DTH and Tutoring

So from yesterday, I went to the Carolina Theatre and saw the "Dance Theatre of Harlem," (DTH) perform. Dance, of course is one of the more beautiful forms of the arts, but since I am a former instrumentalist (one day I will return), I would have to rank music above dance (hehehe). I would even rank music above vocal (and I am in the gospel choir at church). Anyways, the group performed a variety of classic, modern, and neoclassical styles, and there was even an interactive piece where audience members could interact with the dancers. There was a musical (no dance) performance before the intermission by the pianist (I can not find my program, so I can not tell you his name), that was so beautiful and unique that one could not help but to be mesmerized. You know how some musical compositions definitely belong in an orchestra, and how some could be used in a musical? This artist made up his own composition, and I can easily see it go either way. I would not be surprised if his piece was used in a musical at some point in the future, and if it is, he will get an award!

More information about DTH can be found HERE. 

So my freelance tutoring adventures continues. My client is getting her knowledge together. So far she is acing all of my quizzes and lectures and is understanding my material. I am beginning to show her more advanced ways to solving the same common problems. Since I have started tutoring, she has shown more confidence in her math ability. 

I know how to bring out the best in people ;-) partially because the drive to succeed is buried deep down inside of us. All I do is bring it to the surface. With a lot of positive reinforcement, motivation, and patience, there is no limit to what you can do!

Bedtime! Before I go to bed, I am going to find my old notepad and start taking notes at church. There are a lot of wisdom in our Sunday 'messages' and I want to be sure that I can share it with you guys!

Good night! 

Weird Gym Encounter

So I had another normal day at work, even though I need to do some more testing tomorrow, so I will be be going in bright and early... This early career professional gotta do his thing! 

Now heres where things got a little weird. So I am working out at the gym, pretty normal. After I workout, I go into the locker room. There was one guy there. So I get out of my gym clothes and go into the shower room. Now there are like 10-12 stalls. So I go to the furthest one down... I hop in the shower, and 1 min later, the only other guy that was in the locker room, steps into the shower stall next to mine.... Now keep in mind the following:

There were only 2 guys (including me) in the locker room...

I go to the furthest shower stall from the locker room...

The guy goes into the stall right next to me.... Of ALL the shower stalls, he goes into the one, right next to me....

Normally, I shower for 10 minutes, but for some reason, I felt clean after 2 and a half. 

I GOT OUT OF THERE QUICK.

Maybe it was my paranoia of the whole situation, but my instincts told me to get the !@#!@#$! out of there. It just seemed a little too weird.

I am going to write about the Dance Theater of Harlem performance I witnessed tonight, tomorrow. I need rest. 

A Theory as to why God led me to the Containment Area (Part I)

Today was a normal, not too exciting, but not too boring day. I pretty much followed my new "old" schedule to the letter, except for the working out part (Only train on M,W,F). Choir practice was pretty normal, but afterwards, I sat in the pew and just started thinking. 

Just thinking...

I am here, in the Containment Area, for a reason. All the events that happened in my past (the good, bad, and ugly), shaped my life--my decisions. I do believe that I was influenced by the Almighty. I am trying to hear the silent whisper, in the midst of the wind, earthquake, and fire. 

I think I am here to excel in my career. From day one, I have enjoyed working with my colleagues, even though my primary skill set is not being used (all my secondary skills are). I think that this is a humbling experience reminding me that there is more to succeeding in this profession than the specialized focus of one's graduate school study. I am seeing my field in a whole new light, and direction. I am learning things that I never learned in school (neither at Ohio St or Southern Cal) as well as becoming a better communicator and well rounded person. Sometimes I wish someone would just come to me and ask me to solve a transistor-level circuit design problem, or ask for insight on solving a real-world complex oscillator problem using the latest foundry technologies--Little stuff like that to really keep what I learned at USC in my head for as long as I possibly can. At the same time, there is something about working with and collaborating with people, that for me, gets better and better the more I am exposed to it, and the desire to enhance my resume for my eventual return to graduate school (MBA) is getting stronger and stronger.  

