Meet Heba.

Heba, one of my co-workers from my start date, came to work this morning wrapped in this massive scarf/shawl looking thing. I was convinced that it was longer than she was, and after we determined that it indeed was, I proceeded to have a little fun.

I know that most of my work pictures are of us goofing off or of random things, and this may give you a false perception of my job. In all honesty, we really do get work done- it's just that in order to liven things up and keep work from becoming Office Space, we try to have a good balance. Or else someone may be driven to the point of setting the building on fire, a la Milton Waddams.

Meet John Legend.

Three-time Grammy Award winner John Legend came to work today and performed a sixty-minute set. This was the third time I've seen him live- the other two times being at Duke LDOC '04 (when he played the keys for Kanye West) and UNC Homecoming '05 (where my a cappella group Harmonyx opened for him). His performance included breaks where he entertained questions from our host and from the audience. Although I wish he performed several other songs (like "So High"), I really enjoyed the set.

Overall, it was awesome to have him come to work. I'm always amazed whenever I see him perform, and personally, I'm really glad to see him rise in recognition and success. The first time I saw him at Duke, he was literally an unknown star and I knew he was going to become somebody someday. And the following year, he performed at Carolina literally two weeks before dropping his first album "Get Lifted." Although he was still somewhat unknown, those in the college scene and the music scene definitely knew who he was at the time. So yeah, to see him evolve from a no-name artist to a superstar was awesome.


We arrived at the venue about an hour prior to the performance to get good seats. We were literally sitting in the very front, and it was just a great atmosphere for him to play in front of a packed crowd. During the Q&A session, I decided to ask him who his favorite artists were to collaborate with, to which he responded Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas and Kanye West. He also mentioned that he's played with greats such as Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John. To see him come so long and have to pay his dues for six years after leaving Boston Consulting Group and the typical business track to pursue his passion in music was truly inspiring.

After his performance, he spent time shaking hands and taking pictures. I wound up telling him then that I saw him perform at Duke and UNC several years before that, and for a brief second, I noticed him smile as he recalled those performances.

"Wow, that was a while back, before 'Get Lifted,' right?" he asked.

Something about his response made me really appreciate him more. I know that so much has happened since then, yet him remembering his early performances and the audiences that embraced him back then made him seem that much more down to earth. I left main campus thinking, "Dang. I can't believe I work here..."

Meet Mike Chang.

After work today, Caroline and I met up with Mike Chang (Duke '07), who was in town for an on-site interview at Google. After a long detour to find his hotel, we wound up eating at the Creamery in Palo Alto. It was great to see him and catch up with him over a meal. I hope he gets the job.

A Chris Tomlin Night.

Tonight, Jeff, Hannah, and I went to San Jose to see Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, and Louie Giglio in the "How Great Is Our God" tour. The concert was held in a packed SJSU Event Center, and it was awesome to see the place filled with worshippers from all walks of life.

I was bummed because we were under the impression that Matt Redman wasn't going to be there. However, much to my surprise, after Chris led us into worship, he invited Matt up on stage to join him. With a powerful message by Louie Giglio about the majesty and glory of God's power- as seen in His creation of the universe and the stars- the night was just what I needed.

I included another picture of Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman leading us into praise below.

My block.

I have to confess that I wasn't in the Project 365 mentality today. Although I was out on the town all day, I wasn't looking for a shot and realized that the day was coming to a close. Earlier in the day, as I was returning from a trip to Union Square, I saw an angle that was interesting but thought nothing of it. However, when I realized later that my time to find a shot was short, I grabbed my camera and ran outside. I actually like this angle better in the night sky, with the building lit by the streetlights. Anyway, it is what it is.

Overcrowded.

Small group this Friday was moved to Rona's apartment. With 20+ people crammed into her cozy one-bedroom, we knew that floor space was a valuable commodity, so we decided, in homage to our Asian roots, to leave our shoes outside the door. I thought it'd be an interesting shot, so I stepped out for a minute to capture this image.

Nightlife.

I noticed this alleyway as I was walking home from my shuttle after work today. I know that capturing low-light shots is difficult, especially without a tripod, so as I snapped this shot, I was already thinking that I'd have to find another one for my Project 365. However, when I got home and pulled up the image on my computer, I was pleasantly surprised to see the outcome.

Meet Kaylie.

This project made me realize that I've taken at least one Google dog picture a week. I guess with a dog policy at work, it's hard not to be drawn to the furry friends.

