Sunday 30 October 2005

Walking around the Sunset

This is one of my free saturdays and boy am I thankful for it. It was such a nice day yesterday that I decided to walk around the Sunset District with my handy camera. First stop: the pumpkin patch. So many little kids, made me want to take one home with me and bake cheesecake for them.

It's that time of year again. And in a week, they'll be selling Christmas trees in the lot across the street.

This was the first Saturday I could just explore without a schedule or concrete plans. I went to a neighborhood garden, shopped a little at the recycled clothing store (resisted buying anything! one small step for roz, one huge step for roz's self control), and stopped into a salon to ask how much for a haircut.


And it was such a beautiful day, i decided, why not just hop on the N and ride down to Ocean beach?

I would never be able to live in the midwest. There's something about living within 1/2hour of a very large body of salt water that is so soothing. I dunno, I relish in the fact that I can see the sunset and be able to feel sand between my toes and knowing that being out in the sun could give me cancer, but I go anyway. And they have SAND DOLLARS at ocean beach! All in all, it was a good day :)

Friday 28 October 2005

an extra 3500 calories

due to a sedentary lifestyle and just constantly eating while studying, i've gained 6lbs in the past 2 weeks. It's harder to resist food.

Don't these look so good?
People who know me well know that I have an intense fear of double chins. I'm intensely afraid that I'll get one. I'm noticing the sizeable belly and butt that's accumulating on my frame. But still...food is hard to resist, especially cheezits, doritos, cheese, cereal, bean curd and noodles late at night. I tend to be more of a salty person than a sweet person. (don't be surprised if i have to get on one of those antihypertensives in the next few years).

THAT cooked up real nice would taste so good.

I've also noticed a significant increase in the number of pimples on my forehead. My face has become oilier than usual.

Funny that I start caring about these things now. I used to not care because they were never an issue. Now i do.

There're a lot of thoughts swimming around in this bowl of noodles of mine. Most of them are all about how insufficient and powerless I am. But in an instant, like in the elevator today, I thought about the Lord. I may be insufficient, disorganized, absentminded, weak, quiet, imperfect, flawed but God is not. He is sufficient, organized, omnipresent, strong and perfect. And because of that, I can smile, laugh and live.

Tuesday 25 October 2005

Dang.

I was xanga stalking today and found THIS.

Totally threw me for a loop. You think that Christian romance books are warm and fuzzy (though i've never read one, just heard that they were). God has a heart for the nations and has a plan for those who actively seek after Him and His heart. There's something about answered prayer and stories about God (even if it's not about relationships although those are nice) that encourage me so much.

"So do nor fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Monday 24 October 2005


I am SUPER NIKE WOMEN'S MARATHON MAN running for leukemia, lymphoma and hodgkin's disease! FEAR my RUNNING SHOES, FOIL CAPE and LASER STARE! [kindly sponsored by SFPD]

Sunday 23 October 2005

Procrastination reigns

here's what i did this weekend:
1) took a midterm
2) said goodbye to theron and shirley
3) caught up with sfc-folk, i love you guys.
4) wished katie a happy birthday
5) studied
6) got free stuff at a health fair (along with a krispy kreme donut, noah's bagel and a bottle of costco water)
7) had lydia come over and i got to practice my derm knowledge on her. (::warning hipaa violation::) It was atopic dermatitis.
8) saw mr. jeff wang finish a 26.2 mile marathon. congrats, you da man and no you DON'T run like a girl.
9) studied
10) GRX. it's starting to grow on me. every time i go, i'm so encouraged by the worship and the message. i'm all in. are you?
11) Met friends of a friend at Sunset who just got married a few months ago.
12) discovered (to my dismay) that my $20 abercrombie pants are now getting tight.

revelation: things may look good on paper, but you actually have to try it out to see if it fits. (apply liberally to different areas of life, prn [as needed])

Have a good week, everyone, and remember to try some pumpkin pie.

Tuesday 18 October 2005

Let Go

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matt 6:19-21

"The Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it." Matt 16:24-25

"If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." Matthew 19:21

"Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on." Luke 21:3-4

"So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God." 1 Corinthians 3:21-23

"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them rubbish in order that i may gain Christ." Philippians 3:7-8

"For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either." 1 Timothy 6:7

"Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." 2 Timothy 2:22

"Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your misteries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth eaten...It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!" James 1-2, 4

I hold onto things too tightly. Freshman year in college a good friend challenged me with this statement: "If God took away the things most important to you, would you still be content in Him alone?" I couldn't answer him then and I still can't answer him now. There are so many things where I improperly put my heart: relationships, grades/school, shopping. A significant other, fiance, boyfriend or husband will die and I won't be buried with him. After I get out of school, grades will just be a letter on a piece of paper. Clothing, accessories, gadgets will break, tear and deteriorate with time. Perhaps I will never completely learn the fullness of this lesson, but it is so important. It's not just about being content with the things I have but realizing that all these good gifts come from the Father. Who is the INFINITE source of goodness, righteousness, holiness and love. Contentment and realization should lead to sacrifical giving. Instead of loving that special boy, sacrificially love everyone, especially the unlovable. Instead of buying that next purse or cute shirt, give that money to the church or sponsor a child. Don't blow off a friend because you need to study, that's just lame. This isn't advice for you (reader of blog), but reminders for me because I DON'T do these things and there are times when my heart DOESN'T feel like this. Almost EVERY fiber of my being wants to chase after that special boy, that 4.0, that really cute outfit.