 I think I am here to find my wife. Shocking is it not!?! Nowhere near 30, but a desire for family is getting stronger. Maybe because I remember a time when my immediate family was very close-knit. But a lot has changed, and the jury is still out while trying to answer if these changes were for the better. Usually when the man marries, he leaves his family. The man and woman become one flesh (I think I read that somewhere). But a part of me feels so distant, not because I left for college, interned throughout the States, lived in California for a couple of years, and now residing in the Containment Area, but partially because the ideals that made my family a great one, seem to have gone out the window when troubled times came to 'trial' our souls. It is almost as if the family has left the man. I am not sure how to feel about that, but I know it is not a positive feeling, but one of indifference. 

Still, I hold on to positive memories, but even those memories are getting old. If I want to experience new ones based off the same kind of close-knit, peaceful, Christ-centered, 'family-oriented' family that I experienced as a child, then maybe it is time for me to have one of my own. 

But not yet... 

When I started dating again, I am seeing a lot of things that I DO NOT LIKE when it comes to the women I have 'encounters' with. That is why I said that I think I am here to find a wife... So far from every encounter, there is something the woman does that I really do not like and it sticks out like the worst sore thumb. Like Mr. Deeds' 'foot.' I hate that, but at the same time, I also feel that it is good for me to eliminate the traits/habits I do not like. I have not had a real opportunity to do this with such scrutiny, until now. 

Mom and Dad raised me well, to their credit, but they also did not raise a fool. They raised me the best way they knew how: by how they were raised, which I must say is pretty old world. They told me that the women of my day will take my rearing for granted and that they will not see my true worth, and while unfortunate, I must NOT fall into the trap of making excuses for them. "Defend ideals, not excuses," they tell me (I changed that to 'defend philosophies, not excuses') They will categorize before experiencing (me), and/or take actions whether consciously or unconsciously to undermine my opportunity to shine for them. 

Such has been my experience so far. All I can do, from here on out, is to keep on going. Keep looking, keep smiling, keep living!

This entry is part of an ongoing saga. Look for Parts II, III, IIII, .......  in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Evening Thoughts

Well, it is late, and I am still somewhat in awe of the election. Someone sent me this link of a Barack Obama/Beyonce spoof that I think is hilarious. This made my (work) day. Obviously I have to keep this short. I am very tired, and I need to get some rest. Good night!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PqI12R8YNU

Obama is MY President, YOUR President, AMERICA'S President!

Like so many others, I have witnessed history. I was not around when Dr. Martin Luther King made his "I Have a Dream" speech, but I lived long enough to see an African American take the oath of office to the highest office in the world: The Office of the President of The United States of America. This means a lot to many people, especially me.

Today, for one brief moment, when Obama was sworn in as our 44th President, did America see the value of diversity, equality, and the true meaning of our Declaration of Independence while at the same time, dealing a severe blow to segregationist thought, and people who hate others based off of what they feel is a flaw (color of skin, gender preferences, etc...)

I mean did you see how he held his head up high as he walked through the capitol building, and kept it up! We all know that was not doing it for himself. He made it absolutely clear at the Democratic National Convention that it was never about him... It was about us! He held it high for Rosa Parks, Dr. King, the marchers at Selma, those who have witnessed America's dark times, our civil rights heroes, and those who never thought that they would live to see this day. My father, born of the silent generation, was one of those people.

There is no challenge that America can not overcome, when we come together as a nation! Only as a nation, did we overcome slavery. Only as a nation, did Blacks received the right to vote. Only as a nation did we give women the same rights! Only as a nation did we fight Jim Crow. Only as a nation, did we see the true potential of integration. Only as a nation, will we realize that none of us is as strong as all of us, and that our diversity is America's greatest strength. America has made a giant leap forward towards recognizing this value, and when fully realized, not even the skies will be our limit!

Today, is a Great Day for the United States of America.

Change!!!

CHANGE IS COMING!!!

SNOW IS COMING TO THE REGION!!! LOLOLOL

THE ARIZONA CARDINALS ARE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL!!! LOLOLOLOL

Okay, so today I heard the most wonderful news! Snow is coming to the region! SNOW!!! Can you believe it!?! I get to experience Southern Chaos first hand! Since I am a "Northerner" I am used to the snow, as well as driving in it. Now I have been told that in this particular part of the states, that if there is as much as 1mm of snow.... GAME OVER! This I gotta see!

If it is a snow day, I will just work from home. If I can not get on the roads, it will be a little rough trying to keep my tutoring commitment. So I guess I will just have to play it by ear! I was invited to an MLK party tonight, but due to the impending weather, and the fact that the party is 30+ miles away from where I live, I think it will be best if I stay home for the night.

