What is the earliest memory in your life?

For me, my earliest memories in life are very faint.  In fact, those memories vaguely exist in my mind at this point. 

However, there are days that I still remember of my childhood, and those days was when I lived in "los condominios Montealban"...those were the days I remember most from my childhood...

Condominios, meaning apartment...Montealban is just a name of a ghetto neighborhood in mexicali. Most of my childhood friends live in those apartments, in that same neighborhood, it was very fun because we all live so close to each other.  There was eight four story high buildings made out of cement. It was pretty dirty, but at least we had a swimming pool..hehe..I wonder, why am i being so nostalgic of the past? i don't know, i guess that is just the way i am..and as I am writing this entry, i am remembering the childhood friends that i use to hang around with...i still remember them...and back in those days it was weird because at a age of six or seven we had a list of girls we are in love...hehe...kids, what did we know about love...and now that i am older, it is just nice to remember those days...so, when i move to calexico (usa) i lost contact with a lot of my childhood friends...i really miss them...it was then that i got to meet a few other childhood friends,

the "kuan" family...although, i didn't live very close to them I still remember some good times with them. So i will always ride the bike to their house to hang out with them, those were the days when final fantasy 2 just came out and it was "hot" in super nes....i always stuck with that system...it was tight :) those were some very nice moments...

Growing up: but as i grew older it seems like that group of childhood friends grew more apart with me. maybe because we no longer live in the same neighborhood...and although i met the "kuan" it was still tough to meet with them cuz it took me quite some time to get to their place..for a long time, my relationship with my childhood friends grew loose..but, no matter what.. deep down, i really miss them.

Junior: It wasn't until my junior year in high school that my childhood friends and I reunited and had great moments in fun....it was in DOOL SCHOOL, an elementary school where we play soccer, it was nice because there was two very small goal posts, nice for a small "partidito" hehe...but, the "monkey bars" are too low...they should take them out, lets riot, hehe j/k.....At Dool school,  I had some great moments together with my childhood friends...enjoying the true game of soccer...those were very valuable moments..4th of july looking at the fireworks....fang as the goalie that was unmasked in a spanish-chino game....vic and his professionalism...robert and his leadership....bin and his speed.....luis and his cramp, *cough...i mean his passes....dax with his acrobatic shaolin soccer style moves....angel with his impressive defense ability..chiu with his tackle or die ability....taima with sapo in making goals..kawa in his mighty stance..and wc with his pelon pelon soccer outfits and david with his basketball apply to soccer ability...and pablo with his attitude, defensive works and his drugs (hehe, j/k)....and me...i am just me...standing there doing my daily routines...and how can i forget the girls..the la la team :) and i am pretty sure there are other people....those are good times...

most of my childhood friends have began or already started college. Now, there are less opportunity for us to get together. As I reflect on them, I start to think of a new place that we use to hang around in..."El barrio del Dool"...we used to play soccer in there, and maybe there will be a few more games...but as we get older, how many more times are we gonna be together playing soccer like when we were in high school? maybe some, but not many left because everybody is moving in to their own separate lives...developing families (maybe not yet), going to work, moving to a different town..etc.....but for the few that remains, I am truly gonna enjoy them, and those memories we share, no matter where we go, it will always be with me......Soccer, I love tha game, I actually want to start an IntraMural team this fall for soccer, but I am physically tire...and since i am gonna play basketball twice a week, I am not sure if i am gonna be capable of doing it physically. But, mentally, i really want to...because i want to spend some moments with a group of childhood friends i grew up....anybody else in Berkeley is welcome to join.... :)

There are many characteristic that I like about my childhood friends...and some great memories, how can i not write about the "guerilla warfare" hehe..Back in the days in "Montealban" we'll just use tree branches, water mix with dirt, rocks, and other ammunitions in a guerillla style war...teams will be separate in a mix of ages...and we'll fight each other, literally....we'll use the bombs of dirt and sticks to attack each other...it was dangerous...but, it was really fun...hehe....and i think it is honorable to mention "flaca, the bitch" yes, that dog that haunted me and make me dopphobia....tha' dog that bited my ass as I was visiting some friends....but, now that i think about it, it was that bitch that created a lot of stories in "Montealban"...she died already, so i hope she rest in peace....The mountain: there use to be a cliff in "los condominios" where a bunch of the my childhood guys friends climb. Now, that cliff is full of trees. But everytime i pass through that place I remember how we fought to climb up that cliff...back then, i saw it as a mountain, it was very tought to climb up there...in fact, one time of of the elders...i think it was panchito...he said that i was too young to climb the cliff.. :(...yea, but to prove him wrong, i was able to climb up.......and there were other moments including the "toys that i use to have and how i share them with vic", "the chinese movies that christopher lend to me..the king of gamblers and his chocolate;" "the fight i had with my neighbor, hehe, vic;" "the videogames that we use to play;" etc....all in all, those were great memories...and the reason why i am writing this is that i really savour them and enjoyed them now that i think about it....i guess this might sound a little chessy, but deep down i really appreciate my childhood friends, for without them there won't be this entry...and you guys know who you are ;)

this past weekend, i help my brother in law do some gardening stuff...and in his backyard there is a cliff, not as big as the one of my childhood, but as i climb that cliff i had a nostalgic moment... i close my eyes and i could hear robert or victor and the other guys trying to climb that cliff with their hands full of dirt...the hot temperature felt like 120 degrees draining our body full of sweats...aww, those were the moments..