Today is no exception. Kaylie, this adorable little yorkie, visited us at work today. I noticed her during one of my breaks, and had to pay her a visit. To put it into context, her entire body fit on the palm of my hand!

Anyways, after hanging around for about a minute, she was getting a bit too excited and hyper. Luckily, I managed to get a shot off before I left.

Work in progress.

Those of you who know me know that I have a soft spot for music. Whether it be listening, playing, or singing, music has always been a big part of who I am. However, as I've gotten older, I realize that my lack of practice has led me to enjoy listening to music far more than playing or performing.

More recently, I've been trying to pick up the guitar again. I never was really exceptionally good at it, but I realize that it's a skill that I truly want to develop. I know I'm going to see several artists this coming week that are exceptionally talented in songwriting and in the guitar, so I look forward to be inspired.

As for now, this is still a work in progress.

Meet Sam Choy.

Sam Choy came to work today. If you haven't heard of him, he's like the King of Hawaiian Cuisine. But yeah, not only did he visit us, he also cooked our lunch menu for us, and I must say, it was really good. I wound up taking a picture with him and afterwards, I felt compelled to buy one of his cookbooks. He's one of the friendliest guys I met, and the smile on his face when you first approach him just makes you want to get up and give the guy a hug. But I didn't.

I don't know if the book will see much exposure on my end, but I'm sure my dad can make use out of it.

I go to church.

While on my way to church this evening, I was desperately looking for a shot before service. I knew that because we'd be hanging out and having dinner after church, it'd be harder to find one later into the night. The sky was getting darker, so the option of an outdoor shot was running slim. At the same time, I really wanted to shoot outside because I noticed that the pictures that I've taken recently have mostly been indoor shots. Needless to say, there was a sense of urgency, and time was running short.

As I exited my car and proceeded to leave the parking lot, I was vigorously scanning my surroundings to see if I could snap a quick picture before it was too dark. But to my avail, I wound up with nothing. Dejected, I headed across the street to the church, when I saw something I hadn't noticed before: the entrance sign to our church. I quickly pulled out my camera and adjusted the ISO and metering, hoping that even under the dim light, something could emerge.

And there it was, the shot of the night. I love it. The picture seems to capture the message of welcoming everyone into the fellowship of light. Quite symbolic indeed.

So you think you can dance?

Today, I joined Al and the gang as GRX SF's dance ministry kicked off their first session of the year. I honestly don't know why I decided to show up, and although it was hard for me to keep up, I wound up enjoying it. During the session, my previous theory came to mind: it's hard for me to keep up because it take more energy to move my big ol' body at the same count as average-sized people (or people smaller than me). While the jury's still out on this theory, I think I might continue attending. We shall see...

24/7 = Goofballs.

Tonight was the first small group of 2oo7. It seems like ages since we all met up, and it was really refreshing. As difficult as it was to leave NC, the church community here has made transitioning to the city more bearable. So yeah, because it was our first small group of the year, our fearless leader Jason decided that we should take a group picture. Quite fittingly, this shot captures the personality of our small group: in essence, we're all a bunch of ding-dongs.

I haven't forgotten...

I saved this thing that my friends from my campus fellowship made for my graduating class' senior banquet last April. One of the first things I did when I moved in was hang it up on my wall. I don't know why I did it, or even why I still have it up. I guess something as simple as these notes make home feel a little bit closer.

Every so often, I take some time to re-read the notes they wrote me, and I become homesick and peaceful at the same time. So much has happened in the past eight months. I moved away from the one place that felt like home to settle into this city. And although I long to move back and enjoy the life I once had, I remind myself that I cannot live in the past. I guess that's what makes the reunions that much better...

Yo quiero libertad!

These two chihuahuas were in the cube in front of my office today. With their owner gone for a bit, they both were trying desparately to escape and run around, and it got to the point where someone had to build a makeshift barricade to keep them in. I think they were confined in the cube for at least 45 minutes by the time I stopped by the cube to see the dogs. They looked so sad, but I found it extremely amusing at the same time...

The Story of Michael Oher.

I heard of this book when I first started working at Google, after a co-worker mentioned it to me. I meant to take some time to read it, but never got around to it. And then, at Response 2007, Pastor Park based a major portion of one of his messages on the protagonist, Michael Oher.

Pastor Park read an excerpt of the book where after Michael, a poor, black, uneducated teenager was adopted by a rich, white Christian family and beginning to adapt to his life there.