Besides, tomorrow is going to be a GREAT DAY in U.S. History! Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States! This is significant because of the fact that he will be the first African American President in the history of our Union! I wish I was there to witness history first hand, but the more responsible thing for me to do is to stay where I am, and watch it from abroad. I have a lot of things going on in my life. Particularly, saving for a new home. And as much as I would love to be at the Washington Mall right now, it would be financially irresponsible for me to divert funds from my savings which will ensure my piece of the American Dream, to scrounge around for hotel rooms, taxi and metro services, and a whole bunch of "unknown unknowns (thank you Donald Rumsfeld)," especially since it was financial carelessness that got America into the situation it is in now. I think Barack Obama will understand that and respect this brotha for looking at the whole picture carefully, and making a sound and correct judgment. It was a very tough call. 

Nonetheless, I can not help but think of how my dad is taking all of this. My father was exposed to racism during his early years as well as his tenure in the service. He was one of those men that thought that he would never, ever, ever see a Black man become President in his lifetime. And like many others from the Silent Generation (b. 1933), he cried, and rejoiced, when Nov. 4 rolled around, and he saw the great announcement on CNN... "BARACK OBAMA ELECTED PRESIDENT."

And now he will witness Obama being sworn in! 

I too, voted for Barack Obama. There was no doubt in my mind. America needed a new direction. A change from the past. On that election night, America's better angels DID speak out. No one can dispute that. And as I watch the inauguration I will have another reason to add to my list of why I am proud to live in this country, despite the good, the bad, and the ugly that comes with the notion of being an American. 

Time to witness history!

Sunday Thoughts: We Are Called!

The Road Is Rough,
And The Going Gets Tough,
And The Hills are hard to climb,
I started out, a long time ago,
There's no doubt in my mind;
I have decided, to make Jesus, my choice.

- Lyrics from "I Have Decided To Make Jesus My Choice"

So today at church, we learned that we are called by the Lord to do his will. When the Lord called out to Samuel, he thought that Eli was calling him. And after several 'callings' Eli realized that it was actually the Lord that was doing the calling. So he tells Samuel to say "Speak for your servant is listening" the next time the Lord spoke to him. And when he did, he grew.

As a Christian man, I realize that the Lord calls out to me all the time. Sometimes I hear and sometimes I do not. Sometimes when I hear, I choose to ignore. Sometimes, when I hear, I do the Lord's will. I am not a perfect man, and the only one I am aware of lived 2000 years before I was even thought of.

So I try hard to listen to the Lord, and usually he speaks to me at the oddest occasions, at the weirdest times, in the most unusual ways. Most of the time, it is not in the most obvious of places that I hear his message. Sometimes I hear it at church, sometimes I do not. Even when Elijah was told to go to the mountain and wait for the Lord, he heard the Lord's voice, in the whispering sounds, and not in the obvious: the wind, the earthquake, and the fire.

So I feel like I am called to share my gifts with others, and I have started doing that. I have a knack for photography, and my choir-mates have seen first hand some of my ability. I know a lot of math, and I have a lot of time, so I tutor and help kids. I know what it was like going through 7-12 grade struggling through math. But I have overcome those obstacles--I studied in a major that is extremely math-intensive. It is an edge I do not want to relinquish. The best way to maintain is to continually exercise. therefore, when I get new tutoring clients, I am keeping my skills fresh.

Socially (dating-wise), I have PLENTY of gifts and talents ;-) but I must be careful when it comes to sharing those gifts. 

The most precious and basic gift I give to every woman who walks into my life, is my time.

The most precious and basic gift a righteous woman can give me, is her time. 

Trust me, it is a GREAT gift and I will treasure it!

And speaking of time. I am getting better at sharing my gift of time with members of my own family. For instance, not only did I spend time with my nieces yesterday, but I offered (and they accepted) to come with me to church today. I feel that they really enjoyed what they observed: a sense of community, family, worship, prayer, singing. One of my nieces just loved it when the choir director used the "piano" sounds on the keyboard for one of the songs. I would love for them to join me every Sunday, but I will not force them. Having family around is a true blessing. Spending quality time with your relatives is time well spent.

I feel that I am called by the Lord to share my gift of time with others. So far I have given time to church, students, (deserving) women, and family that are local as well as abroad. I have a lot of time to share with others and still have more than enough for myself.

 I will always look for new ways to use it constructively.

Bedtime now. Good night!