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I’m just about half way through my masters studies in Computer Internetworking. It has been such a journey for me this past year learning about networking, both the theory and the practical in many intense ways. I would have never imagined myself in this situation in as recent as 16 months ago. A quick review of my accomplishments in the program, it seems that it was as colourful as other aspects of my life in terms of what has taken place.

I consider myself to have a strong “foundation” in the areas of:

• Data communications
• IP routing
• Server/systems management
• Data centre design

My weaker areas most probably being:

• Wireless communications
• Traffic Queueing

In terms of other colourful events that has taken place? Well, the most obvious would probably be my career endeavors; having the priviledge of securing a job prior to graduation, managing to learn a thing or two in that role even though it wasn’t my strongest skillset nor my primary area of interest and most thankfully, landing my current position in a department working closely with the devices and projects I love most! Looking into the near future, I hope to continue the momentum I have started; a defined goal for 2008 would be to focus and achieve CCNP. In terms of my physical body and health, I hope to be able to do alot more excercises than what I put it right now. Ran for about 25 minutes on the treadmill this evening, and it certainly did not feel the same as when I was a tiny bit more in shape.

I found an MP3 on my local hard drive recently, if you know me and my home network, you would respond and find that to be quite amazing in itself, because I have EVERYTHING on the file server, and almost nothing stay in the local drive. This song must have been the rare case, and it’s quite suitable for me to enjoy at this point in my life. It was originally released in 2006, and had I known about it then, I don’t think there would be nearly as much appreciation. The song is called: 愛得太遲 or “loving too late”, you really have to know your chinese/cantonese to be able to truly appreciate the lyrics. Here’s a decent translation I found courtesy of AsianFanatics:

我過去　那死黨　早晚共對　各也紮職以後沒法暢聚
spending my time with my pals all day long in the past
but since we all got jobs reunion has been scarce

而終於　相約到　但無言共對　疏淡如水
and when we finally meet we have nothing to say
feels as plain as water

日夜做　見爸爸　剛好想呻　卻霎眼看出他多了皺紋
working all day long felt like complaining to dad when i saw him
but then i suddenly saw all the wrinkles that weren’t there before

而他的蒼老感　是從來未覺　太內疚擔心
i never realized dad was getting old
the guilt and worry pains me

最心痛是　愛得太遲　有些心意　不可等某個日子
what hurts most is being too late to love
there are some things that shouldn’t i have waited for

盲目地發奮　忙忙忙其實自私
blindly working i say i’m busy but i’m just being selfish

夢中也習慣　有壓力要我得志
even in my dreams i’m used to being pressured to do better

最可怕是　愛需要及時　只差一秒　心聲都已變歷史
what’s scariest is that love needs to be in time
just a seconds difference and feelings can become history

忙極亦放肆　見我愛見的相知
to find some time in all the hecticness
to see the ones that i’d love to see

要抱要吻要怎麼也好　偏要推說等下一次
to hold to kiss to do whatever i want
but why do i always wait till the next opportunity

我也覺　我體質　彷似下降　看了症得到是別要太忙
i feel that my body is not as fit as before
went to see the doctor and was told to slow down my pace

而影碟　都掃光　但從來未看　因有事趕
bought all the dvds available but never watched any
too busy to do so

日夜做　儲的錢　都應該夠　到聖誕正好講跟我白頭
by working long hours i thought that my savings would finally be enough
by christmas to ask you to spend your life with me

誰知她開了口　未能挨下去　已恨我很久
but who’d have known that she told me first
that she’d had enough of me and she can’t take this anymore

錯失太易　愛得太遲　我怎想到　她忍不到那日子
it’s too easy to lose when it’s too late to love
i never thought that she couldn’t wait until that day

盲目地發奮　忙忙忙從來未知
working blindly always busy never bothered to know

幸福會掠過　再也沒法說鍾意
that happiness can pass me by
and i’d never have the chance to say i love her

愛一個字　也需要及時　只差一秒　心聲都已變歷史
love is just a word but it needs to be on time
just a seconds difference and feelings can become history

為何未放肆　見我愛見的相知
why didn’t i take the time to see the one i love

要抱要吻要怎麼也好　不要相信一切有下次
to hold to kiss to do whatever i want
don’t think that there’s always next time

相擁我所愛又花幾多秒 這幾秒　能夠做到又有多少
how many seconds would it take me to hold my love
how many other things could i have done in those few seconds

未算少　足夠遺憾忘掉
it’s not too little / it’s enough to to be sorry for

多少抱憾　多少過路人　太懂估計　卻不懂愛錫自身
how many regrets / how many passers-by
who know all too well how to count but don’t know how to love oneself

人人在發奮　想起他朝都興奮
everyone’s working hard / excited by the prospects of tomorrow

但今晚未過　你要過也很吸引
but there’s still tonight to spend
it might be just as wonderful you know

縱不信運　你不過是人　理想很遠　愛於咫尺卻在等
even if you don’t believe in fate you’re still a human
goals are so faraway / love is so close and yet you’re still hesitating

