Joo and I used to tease Susan saying that she has an obsessive personality. Once she likes something she just can't get enough of it such as her love of lavender, stamping, watching movies and certain television shows, eating at Shik-Do-Rak, etc. Well, these days I feel like I'm wedding planning obsessed. Maybe I am just one of those people who can only focus on one thing at a time.

Erik asked me where I got the name Zoron. It was given to me from my goddaughter, Jessica, who is now married and has given birth to a beautiful boy. I call her that but now we are just really friends. I met her when she was only fourteen years old and ward of state. She had run away from an abusive parent and suffered life on the streets. She was a tough girl. She had graduated from the elementary school that I was teaching at before I got there. Since we lived in close proximity, we spent time together. She told me that Zoron was my superhero name. She used to always make up nicknames for herself and others like Crave, Unik, etc. Erik said that he wondered how I got that name because Zoron sounds a lot like moron.

I've been meeting or hearing about a lot of people who are getting married or have recently gotten married lately. I guess that's another common ground that people feel comfortable bonding over and sharing about. They have all been very helpful. With their input, my own research on the web and in the magazines, and Susan's knowledge of weddings the reality of my own wedding day is beginning to take shape. If I had no budget limits and can be as creative as I wanted to be, there would be no stress but that is not the case. I had a very sobering talk with Marilyn about the wedding budget today. Can you believe that the average wedding cost in America these days is $20,000 and over? I honestly wanted to keep it under $10,000. It will be a challenge. What will I skip out on? What will I skimp out on? I just want it to be enjoyable for everyone including me. And of course I don't want the cookie cutter korean-american wedding. Something has to be unique, but what? I want it to be a little wacky without making a joke out of the wedding. Any ideas?

You can read about my road trip from California to New Jersey with my roommates, Joo and Susan, at their websites. I don't feel the need to write it all down since they have already written about it.

What I learned from the road trip:
1. Joo collects international stamps.
2. Once you go outside of California public restrooms do not provide toilet seat covers except for Jack-in-the-Box which provides toilet seat covers whatever state you happen to be in.
3. Susan has an incredibly small bladder.
4. Joo is able to drive late at night while listening to smooth jazz music. It does not have the snooze effect on her.
5. Interstate 10 in Louisiana is a long bridge built above the swamps.
6. Nextel reception sucks in most of the southern U.S.
7. Audio books are not just read but performed by someone.

I've moved my belongings out of my area into Joo's old room. My old area is waiting to be overtaken by Susan's vast stamping collection and equipements. I caught another cold during the road trip that I'm getting over and I finally started wedding planning. I had to apologize to Erik for my bad attitude towards the wedding planning and am attempting to enjoy the process. I am grateful for my sister Yums who is helping me with the wedding plans in Chicago.

Hey Joo, here's a verse for you as you adjust to living in New Jersey. Love you and miss you lots.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9

It is day four of my vacation and everyday already feels like a Saturday. Even before day one of my vacation I started sleeping past midnight and waking up past 9 in the morning. I hope this will not continue. Still recovering from my illness. It has moved from my fever and sore throat stage to coughing and congestion stage to sneezing and runny nose stage. The good thing about this almost a month long sickness is that I've lost some weight due to lack of appetite and thus am able to fit into my skinny jeans again.

Today is the first day of my vacation! I'm still recovering from my illness. I've been thinking about a few things recently but don't feel like thinking it through today. I just want to rest and relax for at least one day before getting to things that need to get done.

I've been thinking about the difference between helping and serving, about how individualism is so highly regarded in the American culture but to my immediate mind not in the Bible, and about relationships based upon needing and being needed (Is there manipuation involved in both parties?).

I spent the day at a wholesale toy shop in downtown Los Angeles. Am I helping or am I serving? What do I think I'm doing? What is my intent?