Wear smoking jackets when going down in flames

It's done. Finito. It's a good thing I wore a smoking jacket, as expected, I went down in flames. I'll look into redoing the test later, once I turn in R2 application (getting the application in for R2 is more important), and once mom's health improves (hopefully) after the holidays so I can focus on the GMAT.

This score does not define me
It does not mark my potential
It does not mark my determination
It only mark how I am forced to think within the box

For now, I'm back home and kicking it w/ mom watching Monday night football in her room. Finally able to watch sports once more. Go Lakers! Go Cowboys!! Mom was a bit tired when I left for the ~Dun Duh Dum~ test this morning. Got home and made her some rice porridge. OK...it was instant porridge, but its the though that counts! Making real rice porridge would have taken too long.

The priorities for this week before I head to London/Paris this coming Saturday (12/2 - 12/18) will be;

• Spend time with mom, god son, and family
• Gather cold weather clothing to minimize freezing -tvu's ass
• Gather travel papers, lodging papers, etc
• Focus on essays, all the way baby
• Try not to worry about mom, and try to sleep more
• Remembering to laugh
  

More laughing material - William! William!! William Hung!!

Surviving a crisis

This past week has tested my strength, endurance, hope and faith. My mother was checked into the hospital on Tuesday, because of tiredness and difficulty breathing. Conditions like that for a 86 year woman is very scary. Once more, our family did around the clock bed side attendance. I put in 4-6 hours per day. Compared to my other life priorities, the GMAT studies were pushed down the list. Thankfully she was released later in the weekend, but her energy level is still low. Since her admittance into the hospital through now, I have barely gotten in 2-3 hours of GMAT review and the test is tomorrow. ~dun-duh-dum~

The potential of good a GMAT score isn't looking too good. It's OK. I don't regret my decision. The care of my mother will never be a regretful decision. Her health has not improved much, but she is out of the hospital and with family. I'm spending time at home to be with her but can not focused towards the GMAT. I'll have pick up a smoking jacket for tomorrow's test, because I'm going down in flames.

Pointers on surviving a crisis;

• Keep breathing
• Spend time with children and get lots of hugs from them;
  
• A hugg from a child can mend anything
  
• Today was hard, but tomorrow can be better
  
• Alone, you are strong. Among family and friend, you are even stronger
• Success is not required for survival, but adaptability is mandatory
• Remember to laugh
• Whoever is happy will make others happy, too - Mark Twain

What is to become of my choices

What is to become of my choices
All the planning
All the work
All the hopes
All the dreams of my tomorrow

I am no longer a child
I am no longer a young adult
I am a man...with all that it entails

I delayed one year for father
Can I delay another for mother

Can I live with myself
because of my dreams
because of my future
because of my absence to mother

I pray that you will be aright
I pray that you can understand
Why I made my choices

THE PRAYER

A hug from me to you...(nonMBA)

Be Thankful
Be Thankful of all the love within your life
Be Thankful for all the love ones in your life
Be Thankful for all those that you have loved and have loved you back
Be Thankful...

Soo many things within my life
Soo many things...

So I am giving you a hug
So that I may receive one from you

Inspiring Story! Free Hugs Campaign (Music by Sick Puppies)


Description: Sometimes, a hug is all what we need. Free hugs is a real life controversial story of Juan Mann, A man who’s sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives..... what we then witness can only be described as awe inspiring.


Free Hugs story on Ten News Australia

Are you that friend? ...(nonMBA)

I love comedy shows. I haven't seen a show in a while...a very, very long while. If given a choice between the top comedian and the top band. I'd pick the comedy show.

Here's one of the US's current top comedian, Dane Cook.





powered by ODEO

Apprecitation and using it effectively

So much of life responsibilities were in my thoughts, I was having a difficult time focusing on studies tonight at my usual Kaplan center. I felt how it sucked and unfair for me. As my self pity was bubbling, I noticed something interesting.

Nearby, a woman (still in her nurse uniform) was studying with her 10 (?) year son. She would study, but occasionally have to turn her attention towards her son. This happened many times.

This brought things into perspective. Regardless of my responsibilities, I have been able to get away and study. I realized how worthless my self pity was.

Self pity will not help to completing the task.
Appreciate what you have and learn to use it effectively
-tvu

For me now? The center is closed and I'm back home, kicking it with my mother in her room. Appreciating what I have and learning to use it effectively.

Life Lessons

Hope - Faith that things will become better

Prayer - The act/expression of hope

Helping to raise another man's (my brother) son - Do not take the role of the father. The son knows who the father is. Just show him the love and guidance he needs.