來日別操心　趁你有能力開心
don’t worry about what’s not happened yet
take your time while you’re still able to have fun

世界有太多東西發生　不要等到天上俯瞰
there’s too many things going on in this world
don’t wait until you’re looking down from above in the heavens

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It’s been so long since I’ve last blogged, do I know how to write anymore? There are a few questions at hand, do I like to blog? why do I blog? And more indicative of further actions, should I blog? Nevertheless, I can’t disagree with how much blogging as helped me to think; gather my thoughts; and as a result, go through better decision making. Perhaps some of the hardest and toughest points of my life in the past 2 years has involved blogging (among other channels). The interesting thing with blogging, for me at least is that reading ‘em tends to be more enjoyable than writing them. This hasn’t been the case more recently because I haven’t been actively reading, that’s for any literature and not just online blogs.

To avoid circular sentences and statements that don’t far beyond blogs, I guess I’ll start to talk about my Civic holiday weekend (August 1-4 inclusive). Friday was a floater day for me, which means a free day off from work. I had decided from awhile back that I would go on my personal camping trip. What kind of got in the way was the purchase of computer parts the day before, so I actually didn’t head out on the trip until well into the afternoon. By the time I got to the campground, setup my tent, I used the little time I had to go on a short hike. Afterwards, seeing how the evening was almost over, I began my enjoyable BBQ time. I got my firewood all ready to go, learnt my lesson about firestarter from many years ago, AND on the same level of importance as firestarters, I had my form plates ready for fanning the flame! But, there was one problem I couldn’t solve, the park designers for some odd reason, decided to put a not-so-big metal bracket right on top of the firestone, leaving not much room for the firewood….sigh…

After a wonderful BBQ in the relaxing evening, I was washing up and showering when I remembered that there was some astrological association that was presenting and meeting up for star gazing, I decided to join in. They had a few interesting telescopes, and some other special equipment, but I guess they were waiting for it to be completely dark. I couldn’t wait for that, there were too many mosquitoes and I was being eaten alive….so I went back to my campground and laid to rest. It wasn’t a good sleep because I started having these wrist pains that just wouldn’t go away, could it be all the typing I do? Eventually I was tired enough that I did fall asleep, and woke up decently rested.

Saturday morning was a good morning with the sun shining bright, the drive back to Toronto couldn’t be any better. I arrived home and repacked a few things for summer conference and I was on my way to the rest of the weekend. My passengers met up with me and we quickly began our journey. That drive however, was not so good. Hwy 401 to hwy 403 was not bad, but as soon as we got on the 403, it was just an 8-lane parking lot! The seemingly short route to QEW took forever, and it honestly felt like the whole of Ontario was trying to get to Hamilton. EVENTUALLY, we made it on the QEW, and things turned for the better, it certainly couldn’t get much worst….

Now summer conference this year is quite different, it’s the first year that Lili didn’t come to join, it’s also the first year that our Chinese congregation didn’t join, the English congregation had our own. In addition to that, it’s also the first year that the focus is quite outward (as far as I know). We’re focusing on living as Christians with non-believers, addressing their concerns, understanding their confusion and lack of answers; which meant we needed a different type of speaker. And they found one.

Looking at my notes, I would say the conference was a success and satisfied my needs as a Christian with questions. The first session and the last session was notably good, but all of which I benefited from. It goes to show that Tony is a really good speaker in his field of specialty because he was able to not only present good knowledge and relevant information, he spoke and organized his presentation in a memorable and enjoyable fashion; which is usually just as important as the content itself. I must confess, his 1st message was quite penetrating. I feel really ashamed that he’s made the Old Testament so simple and as simple as he’s made it, I’ve always felt that OT is held at some hard to reach places, but I can see that it’s just excuses now, I need to make sure I read through the entire Bible cover-to-cover soon.

Ending the weekend off was supposed to be an IMAX experience of The Dark Knight. But my friend and I hadn’t purchased our tickets in time, so yet again this attempt to watch the renowned production failed. It probably wasn’t a bad turnout that we didn’t see this movie that weekend, I don’t think I would have been ready to see the dark and evilness of our world on the big screen after 3-days of learning about some of those related issues.

As a side note, I think I’m going to start adding some categories for some of the things I’d like to write about. It will hopefully help me to blog more.

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Hola!

Greetings from Barcelo Maya Tropical, Hotels & Resorts in Riviera Maya, Mexico. This is the 3rd day in the country, and it is such a relaxing time. I’ve joined an all-inclusive package which means that I’m eating all that I want, drinking all that I can, playing all that I could, and sleeping all that I wish! mwahaha…..The first day that I spent here was a rather simple day, we got ourselves (psuedo)familiar with the resort area, had lots of food for lunch and then napped for the entire afternoon. When we were thirsty, we drank, when we were hungry, we ate. It felt like we were provided with all of our needs at any given time.