And so the struggle continues. And it starts in the psyche. Where are my thoughts? Do I meditate on the promises of God or do I daydream about that dream wedding, or fat raise and nice car?

It's been a long day, but a good one. To everyone who isn't feeling well: Get better soon! May God bless your immune system that you'll be up and about. :)

Friday 14 October 2005

Pharmacists, the other white coat...

We're like pork, the other white meat. We're not like chickens, but we sure bring home the bacon.

Check out the professional wear

they turned down the lights. It was very soothing, almost TOO soothing.

the parental units.

and Jen, my wonderful advisor! :)

In other news THIS is an interesting treatment of that fence we like to teeter on called the DTR.

Wednesday 12 October 2005

You know it's fall when...

1) The Indian Summer (Bay Area)
2) School starts
3) The leaves start changing... so beautiful
4) you're in the mood for pumpkin pie, or playing in a pile of leaves.
5)
That's right! Those are pumpkin patches in the city! Brings back such good memories of the fall and playtime in the hay. :)
6) The morning is brisk, so you leave your house half asleep and you get to class fully awake.
7) people are starting to wear scarves and heavier coats even though it's not THAT much colder.
8) studying is fun. :) (but it's ALWAYS FUN!!!)
9) Squirrels start collecting things.
10) A breeze blows through the trees and a shower of delicate, red/yellow/orange leaves rain down on you.

Happy Autumn, everyone.

Saturday 8 October 2005

how can i do more?

It's been a busy week. But yesterday and today, we had the blessing to attend an AIDS conference. It made me think of the ominous question that I've thought about since someone said this a long time ago: "Pharmacists only do part of what doctors. Doctors have to know everything."
But since East Asia and especially today, I've questioned, what in the world can I do for God's glory as a pharmacist? I can't be people's primary care provider...I'm only in charge of people's medications.
Today, while we were watching a movie about the epidemic, I felt helpless because I know I won't be able to care for people like a physician would. Sure, I'll have 4 years of grad school under my belt when i graduate, but I won't have the training to go to someone and have the knowlege base to make decisions to help them feel better, to HEAL.
I've wondered, would I be move effective as a physician instead of a pharmacist? What part do I have in God's sovereign plan when it comes to missions and evangelism? I feel so strongly called to health ministries, but at the same time, I don't know what to do.
I see all the med students here, they're so talented and intelligent, they can do so much more than I can.
While walking home, I started crying. I want to make a difference, but at the same time, I felt like i couldn't do anything. Seeing a little girl who couldn't even undress herself because she had no muscles. She was so small and she was only skin and bones, literally. She's now dead because she didn't have any money for her HIV medication.
I'm reminded once again that being here isn't about me. it's not about making money or having prestige. It's about thinking outside of myself, having compassion. In fellowship we studied Luke 10 and the story of the good Samaritan. It's about seeing the world with Jesus' eyes, loving people with Jesus' love. I have this amazing gift, this love of Christ and this other gift, the gift of a graduate education, something that I feel so convicted to use. I hope God will do huge things in Health so I can be so blessed to witness it.

Thursday 6 October 2005

I tag....

20 facts:
1) i like mantou with cheese
2) i eat all my foods groups separate
3) i'm left handed
4) I want to perfect my homemade cheesecake in order to make it in various variations.
5) i think korean people are so much cooler. (dunno why, but i do)
6) i have an obsession with penguins
7) when something's broken or wrong, I'm not settled until it's fixed, usually by me or someone who can effectively fix it.
8) if i could eat one thing for the rest of my life it would be pork and preserved vegetable noodle soup.
9) i'm attracted to people who can play instruments or sing well.
10) i'm not used to the san francisco weather, it's COLD!!
11) I wish my sister and I were able to get closer earlier.
12) if i wanted to change something about me, it'd be my personality. i'd want to learn how to be a good conversationalist.
13) actually... i like cheese in general. and mantou, too.
14) i love love love being in pharmacy school.
15) God has a funny way of teaching me lessons. but it's cool. really cool.
16) dancing is fun
17) something in our kitchen smells and i can't figure out what it is.
18) we have a cushiony toilet seat and it bothers me
19) i LOVE savage garden (still)
20) a random man told me i have a beautiful smile. maybe i should smile more. :P

I don't know who to tag because I don't know who reads my blog. i'd be obsessed with checking a stat counter if i had one. who reads my blog anyway... whatever, rhetorical question, you don't have to answer. :P

Wednesday 5 October 2005

Sunday 2 October 2005


In the spirit of procrastination, check out this beautiful piece of european engineering, starting at ~23K.