Spending time with a teenager - Ask a question on his/her favorite subject. Let them voice their knowledge. Make acknowledging comment ("I didn't realize that"), continue with another question on subject.

Dealing with a teenager - Give directions in calm even voice (i.e. do homework, bedtime, clean room) and repeat ("clean room") 60 minutes later. Few days later, repeat in calm even tone, "clean room", 60 minutes later repeat, 30 minutes later repeat...

Parents - It is not for them to understand you. They raised you, thus know who you are. It is for you to learn who they were, before they became parents.

Adaptbility to overcome adversity

Life loves me soo much, that it's dumping tons on me. Holiday season is fast approaching and my mother is starting to feel it. During the sliver of time I'm home, I see that she's getting more tired and I sense my fathers' passing is weighting heavily on her. She needs my presence and whatever strength I have left. With only two weeks left before my dun-duh-dum date coming, I will try to ask for half days at work, spend remainder of day w/ her until my family gets off work, and I'll head to study. This schedule will probably last to Thanksgiving, thereafter we'll re-evaluate her condition. I know my score will completely suffer and perhaps hurt my application. But my mother is more important then the stink'ng score and the B-school should hopefully not place too much emphasis on a simple, regulated number. If they do, then they were not the school of character I thought they were made of.

Now I will have to craft a nice letter to work, use some of my vacation time, to have half days off for my mother.

Life Lesson - You have to remain adaptive to overcome lifes' adversity

Duck, Weave and roll with life's punches -tvu

Visiting the B-schools...Good ROI

It's done. No turning back. I've bought the tickets and my credit card is hurting. I will fly to London on Dec 2 and fly back to SoCal on Dec 18 from Paris. All so I can visit the B-schools I am applying for. I can't imagine making a milestone decision without visiting the schools in person. You wouldn't buy a car without a test drive. So a face to face visit with the perspective institutions, I will hopefully spend the next two years, is in order. It is my first time in the England and my second time in France. This trip will definitely hurt my wallet, but the expense is worth the insight I will gain. Good ROI.

Coming for SoCal, I expect to freeze my ass off. I expect to be a lot poorer. I also expect to see the schools' brochures and the words of the MBA bloggers come to life. I also expect to see how the school will fit with me. Hey B-school, it's not just you making the acceptance. You have to get my acceptance too. Do try impress me.

I have some clue where I will stay the first few days and the last few days of my B-school excursion, but I don't like to preset my entire trip until I am in that region of the world. It is a tried and proven method for me. For now, there are only four dates I must be, the day I'm flying there, the two days of info sessions of my top choice schools, and the day of my flight back. Everything in between those days, is up in the air.

Since this trip is B-school first, expanding my comfort zone second, I've made a few contacts w/ some students. Thanks again with putting up w/ my questions. If any of you guys know Texas Hold'em, I'll wager a nice, fat dinner. Care to accept? Remember, I'll get the first round of beer/wine/poison.

Speaking of poison, I have to get back to the GMAT studies.

Fast Times to get transcripts

My GMAT study schehdule has been crazy for the last month and I'm still embarrashed by my Kaplan CAT scores. I will have to push the "dun-duh-dum date" back a week to Nov 24.

Regardless, R2 deadlines are coming up so I decided to get the easy items completed from the application requirements. Two official transcripts done, and one left from UCSB (to be mail requested tomorrow), I rewarded myself w/ a nice sit down lunch.

Low behold, I spotted "Jeff Spicolli" of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" eating lunch also. Gnarly~ Dude!






What was he eating? Chilli-Cheese-Fries...of course!

Words of wisedom from this past week

Kindness - The help you provide for strangers and acquaintances

Loyalty - The help you provide for people important in your life

Mistakes - Admittance to it is not a sign of weakness, rather it shows courage...Valuable life lessons, if you learn from it

Forgiveness - Forgive them of the hurt they caused you...forgive yourself of the pain you carry

Friendship - Most valuable commodity in the world...second only to love

Love - What you say, pales in comparison to what you do

Got Married...(nonMBA)

I forgotten what normal life is like.
Some photos of my nephew's wedding.
They're dropping like flies!

Pick up the Bride - Average October day

Bride's maid - Pre-wedding snack

My Grand Nephew - Japanese-Vietnamese-Mexican-American

Beautiful older sister and I

In-Laws - Nice family

Their cousins - small group photo

Mom - never say a woman is weak
Lifetime of accomplishments

Nephew and I - hvu and tvu in da house~

Rub the pregnant lady for good luck

OK...maybe a few too many drinks

Hmm...maybe one more