When they stopped in at the Taco Bell just around the corner, Michael would order more food than he wanted. The next morning Sean (the father) would open the refrigerator and find the coagulated, extra Mexican pizza. "He was in the habit of guaranteeing himself an extra meal," said Sean. "I had to explain that he didn't need to do that. That he could get it whenever he wanted it. He said, 'Really?' I said, 'Michael, I own the restaurant. You can go over there any time you want and eat for free.'" But the habit was hard to break.

Pastor Park also mentioned this incident, where Michael's adopted mother bought him a new backpack. Lewis wrote:

When she saw how many books he'd need, she realized he was going to need an industrial-strength backpack to carry them in. North Face, she thought, mught do the trick and so she went out and bought him a North Face backpack. Michael had taken one look at it and said, "I don't want to take that to school."
"Why not?" she'd asked.
"That's the one that all the little rich kids carry," he said.
"Michael," she said. "You are a little rich kid."
And he'd takent he backpack to school

The retreat speaker told us that alot of Chrsitians are still stuck in Michael Oher's shoes. We forget that we've been adopted into God's household. We're no longer poor yet we act like it out of habit. Needless to say, this story spoke to me profoundly...

[Excerpts from The Blind Side by Michael Lewis]

Meet Faith.

My last 24 hours in NC were spent with this young lady, hanging out, watching movies, and being generally goofy around her. Since my move out to SF, I haven't been able to spend enough quality time.

Family picture...

This is why I miss North Carolina. And this is why I call NC home. Because my family is there, and after this trip, I know that sometime in my life, I will move back there to be reunited with them. Until then, I miss you guys.

Refiner's Fire,,,

On the last night of the retreat, we had a traditional bonfire sharing fellowship. As brothers and sisters poured out their hearts with the campfire and the picturesque lake illuminated in the background, I couldn't help be feel overwhelmed. I became humbled by the stories shared as members of our congregation opened themselves up to us, and by the end of the night, this song came into my mind.

Refiner's fire...
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for you, my Master
Ready to do Your will...

Meet Heidi and Cheryl.

Faith and I arrived early at Camp Oak Hill to help set up for registration. While taking a break, I noticed that Heidi and Cheryl were sitting at a distance, catching up with each other after a long winter break. I didn't want to interrupt their mini-reunion, and instead decided to capture the moment from afar. The thing I love about this shot is that I think it captures their friendship beautifully. Oh and another reason is because I can totally picture them in the same position thirty and forty years down the road, sitting in rocking chairs, still enjoying each other's company...

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing...

This evening, after work, I headed to the airport to catch my flight out to North Carolina. I took tomorrow off so that I could make it to NC by Friday morning instead of Friday late night, because I did not want to miss a moment of the coming weekend.

My home church, Grace Mission Ministry (GMM), is holding its annual spring retreat this weekend: Response 2007. I had not seen most of my church family since September and some other special person since November, and so I've been looking forward to this trip for a while now. However, that anticipation was followed by disappointment when I realized at the airport that
the flight crew from the previous route was late, delaying the first leg of my flight, and ultimately forcing me to re-route and lose several precious hours. So what should have been a departure at 8 resulted in a departure at closer to 11.

However, I wasn't gonna let anything ruin my mood for the upcoming weekend. And as I waited for my flight, I snapped away...

Apple of your eye...

Google has these really small, cute apples at some of the cafés and microkitchens. I decided to steal one and thought that this would make an interesting shot for today. I was also reminded of that verse Psalm 17:8. If you haven't read the Word in a while, check it out.

I'm headed to NC tomorrow night. I hope this trip brings fresh new things to shoot.
Props to Cody and Mike for today's shot.

Inspired...

I headed up to Grace Cathedral today on California Street to look for a nice night shot. As I was taking various pictures of the dimly lit stained-glass windows, I faintly heard a group of voices singing. As I turned the corner, heading to the music, I noticed that I was approaching the main entrance of the cathedral. After being briefly taken aback by the beauty of the front entrance, I focused my attention back on the voices I heard only a moment ago. It was then that I noticed this group of about twenty people standing and singing in front of the church. I walked closer, intrigued at what they might be singing, when I heard that familiar tune.

Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound.
That saved a wretch like me...
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see!

I walked around the group, in order not to interrupt them, and continued taking pictures of the building. As they continued to sing, I turned around and took one shot of the group, who was standing in front of the church, facing the main road and singing basically towards the city. I didn't want them to see me and create an awkward moment. When they finished singing and began sharing, I walked up and approached one of the guys, asking who they were. He responded that they were a missionary team to the city, and that this was something they wanted to do.

