July 3 - Somerset Patriots Commerce Bank BallPark - watched fireworks

July 18 - Finished project at MetroPCS in Dallas
- Sad at the time but looking back allowed me some more time at home with my family / friends
- Would eventually turn out that ACN team lost contract (not extended) past August 15

July 25 - NJ Festival of Ballooning - attended with Anna and a couple of her medical residency friends
also went to Wegmans' in Bridgewater (nearby the Festival which was held in Readington) I love Wegmans'!

July 28 - Aug 22 (most done from Aug 11 - Aug 22)
Worked on wedding invitations - big task with over 200+ invitations for all family, friends, family friends, etc.
- Not everyone will be happy - some guests were left off despite the numerous checks of the list and rules for invitation (such as cannot invite this person without inviting that ... )
- Wedding preparation is about 70% complete at this point - open items now include program, flowers, seating ...

August 15 - Berkeley Heights YMCA Indian Food Celebration of Indian Independence Day

August 22 - Helped at Summer Program BBQ and Closing Ceremony

August 23 - Point of Grace concert at Newark Bears Riverfront Stadium
group is older - started in 1991 - changing a little through the years - have only 2 of original 4 members of group with some new additions - for more info see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_grace

Whirlwind of a Weekend

Two weddings - one in Dallas and another in NYC.

Spent Friday in Dallas enjoying the warmth of Texas, it was 80F all weekend.

Wish I did not need to leave, there is definitely an appeal to the north Dallas area - the quiet, spaced out area inviting warmth (relative to the NorthEast right now) and a lot of my friends there.

Went to Fish on Fire, and saw Tina, the manager whose restaurant I ate at many times - probably a couple times per week while I was on project in Dallas.  Always enjoy going back for some fresh fish dinner.

Saturday I went to Ken Yu and Joni's wedding .. funny story is how they met - Ken asking Jon Chia who this "Johnny" person was who needed a ride to retreat - turns out to be Joni!  Then the two start talking, and soon enough ... they are now married.  The wedding was at 11a and followed by an American-style  lunch reception with a few types of pasta and fresh-cut fruit.

Saturday night I meet up w Stephanie and Darcy (Stephanie and I went to college together) and I always try to catch up with them when I am in Dallas.  Stephanie has met Anna on one of her visits to Dallas when I was on project here.  There daughter, Jubilee, is so cute and growing fast - now nearly 1yr!

Sunday I enjoyed a nice stroll through Addison Park around Addison Circle, and then headed on my way via Cincinnati to New York ... took the bus from LaGuardia to Peik's reception in Flushing Chinatown where I met up with Anna.  There wedding was the more traditional Chinese 10-course banquet.  Saw many people from OCM again for the first time in a while ... with my travelling all the time, and more involvement now with FCPC.

Boy, needless to say, though I had a ton of fun seeing old friends I am beat tonight (now back in my apt in Northern Virginia for the week) ... doing laundry as I write this entry and will sleep early tonight.

Steven Curtis Chapman

Attended Steven Curtis Chapman concert in Woodbridge, VA on Sat 10-20.

Rev 1:19 "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later."

The inspiration verse for his current "This Moment" tour.
A great new album full of inspiration about the family and living for this moment.

Labor Day Weekend

What beautiful weather we've had this weekend in the NY/NJ area for Labor Day weekend ...

I started off my weekend on Friday afternoon by taking a train from DC to NJ after work ... I am now staffed on a project in northern Virginia, and have been alternating taking the train and flying.  With the airport delays so notoriously bad this summer, Amtrak's service between NY and DC is actually comparable in terms of time to air travel - plus the train seats are roomier, and more relaxing than the little commuter jets that serve this trip, but downside is that there would be no frequent flier miles

My new project has been ok ... but sometimes the travel has gotten to me more on this project than the time I had in Dallas, perhaps bc I am still new to area, trying to find directions, and learning new project ... but I miss TX.

Saturday - went to a Casting Crowns concert at the Newark Bears' stadium, and met Anna after she finished work at a hospital nearby.  The concert was quite good - Casting Crowns playing music from their latest album, The Altar and the Door - http://castingcrowns.com/site.php?content=tour&subcontent=tour_dates for all those who may be interested in attending their concert. The music was good, but aside from the song East to West, I preferred their LifeSong album more.

Sunday - met up w Jon Chia, who led small group in Dallas, and his sister Grace at Otto's Pizzeria - a Mario Batali restaurant. 

Monday - catching up with reading for work - feel like I am in ILR school at Cornell - which had sarcastic joke of acronym (I Love Reading ... ) - on this new project with Impact Assessments (IAs) often running more than 100pgs and then tons of test cases to review ... quite different role, yet similar product to my last project ... still adjusting to this change of assignment.

Rolled Off Project - No More TX (for now ... )

To all those whom I owe a memorable time in Dallas on my longest project over the past 16 months - I thank y'all:

- small group from DCBC
- co-workers / with whom I spent so much time, feels like family
- Stephanie / Darcy and family - friends from undergraduate
- Ondat / Eva - welcomed me to town and weekly ultimate
- Poornima - knew from CMU graduate school program - who since moved to Philly

I will miss the comraderie and spontenaiety of our group.
Best wishes to all ...