Tea & A Sunrise

Waking up is such a familiar concept, yet it has such a mysterious beauty to it that we never quite grasp.  You open your eyes after a slumber, whether it be during daylight or night's darkness, and begin again.  It doesn't matter whether you slept 12 hours, 24 hours, or even just an hour.  Waking up is always the same for all people, to a new beginning where you had previously left off.  Hearing the sound of an alarm, being gently awoken by a loved one's tender touch, or even being awoken due to a sudden flush of cold water being thrown on you all have the same effect of beginning anew, or at least I would hope so!

I have not been able to blog for quite a while now due to life and all its craziness, and I am not even sure that after this one I'll be able to get back to it on a regular basis, but life decided to give me a chance this morning, especially after the sunrise gave itself to me to put me in a writing mood.  I'm sure that you can understand how that feels, to finally have a mood to write after so long of not being able to.  It's not that you really couldn't, but that time and life just got in the way.  Always running and never pausing to stop and think about the racing through life that you always do.  This may not be you, but for me, it's a very familiar concept.  

Enough of that for now.  I don't know what possessed me to finally got on here after a while, but something did, and I think it had to do a little something with the course of events that happened after I woke up.  On this Sunday, October 5, 2014, I woke up as always to the sound of my alarm.  Then I went to the kitchen to make myself a bit of tea.  (Yes tea.  No, I am not a hippie, and no, I'm not British.  I just like tea.  I hope that's okay?  If it isn't, I apologize in advance, because I don't plan on changing this for a while at least.)  Then, as I opened the blinds, a steady stream of sunlight came rushing into the whole house.  At this time, I realized how much I missed doing that, as life has not allowed to me to do this simple act in a very long time.  For once, I was aware of how much I missed this small thing that reminded me of all the little things I used to do and are only held dear in my memories due to the time that has passed.  As I looked out of my window sipping my tea, I realized how much I miss what has passed, who I used to be, and the sense of always knowing what would happen next.  I guess that overused statement, "You never know what you have until it's gone," really does have some truth to it.  Don't get me wrong, there have always been times of uncertainty, but recently, a lot of things have been changing so fast that I just can't keep up like I used to.  Now, the only constant that seems to be present is my family, my faith, and the race of life with all its running and stressful moments here, there, and everywhere.  But then again, upon reflection, I wouldn't appreciate mornings like this one if weren't for the days of staying up until 1 or 2 in the wee hours of the morning working on deadlines and briefing myself for the events to come in the next 3 or 4 hours.  It's funny to think that only a few months ago, I felt that sleeping at 11pm on a M-F evening was really late, and that here I am those months later sleeping only two or three hours on some evenings, and five or six hours being a good evening.  I guess that comes with life as it progresses.  And reading through all that I've written, I realize now that I haven't really written anything concrete, and that all this is a recorded version of all the things my mind has been darting to and from for the past few minutes.  It's funny looking at all the things you start thinking about when you let your mind do its own thing.  If I could, I would do this for eternity, but life goes on, and the hands of time keep ticking the moments away.  If I'm not careful, I'll do what I've always been good and waste the day away.  These next few weeks are a bit hectic for me.  I kind of need to get ahead with the deadlines today so that I'm not drowning in weeks to come.  Whatever happens, happens for reason.  All I can do is hope for the best after I've given my share of the 110% I've pledged to life.  Then it's up to the big guy's plans from there on.  Only time will tell.

I'm sorry if this type of blogging isn't your cup of tea.  Today I just felt the need to blog it as it is.  If you like it, glad you do.  If you don't, I would hope that I would do something more concrete next time life allows me to get back to it.  No promises, only things that I would hope make you feel a bit better after reading this.  Now here's a pic I captured of mid-sunrise a few minutes ago.  

Until life's next allowance, God Bless You All.  

ShuttleBayGunner

Churrascos: Sugar Land, Texas

Are you craving a Sunday Brunch buffet that is a little different from the usual scrambled eggs, pancakes, and sausages?  If so, then Churrascos in Sugar Land, Texas can satisfy your hunger.  Every Sunday starting at 10:30 am, they offer a unique selection of Latin American delicacies to fill your stomach with goodness.  The atmosphere is excellent, with perfect balance between delicious buffet and formal dining.  I would also like to comment that the service and staff is excellent.  They are very vigilant and pay attention to all of their customers.  If you need something, they are more than ready to assist you (even when you least expect it)!  Here you can tell that it's not just a job for these people, it's a lifestyle to serve others the best they can.  If you are craving ceviche, a signature plato de plantain, or just a small cup of traditional tres leches, they have it all.  Now enough of our advertising.  If you don't believe us when we say it's good, we dare you to go and try it.  In fact, I triple dog-dare you.  Bon appetit mes amis!