Even though this wasn't the best shot of the night, I liked it the best.

Meet Brian.

He's known in more popular circles as "Brain." Anyways, Brain is one of the funniest guys at work and we both joined Google at the same time. Today, we noticed that his t-shirt was the same shade of green as one of the walls in our office. We all got a kick out of it, and he let me take a picture of him. However, I think it would've been even funnier if he turned green like the Incredible Hulk. Maybe next time, I should get him angry. Really, really angry.

Actually, I probably wouldn't want to see that.

Thank you, Mr. Naismith.

We played some streetball before church today. While I was subbing out, I remembered that I still hadn't taken any pictures today for Project 365. I took out my camera and proceeded to look for an interesting action shot. As I was waiting for the right moment, I stared at the opposite side of the court and noticed a potential shot. After mentally framing it, I went for the shot, and here you see the final result.

The thing that I love about this shot is that it's so simple that it looks like this picture could have been taken anywhere. In fact, if I hadn't taken this shot, I would have guessed that this picture was taken at a playground in Korea or Russia (as the building in the background reminds me of those seen in those two countries). And as simple of a concept as the game of basketball is, it's such a physically graceful sport. So thank you, Mr. Naismith - I guess good things come out of Canada after all.

God bless the broken road...

Today, we went to Land's End, which is a really nice hiking trail that starts from the northwest corner of the SF coast and leads to the Golden Gate bridge. The trails are along the cliffs and waterfront, which provide for breathtaking views of the bay. While the hike was a little more strenuous than I thought it'd be, oceanfront backdrops and stunning scenery made the hike worht it at the end.

As we were hiking through the trail, I came across this path, one that I know has been traversed many a time. However, at this point, with not a person to be seen ahead of us, this path seemed so peaceful. Nature is indeed a reflection of the majesty of our Maker.

Google does utilities, too!!

I noticed this sewer cover the first week at work but wasn't able to get around to taking a picture of it until recently. My initial reaction was of shock, thinking "Whoa! We're going into the utilities as well?!" That thought instantly disappeared when rationality struck me. But it's funny how our name is branded on even the drain covers.

So in an odd way, I guess Leo, Donnie, Ralph, and Mikey live in our territory now. Cowabunga, dudes.

Workspace

Given the fact that I didn't have much time to go around and look for a decent picture, I decided to turn around and take a quick shot of my temporary cubemate's desk. (By temporary, I mean I'm squatting on a different side of my office building because I'm still in training. My actual desk is unoccupied for the time being).

So Ashley randomly received this lava lamp the other day. She presumes that the Google store messed up on her order, but who knows? She decided it'd be best to put it to use and add "flair" to her desk. I think she's just too embarrassed to admit that she has a secret affinity for these vintage light fixtures. But it's okay, I won't judge. After all we all have our quirks now, don't we?


[Alright, just to clarify, my cubemate's not weird at all. I just found it funny that she decided to keep the lava lamp after all. Makes for a good picture, that's for sure.]

Beware of Dogs...well, not really.

So Google has a dog policy, meaning that we allow dogs at work as long as the coworkers working in your vicinity don't mind and also that they aren't disruptive. This is one thing I absolutely love about work, because having a dog randomly roll up to you as you pass by someone's desk is always a nice surprise. As we were walking through main campus (a.k.a. the Googleplex) to get lunch today, I noticed this dog waiting outside of a cafeteria, waiting for her owner to return.

I may eventually try and take more pics of the dogs of Google. But as for now, I leave you with just Kayla...

Paint the Sky...

the benefit of waking have to leave for work so early in the morning (7am) is that my walk up the hill to my Google bus stop is often complemented by sunrises that literally take your breath away. however, the problem is that i'm so tired in the morning that i don't even pay attention to the gorgeous skyline. luckily, dear readers, that is where Project 365 came in, gave me a swift kick in the butt, and made me realize the beauty of God seen this morning.

today's lesson: at some point in the day, stop. take a look around. and soak in the beauty of His creation...

New Beginnings

Day 1 of Project 365 begins today...
I took my parents and my brother to Twin Peaks and afterwards to Fisherman's Wharf. While snapping some photos, I came across this angle from the edge of the pier. So what better way to begin this project than with a shot of a landmark from the city that I now live and love.
I think from this point, I'm going to do weekly updates with the daily pics posted. I hope you enjoy it.

Happy New Year, yall...