After spending three days in the resort, we had gone to the nearby town, Playa Del Carmen and spent the afternoon there. A strong feeling surrounds me that this country is extremely taken advantage of, and the saddest thing of it all is that their only leverage is to provide for others their “advantage”. Though, I have a sense that I have not even seen the worst in the rest of it all.

Comparing to the cruise that I was on a couple years ago, I think that this trip is very different. My sister was still single in that trip, whereas she´s mother of Nicole on this one; I was still a student during the Cruise, whereas I’m soon-to-be an IBMer; the Cruise was only three days, whereas this resort stay is 8 days in duration. I´m not sure what I like more so far, but irrespect of what the activities are, this vacation is well appreciated and well deserved.

Adios until I return to T.O.

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According to the wonderful wikipedia, TGIF (Thank God It’s Friday) was popularized from a movie in 1978. Well, It is NOT Friday, but thank God for that anyway and I would like to blog about TGIG…Thank God I‘m Graduating! Tis’ the season to be talking about this, with news reports such as this, I can only imagine that just about everybody’s got a (or two) degree by now.
Four years ago, university enrollment hit a record high thanks to our pals at Queen’s Park and today until the next 4 or 5 years, Post-secondary institutions across the province will continue to be impacted from this. From the out-of-phased high school graduates, to the out-of-phased university students, or the elite graduating students seeking postgraduate and continuing education opportunities, it doesn’t matter if it is University of XYZ or ABC University we’re talking about, everybody will be feeling some sense of “what is happening with the students?”

I myself is feeling this everytime I think back to the last four years. The first lecture of Calculus already told me that I was not ready for university, and the first midterm that I failed (in Western Civilization) confirmed my thinking. At the end of all of this, I sit to remember my spectrum of marks from F through A+ including at least one incident of each letter grade achieving even the +/- correspondingly. It is certainly not a glamorous accomplishment by worldly standards, but I suppose I feel that it is a gracious accomplishment by wordly standard. The list will be long and the context will be emotional if I were to document incidents of how close and how easy it could have been, would have been to be unsuccessful in tests & evaluations, courses, or even my degree.

So it’s surely thankful on my part to be able to say that I am graduating, I think of my mom, and my sister and a number of others who certainly feel a sense of relief to hear this news. Despite the grade rollercoaster, I think I walk away and know that I have learnt many skills and I have also learnt the importance of learning, the moment when we stop to learn, we stop to grow, we stop to change, we stop to reflect. Irrespective of how well (or poorly) I did in the various subject matters, I find that I am still fascinated by the disciplines in computer science, notably the areas of databases, networking, and software design has yet fail to impress me in reading and in practice. I must say though, that I did not feel this way in the first three years of my studies and it was only in the final year when I had the opportunity to enjoy learning for the sake of learning, instead of trying to score a better grade. It was when the burden of high achievement was let-go, I was able to apply myself in the areas that I was interested in as well as be able to focus in the areas that I was stumbling in. I know that even though the efforts were put forth, the fruits were not always wonderful, but then I do realize that I have accomplished what I am happy with, because the process was entirely wonderful.

Contrary to the predictions of many, my cumulative average after four years of university did not decrease drastically as compare to high school, which is quite amazing considering my course selection and course load.

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A good friend of mine got me into this drink recently. My first attempt at ordering this was on the day that I had finished all of my projects a week and a half ago. This beverage is quite interesting indeed. It resembles an influenced mixture of what is bitter, and what is not. I think the postmodern buzzword for this feeling by summarization of the circumstances is ‘bittersweet’? Looking back at the post about bittersweet from more than a year and a half ago, the feelings of this term has not changed much. I still think that it is said to be happy-sad, wonderful-painful, amazing-confusion, a perfect combinational mixture of some of life’s most contradictory feelings and expressions of emotions. Though these are opposite in theory, neither senses are void of one another in that they together form ONE strange uncomprehensible mood.

With the caffeinic drink, it’s such the case, and with what has been happening in my life, it is also the case. The drink presents the same kinds of bitterness as typical coffee, that feeling of awful taste in the mouth and especially the aftertaste that it brings to remain. On the other hand, the drink gives hopes of energy, it provides a refreshing splash of liquids to moist the dried, tiring body, and usually reminds me of the paths of ease after such periods of stress requiring the drink in the first place.

And in these times, I feel much the same. I am surrounded by the cries and tears of sorrows in my family over the loss of my grandmother, the hardening of hearts in wanting to accept her departure, the comforting of other members in the family over one another’s pains, yet I can still see the bittersweet understanding that we are all still here, just as we were all there with her in the hours prior to now. The good hope that this is not the end is assured by our faiths comforted by the words in the Psalms, but still we feel lost in directions and decisions for what is to come next.

Surely there is much to be done, as we wait for other members of the family to arrive in town, as I and my cousins finish our responsibilities in school, and as we hope to gather with families and friends to commemorate a wonderful mother to some, grandmother to others, great-grandmother of a few, and most happily a child of God.

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