The Holiday Season, A Time For Joy & Time For Preparation

Happy belated Thanksgiving to all, and welcome to the season of lights, merry-making, and cheer!  If you take a look around, a few simple hints can clue you in on what I'm talking about.  Wreaths over business doors, lights illuminating the streets outlining people's houses, and people humming (or singing) carols of bells all are signs of what's already begun.  Now is a season of joy and merrymaking.  There's no time to be gloomy, and no time to be sad.  Now is the time for all to be glad!  Enjoy having family around, and just be happy with each other.  The holidays are a time of rebirth, not only for me or for you, but for the whole world!  Not only for rebirth, but also for preparation.  People all around are scurrying trying to get shopping in.  They are also trying to get the decorations for the season up on the rooftops or filling the house.  But what also plays a major role in preparation is how everybody is preparing their hearts for the spirit of what's to come.  Whatever holiday it is you celebrate at this time, you always experience a sort of happiness that only comes around this time of year.  Enjoy it, and be prepared for what's to come, for the season has just begun!

St. Laurence Catholic Church Parish Bazaar 2013

Down in the heart of Sugar Land, Texas lies a small, but loving community.  This community, consisting of a heaping amount of Christians, is at St. Laurence Catholic Church.  Today, I went to their carnival-like event known as the "Parish Bazaar" and was amazed how much happiness and love can be exchanged while simultaneously indulging on things like games, confetti eggs, sausage on a stick, and multiple ethnic group booths.  Local organizations came out to help excite the local Church community such as the Boy Scouts of America, the Leo Club (an affiliation of the Lions Club International), the Knights of Columbus, and multiple church ministries from the parish.  I myself experienced the excitement of service when I helped supervise and operate multiple booths.  It was so lively, I could barely contain my normally calm personality that turned into one jumping for limitless joy.  This event is not just an event for manly desires, but an event for socializing with others, loving as Christ loves, serving all without a care in the world, and becoming truly a Body of Christ with happiness and love all around.  If you have time to go to this event this weekend, please go.  Even if you don't usually come down to Sugar Land, Texas too much, if you ever find yourself here in October, please stop by this parish event at St. Laurence Catholic Church.  It's something you won't regret doing, and an event of light and Christ's love that you will never forget.

Getting Caught Up & Time Passing By

Tick, tock, tick, tock.  That's a sound all of us are familiar with, a clock's second hand ticking away.  This sound marks the passing of a second, and is a constant for all of us.  It also marks the passing of precious seconds in our life hat we're meant to live to the fullest.  Throughout all of our daily routines, each of us forgets how important it is to make the most of the life we've been given, and we forget how little time each of us has on this Earth.  Of course, it is important to work at your jobs to make a living and put food on the table and a roof over your head.  Of course it's important to go to school and get your diploma and degree.  Of course it's important to tend to our individual families after this.  But in addition to all of this is the mental perspective of it all.  How many of you thank whatever force you believe in for your jobs?  How many of you just feel thankful to have a family who loves you and who you can love?  How many of you just take a moment aside each day, not even for maybe just one minute or so, just to breathe and realize the good things in life, no matter how many bad are threatening to consume us?  By doing this, we can repel the bad things at our doorstep.  A philosophy I firmly believe in is not to let fear, anger, or stress consume us when dealing with these, but rather, keeping in mind all the good things about the situation, and then taking that power from positive thoughts, and using it to vanquish the negative situation at hand.  It neutralizes all bad situations and makes it possible for us to help good blossom from bad, and light emanate from darkness.  Time passes by all of us, and of course we get caught up in its never stopping regiment.  The question now presented is, are you using that time right, and are you truly aware of all that is around you?  If so, power to you.  If not, think about ways to truly become aware of all our surroundings and appreciate the good in life.  

Traveler's Fatigue: The Inevitable & Unwanted Extra Traveling Partner

Most of us have traveled to other places other than that of your home.  Basic traveling everyday can make anybody tired, but how about to places out of city, state/province, or even country?  Whether we travel by train, car, airplane, or boat, it is an unavoidable factor of any form of travel.  There is no doubt that most of the time you travel for is worth every second of your traveling, but as they say, "You can't know success without failure," and you can't know and appreciate your vacation or objective as much if you didn't travel.  The best way that I find you can avoid the inevitability of traveler's fatigue is taking your mind off of it.  Psychology has a major impact on each of our everyday lives.  It is sometimes possible that paranoia can influence our actions if we have spent a lot of time with someone who is sick, possibly causing us to develop physical symptoms even though when checked medically, we have nothing wrong and it was all in our head.  The exact same concept applies with traveler's fatigue.  If you take your mind off of it, and socialize with family or traveling buddies, you will find yourself able to make it through all the fatigue.  Now at the end of every trip of travel, there is that period of travel that we need to set aside to take as, "a vacation from a vacation."

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Independence Day to all my fellow American patriots!  To those of you who don't know, the Fourth of July celebrates and commemorates our independence.  We remember our cycle going through British colonies to a group of United States on this day, July 4, 1776.  We, as citizens of the United States celebrate our 237th birthday as an independent country.  I hope all have a good day, and we'll continue the day with dance, songs, celebration, and feasting at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, as well as Macy's Fourth of July Parade starting at 8:00 p.m. Eastern United States Time on the NBC Television Network.  Have a good Fourth of July everybody, and I hope you all have a good day!