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Running
Debated about running in the hot weather, finally decided to do an evening run after the sun was set. I wasn’t striving to break any record, but instead I just didn’t want my muscles to get lazy and forget what it feels like to run.
Ran 10k in 64 minutes, not at all a satisfactory record, but got a healthy dose of exercise nonetheless.
A Real Studio?!
I don’t remember for how long and to how many people I’ve been saying that I wanted to rent an industrial unit as a studio/workshop to do some messy work (e.g. painting, soldering, woodworking,…), and I may have just found one today, and possibly for $0 rent too!
It just so happens that my family has such a place that is not being utilized for a long time, who knew?! My parents and brother took me to visit the unit for the first time today, it brought back fond memories of me as a kid going to visit my parents’ factory. I still remember that I used to occasionally visit another neighboring unit at the other end of the hallway to play boardgames with a friend, and I still occasionally meet up with that friend now after 20+ years!
Setting up a studio/workshop for R&D and other experimental work is just a hobby for now, but it has the potential to develop into my long term career.
Looking at my upcoming schedule, I’ll probably be spending much of my July preparing a submission for an architecture design competition, and August will be a month of traveling, so I’ll probably won’t be able to start anything serious with this wonderful vacant place until September. Regardless, it was great to know there’s such a place that can potentially be used as my studio, and I’m forever thankful to be experiencing God’s wonderful providence and guidance in pursuing my career and living out His purpose.
Running
Apart from a little rain, the weather this evening was great for running. Ran a record 13k, and slightly faster than last time too! Furthermore, I’m starting to enjoy my run a little more, before it was mostly just training and hardship. Perhaps it is the extra endorphin production induced by exercising, or maybe I’m starting to get over the “difficult” stage of mastering a new skill set – as the saying goes “Everything is difficult…. until they become easy.”
NBA Game 7
Although I haven’t watched a NBA game for the entire season, I really felt the urge to catch the last game this morning. On my way to work, I kept an eye out for restaurants that may broadcast the game, and I also asked my “coworkers” for possible venues to watch the game near the office. All was futile, I ended up just keeping track of the live scores from a browser while messaging my friends who are watching the game from half way across the globe. This is one of the occasional times I wished I were in Toronto – grabbing a beer and catching the game with my friends.
I remember telling my friends just a few weeks ago that I sometimes feel like I don’t belong to this city even though I’ve moved back for close to 4 years already. I seem to think and value things differently than most people locally, and I really don’t want to follow the crowd.
I recall this scripture from the Bible: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)
Forum on Land Reclamation
Wasn’t expecting much when I signed to sit in on a forum at my Alma Mater this morning, but somehow it felt like I was destined to be there.
It was a panel discussion regarding the local government’s plan on reclaiming land along the coastline for development. The first speaker presented, he was a government official, and I nearly fell asleep. The second speaker was a professor in environmental science, he clearly stated his opposition to land reclamation for the sake of environmental sustainability, I was reminded of how I fell in love with nature while studying environmental science, and my eyes got a little wet. The third speaker was my professor in Daylighting when I studied about green building, he spoke about vision and design using an architect’s perspective, I was captivated but not as touched as the previous speaker.
It’s good to be reminded of how I was fortunate enough to study environmental science and architecture out of pure interest, and that the interest hasn’t faded after graduating for many years. Though the things that I do now seems to relate better to my undergraduate studies, I have a hunch that some day I’ll incorporate what I’ve learnt from my graduate studies into what I do as well.
34th Birthday
I’m one of those people who likes to hide his birthday on FB, not that I’m afraid of revealing my age, I just don’t really think that’s something important. After all, I don’t remember having read anything about a birthday celebration in the bible.
Having said that, I was a bit anxious last night to see who would be the first to send me birthday greetings, but the anxiety became a bit overwhelming and I decided to signal my phone to sleep before midnight. Yes, I know, I can be quite infantile sometimes.
Actually, my parents were the first to offer greetings by leaving a couple of red pockets on my desk. And my sister surprised me by dropping off a small cake and a few cans of beer this afternoon. Many friends also remembered my birthday and took the time to forward me their greetings, sometimes the mere remembrance counts more than gifts. I’m thankful for my family and friends spending a little bit of their thought and time on me.
Oh Lord, thank you for bearing with me for these 34 years. If I am ever so blessed as to be granted a birthday wish from You, may I ask that You also include in Your Book of Life the names of my family (my parents, my uncle and aunt and cousins, my brother’s family, my sister-in-law’s family, my brother-in-laws’ family,…). I can’t imagine heaven without my family.
Another Painting Course
Spent the entire afternoon catching up on my reading of a design blog, and still hasn’t quite caught up yet…
Started a new oil painting course at night. Well, it’s basically the same weekly course I’ve been taking, just painting different pictures. I’m reluctant to graduate, my Creative Mondays just wouldn’t seem complete without the weekly 2-hour oil painting class.