Today, I spend some time with my nephew, he is two years old...i spend like an hour playing with him, laughing with him, and just having a good time with him...as i was playing with him I wonder: Is this moment gonna be part of his memory? will he remember this moment? After a few seconds I let go of the answer to that question. I didnt' care. As long as I am enjoying this moment with him, I think it is all worth it. I think life is all about moments...and every moment we are working on for the next moment...but my lifelong goal is to be able to please God in every moment of my life...And I am really happy of writing at this moment...

college: i wonder in 5 years from now, after i graduate and start doing what i am doing, what will be the memories that i will remember the most? will it be the cramming that i had while studying with mary for econ? will it be the time i visit lawrence hall of science and was amaze by that view? will it be my freshman dorm experience? will it be that girl i met in mcb 32 and i had a great time with (steph was her name...) hehe..or is it the fact that i have a great roomate (yes, you matt :) ...or was it the first Cs mtg that i had and how we were quiz? hehe..a lot of great moments....i can't mention them all...but which are the ones that are gonna stand out? could it be the awe of pooping at the main stacks restroom, the cleanest restroom at berkeley? hehe...i dont' know, i will have to tell you guys 5 year from now....God willing, i should be able to live it out to tell you guys the story :)

after my car accident on 1-10-03..i have learn that life is really fragile...so to not let you guys down with a sad note...i hope all of you "make the most of every opportunity for doing good" [ephesians 5:16] Time is a gift from God and must not be squandered....make use of every single moment...and for those who are christians, understand that the Lord is preparing us to do work of service [ephesians 4:12]...all you need is to open up your heart and seek after Him....if you want to know what God has for you, just pray and ask him [james 1:5]....

this moment, this time..

..but, I have notice just how much time i am spending on this xanga...so much that it has become so great in my life...i think i am gonna give it up..and for a long time i have been thinking of dropping it, u guys still remember that entry with the comic book, yea tha' was suppose to be my last, but for some reason, i couldn't let it go....i hope i am not dissapointing anybody, but for those who care, i thanks you guys for being so supportive... i am leaving a few of my favorite entries...just for you guys to mesmerize....for the others who dont' really care, it is all good....continue with your life.. :)... one day I'll look back...and remember these days that I am living....i hope that the others who enjoy doing this xanga keep doin them, i will visit you guys...encourage your post...don't let me be a burden to you guys...instead, i pray that you guys enjoy this moment....as my mom said, " a minute gain, is a victory won..." this has been quite a journey, read my first post, it was so little...and now i am ending with the longest blog i have every written.....so long, to be not continue. the end. :) 7-27-03, sunday 9:42 pm, revision update 10:34 pm (dang, i spend two hours writing this !! hehe...back to my studies :)

the BEST movie I have ever seen in my life, in spite of the harsh criticism from the critics, and here I present to you guys..... John Q:

I cry while watching part of this movie. totally heartfelt and emotional.  I just love it! This is a movie about our modern society's faltering health system in which a young boy is dying of some heart problem and the hospital can't help him because his family is poor.  As a result, the young boy's father does "whatever that is necessary" to save his son, even if that is to give up his life for his son...watch it and you shall see what happens, for those who have seen it..hope you enjoyed it, if not, so be it...btw, thxs mc for mentioning this movie to me back when I was a senior....yea...john q..who was john q? remember I ask you that....you inspire me to watch it today..it is having a big impact on me about my whole perspective of a doctor...and of this world as a whole....the world is truly not fair, so are many other things....we can learn to live with it...or do something about it...

One of my favorite scene from the movie was when John Q told his son about everything he thinks the boy needs to know about being a man:

"Mike, I just need to tell you a few things:

(1) You always listen to your mother, you understand? DO what she tells you to do. She is your best friend. Tell her you LOVE her everyday. (2) Girls, you are too young for girls now, but there is gonna come a time, and when it does, you treat them like princesses cuz that is what they are.  (3) And WHen you say you gonna do something, you do it...(4) Make as much money as you can.  Everything is much easier with money.  (5) DOn't smoke (6) Be kind to other people (7) If somebody chooses you, you stand up. Be a man. (8) Stay away from bad things. Don't get caught up with the bad things cuz there are some many great things for you out there....mike, I'll never leave you. I love you son..." --John Q 

I just thought that was the best moment because it reveals the words that john, as a father, would want to his son to keep in the heart before he prepares himself....to leave his son....i especially like advice one, seven, eight, three, and especially two..heheh..what do you you think?

...men, i love this movie.. :)

"Es mejor perder un minuto en la vida que perder la vida en un minuto" --jose, en la radio

"It's a weird time to say this, but I wish I knew you better" ---Wladyslaw Szpilman to his sister on the day before his sister was about to die...

Makes me think. On how a lot of times I take for granted the people around me: family, friends, etc...sometimes i wonder like Szpilman...but the difference between him and me is that I still have a chance to get to know my sister better...or my friends....a quien sea....i remember listening to a chinese song..."once time flies away, it won't come back" ....how glad i am....like Wladyslaw Szpilman, I am also a survivor...live on....to all of those whom i hold a special place in my heart: love you (goi nei)....

Probably one of the best movies I have ever seen. It takes the viewer into the tragic story of a talented, young pianist living in Poland during World War II, who hides in a ghetto, loses his family, struggles to survive among the terrifying Nazis. The movie truly appeal to my senses...very good acting...

(don't continue reading if you haven't seen the movie)

The pianist, Wladyslaw Szpilman, survived the dreadful Holacaust and continued to live in Warsaw until his death on 6th July, 2000. He was 88 Years ago. Rest in Peace Szpilman...